The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-04-02

Special Correspondence Of the GOLD LEAF.
WASHINGTON. d. C., March 80, 1903.
Hon. w. H. Michael, who represents
the Department of State on the United
States Government Board, has recently
purchased several articles which Will add
interest to the exhibit Of his Department
at st. Louis. Conspicuous among these
il bronze medallion bearing the heads
of Napoleon and Marie Louise, struck
off bv order OF the Emperor to commem-
crate the Louisiana Purchase. Under
meath the two finely executed heads, is
an American eagle under an aureOle OF
stars. Surrounding the medallion, is a
scroll emblazoned with emblems typify-
ing the amity which existed between
France and America. The whole is en-
closed in an old gold frame which dates
back to the days of the Empire. 1t was
the property of one of NapOleOn's Gener-
ais and Major Michael got it direct from
the granddaughter of the original owner
to whom it descended The medallion
and its symbols recall the fact that Ma
poleon once had q strong following IN
the section included in the Louisiana
Purchase territory and in Canada, and
that great sympathy was felt for him
when he was banished to st. Helena.
This sympathy found frequent expression
in the newspapers, songs and poems OF
that epoch The most substantial move
ment in his favor started in New Orleans
and extended to st. Louis and Canada.
The originator of it was Monsieur
Girot a wealthy citizen OF st. Louis. His
lieutenant was Monsieur Peugney, of st.
Louis. an ex-officer in Napoleon's army,
who had won the Cross OF the Legion OF
,t,I, Ii ~
the Count de MonthOlOn who shared Ma
poleon's exile in St. Helena. NJ. Girot
| furnished the money and NJ. Peugney the
naval and military experience to fit up
vessel, manned by sailors and soldiers
| who had been carefully drilled in the
| suburbs of New Orleans to climb rock
| escarpments. The vessel was ready to
| sail when the news of Napoleon's death
| reached Messieurs GirOt and Peugney.
| The object of the expedition was to
| forcibly rescue Napoleon from his island
prison, and bring him to New Orleans.
| They were so confident OF his rescue that
| NJ. Girot built and furnished an elegant
| home for NapOleOn's occupancy on rue
| St Louis in New Orleans. This house
was an object of interest for generations
| in New Orleans and its location can still
be pointed out. The grandsons of NJ.
Peugney, now prominent citizens of st.
| Louis possess chest of documents and
| Napleonic souvenirs, that would prove
| invaluable additions to any NapleOnic
| Museum. These documents have never
| been translated. 1t is said that some OF
! these came from st. Helena after Ma
| poleOn' death. 1t is evident that there
are Interesting and unwritten pages OF
| history concerning the magnetic Man of
| Destiny that the great Exposition will
yet cause to be printed Recently, | was
discussing the above with a United States
| Consul, stationed in Canada. He knew
| the story and promised to send me fur
Their proofs of it from the family of dis
tinguished French refugee who also had
many manuscript papers bearing on the
same subject, as well as documents show
ing that many French Canadians cOntri-
buted money and men to NJ. Girot's expe-
| dition. What changes might have been
wrought on the map of this hemisphere
| il the great war-lOrd of the most warlike
| century of modern times had landed on
| our shores
| Another curiosity Major Michael has
| purchased is the lapel of a coat which
| gives one an idea of the gorgeous uniform
once worn by our Diplomatic and Consul
lar officers. This lapel is of blue broad
cloth covered with acorns and oak leaves
embroidered with gold thread. 1t has
history. A Nirginian was sent to the
| Court at Versailles as American Minister
Secretary of State Livingston had pre-
scribed a regulation uniform the official
| plans OF which will be on exhibition at
st. Louis. The official tailor was Mr..
| LoudOun from Virginia, whose shop was
| opposite the United States Treasury
The new minister, a gay young bachelor,
ordered the uniform and started for his
| post where he appeared, according to
| LlylngstOn's requirements, respondent
in knee breeches, gold buckles. short
sword, cooked hat, and coat of blue
| broadclOth deliberately embroidered in
| gold braid! He remained in France a
year or two, came back to Washington
met, fell in love with, and married a Vir-
| ginia girl. He was hard up for funds so
he left his costly diplomatic coat in Mr.
Loudoun's hands as security for the dress
| suit in which he was married! In the
meantime the Administration changed
| and William l.. Marcy, the new Secretary
OF State, being very democratic, abolish
ed the Diplomatic and Consular uniform
The Minister had no further use for the
| gold embroidered coat, so he went off
| without redeeming it and Mr.. Loudoun
had to remove and sell the gold braid to
| reimburse him for the dress suit. The
lapel was kept as souvenir of the Incl
| dent Mr.. Michael heard of it and secured
it for his department at the coming
Worlds Fair where many Americans as
well as Europeans will be surprised to
see that the United States did not always
require its diplomatic and consular Off
GERS to appear in ordinary evening dress
| but that once upon a time, Uncle Sam s
| foreign representatives wore a uniform as
gorgeous as anybOdy's. This little Incl
dent is pointer which shows the educa-
tional value of expositions
CHARLES EDWARD LLOYD.