The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-05-19

a "a nary occasions. The raWness
of his youth gradually yielded
10 new environment, but he remained
a creature of impulse even in the pres
ence Of his court The Duchesse
q ADrantes (Mme. JunOt. who knew
him in his home life before and after
MS rise to Importance. says that q
change took place in Napoleon when he
became great figure in Paris, esDe-
clally in regard to attention to his per-
son. To illustrate this she recalls a
habit Of his earlier days when visiting
the home of her mother.
"One OF the things to which my moth
er had particular dislike was the
smell of wet, dirty boots put to the fire
TO dry. To her this smell was so dis
gushing that she frequently left tie
room and did not return till the boots
mao been thoroughly dried and removed
from the fire. But this was followed by
an6 1""r-namely, the creaking noise
produced by the dry sole, to which |
nave also great antipathy. Now. in
those disastrous times when it was q
matter OF luxury to ride in hackney
coach, it may easily he conceived that
those who had but sufficient to pay the
price of q dinner did not take great de-
light in splashing others, but retained
Sufhc1ent philosophy TO soil their shoes
or boots by walking. My mother adj
m1tted the justice of the remark, but
she nevertheless held her perfurued
handkerchief to her nose whenever
Bonaparte placed his little feet upon
the fender. He at length perceived this.
and, being at that time exceedingly
afraid Of dispensing ny mother, he
would prevail upon our maid to brush
his boots before he came in.
After the 18th of Vendemiaire (Oct.
81 sOiled boots were out of the CUES
ton. Bonaparte never went out but in
a handsome carriage"
NapoleOn's bearing in the inner circle
or home is variOusly commented upon
by those who observed him as casual
visitors and those who served the
household.
lie was always extremely polite to
everybody" says Mile Avrillon. one of
Josephine's attendants, "and never ac-
cepted the slightest service from any
one without thanking him. He never
addressed his own Wallets eXcept as
monsieur When he passed through
their anterOoms, he always bowed to
them. 1t was just the same when the
emperor came to see the empress. He
never spoke to us without great polite
ness and often with great kindness"
In the empress room, Napoleon, ac-
cordinS to Nine. Durand, lady in wait
Ing TO Maria Louisa, showed himself
"amiable, gay and familiar. II he were
present at her toilet. he would amuse
himself by teasing her. pinchng her
neck and cheeks. Did she object. he
would take her in his arms, kiss her.
call her great stupid and peace would
be remade. He annoyed her principa!
ladies' IN waiting in thousand ways. |
1t often happened that he received an
answer back, and then he continued
the discussion and was highly delight
ed II he succeeded in making angry
one or the younger ladies, some of |
Whom were unaccUStomed to the man !
ners OF court and who used 10 say TO |
him things that were very amusing
from their simplicity"
What is no less SURPRISING" saws |
Coulincourt, who served Napoleon as |
soldier and ambassador. lis the ease /
with which. in his family circle he
could become simple and almost ia.
miliar."
NJ. de Barsset, project of the palace.
says:
Il dare affirm that few men. in their
domestic life, have been more eouable
In temper, more kindly in manner"
Prince Metternich. the Austrian min
lister and lifelong political enemy, de-
clares:
In his private life Napoleon was
simple and often even inclined to spoil
people. he pushed his indulgence some
times to the verge of weakness"
Nine. de Remusat. who is ALWAYS
among Napoleon's critics.
gives IN uncomplimentary view OF his
everyday manner The following ex.
tracts are taken from her memoirs
translated by Mrs. Cashel Hoey and
Mr.. John Lille. Describing his an
pearance at public functions and fetes.
Nine. de Remusat says:
He could never get over the ORE |