The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16

and King Josephs wife remarked that .
she had never before tasted anythinx
80 good"
Though Balmat does not give the
data Of the arrival Of thu Marquis Do
Grouchy and the young duke and du-
chess OF oldenburg. they seemed to
have come to the woodland court" Of
little France" somewhere about the
middle OF September. or perhaps at
the same time with Prince Murat and
the two young Ladies'. Glesbfe and
varon- All these and others ara men
toned as being present on the night
Of October 9. when Mmsa I onaparts.
Oldenburg and Balmat prepared an ex-
cslient meal Of nsh. game and deer.
with many sweets. for those who are to
depart on the morrow"
After the rspast." the record says.
"the king said he was sorry to be going
away so soon. but the Msxicxns would
De awaiting him In New York. and that
II would never do to disappoint them.
though he did not intend to give seri-
Gus consideration to their ofer for
himself. Grouchy and Murat are for
him going to Mexico. but Charles Luz
Glen agrees with the king that the en-
peror's release is OF the utmost Ina
portance"
A letter to Madame Bslmat to
Madame Bonaparts. written rom Bor-
dentown In the February following,
throws some light upon Joseph's ac-
ceptance OF q crown In Mexico. 1t says
In part:
"He related tonight for the bsne-
fit of all present. but especially for
Lucien, who had not heard the details
before. the conference between himself
and the Mexicans. He said he told
them their OFFER would be most
tempting one had he been unacQuainted
with kingly life. Even then. he told
- = -
II Indicated that the family In all itB
troubles was we'll thought OF in Amer
tea He said: 7 told them I told
them ] had already worn two crowns
and would not take a single step for
another"
After giving her own views upon tho
subject-views opposed to her husband
even going TO Mexico to study the mat
ter at closer quarters, as Joseph intf-
mated he might co-Mme- Bonaparte
continues:
Prince Murat and Prince Lucien both
urged that the acceptance OF the crown
OF Mexico would be the entering
wedge OF the great American empire
of which they had all been dreaming.
To this Joseph demurred. saying that
II his brother were free and In the
new world the proposals OF the south
erners would be OF different import Ma
poleon would. Joseph said. take II up as
quickly as he would don his chapeau.
but that as for himself (Joseph) there
was no longer an ambition to wear the
purple with it's attendant anxieties-'
The Fading Dream of Empire
IncIosed within this letter Is a brief
line from Joseph TO Balmat in which he
says referring to the visit OF the Mexi-
cans and their proposal: II am happier
on the little lake in Little France than
I ever was IN Spain or probably ever
would be I'm the Mexican country"
Returning to the Adirondacks IN the
following year Joseph declared that the
idea OF a new monarchy In America
hopelessness OF the attempts to release
Napoleon That the prisoner OF Sc.
Helena hai abandoned all hope OF
freedom Is told IN a letter from Gen.
eral Bertrand to Joseph. received az
Natural Bridge:
1--WE sometimes fancied that We were
on the eve OF starting for America We
made plans. We read travels. We ar
rived at your beautiful estate But Il
II all past now"
David de Balmat. whose death oc-
CURED a few weeks ago. was himself
most interesting character, a man Of
great ability and natural refinement
Though he spent most OF his years In
In hunting and trapping. he was q
man of true culture. with a peculiar
fascination OF speech and manner. Hs
was an earnest reader. and his humble
income went largely for tho best books
In French and English
David was ever proud OF his lineage.
but did not feel above the many poorer
families OF French blood who were
settled all about him.
Some weeks bsfore Balmats death .
correspondent made the trip to Littla
Falls. the postornce nearest Bonaparts
lake. and talked with the aged woods
man. In spite OF his 81 years. Mr.. Bal
mat was lively and affable. though he
had s1ready sent for Father Turgeon.
In view OF what Balmat termed "the
coming Of the end" Il am old now
and want to ok matters while I am
able. he said
1t required but little urging to start
Mr.. Balmat on the road II interesting
"reminiscences. and he wr1t to re-
late many Of the stories his father
concerning the Borapartes But the
daryl
"Ah. that Is a closed book. so TO
speak. said the distinguished old for
ester. 'for my father told me 20 guard
It well. and when had finished with ic
to sand It to France This an abou: