The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27
BOOKS THAT NAPOLEON READ
Philosophy and History Were Among
His FavOrite Themes.
A Torn Page on which There Was a
Prophetic Vision of His Future.
Historic Coffee Stain.

The news that nineteen volumes Of Ma
pole0us library have just been found III
Marseilles. and are 20 be put back in
their place AT the Malmaison, has caused
"A little tremor Of excitement among some
Of the Emperor's w0rshipers In Paris.
for, much as is known about other de-
tails of his life very few know anything
about Napole0n's favorite books Ills
annotated copy Of Maehiavelli has run to
more editions iu France than the plain
copy of 1.-THE Prince. and the marginal
notes leave little doubt that the book
was read and reread bv the Emperor.
But what else did DE read? Some biog-
raplers mention that me borrowed Rous-
sedu's Confessions when at Valcncc.
iu 17sS. and il is also known that ne
liked MOIiere and admired CorneiIle 50
much that De would have made him a
prince II he had come back 70 earth. SAYS
the London STANDARD.
The finding of these nineteen little vol
umes Of Cain editions. which are once
more 90 stand ON the shelves Of the
famous library at Malmaisou-the one
in which the execution of the Due
d .Enghien and other equally famous and
less iguoble plans were conceived-has
almost doubled the knowledge about what
Napoleon read Among the newly found
books are two volumes Of Bacon's Essays.
two volumes of Mime. dc StaeTs Influence
des Passions" and Nercier's Visions
Philosophiques
These nineteen are all that remain Of
thirty which Napoleon deposited at the
Marselies library when hurryiug back 20
Paris from Egypt. He forgot 10 reclaim
them and they remained there until 1874
NJ. Thibadeau. project Of the Vienuc.
Communicated ten The remainder lay on
a cop shelf behind some dusty quartos
until 1918
A certain n. Gauffret found them then.
and wrote an article about his discovery
in "a Marseilles review. lie wrote down
the names Of the books and mentioned
the passages annotated or underlined. and
also said that a certain paEe in Nine. de
St5cls book bore large coffee stain.
He reminded his readers that Napoleon
drank q great deal Of coffee and used TO
read az meals when IN Egypt The coffee
stain is still 20 be seen-though faint
now-on the page mentioned by NJ. Gauf-
ret. The marks i'm these little books show
that Napoleon liked TO read history and
philosophy
One passage marked i'm Mercier's Wis
ions Philosophiques." on a page which is
torn. provides food for reflection. Mercier
tells Of mythical person called Misnas.
Misnas was honored as the most valiant
captain Of India. and eager crowds held
him IN much respect and admiration lie
was able to approach the presence Of his
God. being one Of the first 90 receive that
awful honor. He received it with an
ironic smile. as though Indifferent or
superior 20 his own destiny Misuas
looked out over the future. first ON the
side OF happiness. He saw his victorious
career; be beheld conquered towns and
subiusated peoples. and got all eager 90
learn of his great deeds and to transmit
them to posterity. Misnas might have
long lived happy and contented had he
not wished 10 know the end of his tri
umphaut destiny
What "a change, a jealous king dis
possessed him and eXiled him, and those
whom he had covered with favors tore
down his efigy and broke il i'm a thou
sand pieces. while inscriptions bearing his
name were obliterated. Misnas remained
motonless and astonished. Needless of
MS laurels, he had lived for years above
the noise Of the brilliant fetes given i'm
his honor. and then ne had heard Il voice
whispering, Thou shalt die in exile and
forgotten How often did he curse the
day when he wished 20 unveil the future,
And the page on which this legend was
written was torn by Napoleon's hand.