Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02
Napoleon's features He always looked
the part he happened TO be playing.

III.
YAPOLEON had no fixed pose
N or studied manner for ordi-
nary occasions. The rawness
of his youth gradually yielded
to new environment but he remained
creature Of impulse even in the pres
once of his court The Duchcsse
q Abrantes (AIme. JunoU. who knew
him in his home life before and after
his rise to Importance, says that a
change took place in Napoleon when he
became great figure in Paris. espe-
cially 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.
zone Of the things to which my moth
or had Il 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 the
room and did not return till the boots
had been thoroughly dried and removed
from the fire. But this was followed by
namely, the crcaking noise
produced by the dry sole. to which |
have also great antipathy. Now, in
matter of luxury to ride in a hackney
coach. it may easily be conceived that
those who had but sufficient to pay the
price of a dinner did not take great de-
light in spashng others. but retained
sufficient philosophy to soil their shoes
or boots by walking. My mother adj
United the Justice of the remark but
she nevertheless held her pcrfumed
handkerchief to her nose whenever
Bonaparte placed his little feet upon
the fender. He at length perceived this,
and being mt that time exceedingly
afraid of dispensing my mother, he
would prevail upon our maid to brush
his boots before he came in
"Aftcr the 18th of Vendemiare oct
ton. Bonaparte never went out but in
a handsome carriage
Napoleon's bearing in the inner circle
of home is variouSly commented upon
Ivy those who observed him as casual
visitors and those who served the
household.
''lIe was always extremely polite TO
evorybody' says Mile. Avrillon. one OF
Josephines attendants, land 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 SEQ the empress. He
never spoke to us without great polite
hess and often with great kindness"
In the empress room. Napoleon. ac-
cording TO Nine, Durand lady in wait
ing to Maria Louisa, showed himself
"amiable, gay and familiar. If he were
present at her toilet. he would amuse
himself by teasing her, pinching 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 principal
ladies in waiting in a 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 of the younger ladies', some Of
whom were unaccustOmed to the man
ners Of court and who used to say to
him things that We're very amusing
from their simplicity"
What ID no less surprising" says
Coulincourt, who served Napoleon MS
soldier and ambassador, lis the ease
with which, in his family circle. he
could become simple and almost ia
miliar"
NJ. de Bausset, project Of the palace
says: