The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-12-26


made consul" he declared years aft
erwards, ard in that phrase he aecu-
| rately described his power.
Installed already at the Tuileries
with his beloved Josephine, he lived
| in regal state and exercised little less
than despotic sway. Seven years be-
fore he was an unknown artillery of
ficer Now he was the most promi-
nent man in Europe proclaimed The
savior of his country, and practically
dictator What events he had crowd
ed into those seven years. The Eng
fish had been driven from Toulon in
1898; he had suppressed the Paris In
surrection of 1895; he had gone
through his first victorious campaign
in Italy, in 1867; had made his Wig
orous attempt to conquer Egypt, in
1879 and now was back again ir
France.
II was Christmas eve, however; the
time when pleasures are expected to
be INDUCED in, and Napoleon liked to
show himself to the people in public
places. for popularity was ever dear
to him. So he would go to the opera
that night,
He sat in an apartment overlooking
the Tuileries gardens awaiting the ar
rival of Fouche, the minister of 20
lice, who had been sent for to take
his instructions. Josephine, to whom
he had been married since 1896, had
just left him, and he was alone when
Fouche was announced.
You have nothing further to re
port" said Napoleon, his keen gaze
fixed on the minister.
Nothing"
mo new conspiracies?"
None"
And the old ones?"
We'll under surveillance. al
ready to strike at the necessary mo
ment."
All. NJ lie Ministre, your waiting
gives them the opportunity of strik
ing the first blow This is not sol
diers way. You are only clever IN
watching plots; / want a man who can
crush them at their inception. Fouche
you must strike now. Every suspect
must go to prison. My death Is de
sired by all the fanatcal Royalists |
Vendeans and Chouans in Paris, and |
Fouche has to stamp these conspira |
cies out II Fouche does not, Napo |
leon will"
First consul, you are safe" was all !
that Fouche replied.
Safe or not" said Napoleon, !mpa
tiently, Il look TO you to guard my |
life, and with that life the destinies OF
France. ! shall visit the opera within
an hour. You know your duty"
Consider it done" and with that
the famous police functionary do
parted.
Napoleon, who had been working
hard all day and was tired, now fell
asleep. When Josephine came in
dressed for the opera, she had the
greatest difficulty in rousing him from
he sound sleep into which he had
fallen.
Come, the carriage is waiting" she
said.
Let It be sent back" he said
irowsily 4 have changed my mind
had rather not go TO the opera TO
hight
But In the end Josephine prevailed
md they went 20 the carriage accom- |,
,anied by Lannes and Bessiercs.
In the carriage Napoleon fell ssleeT
gain, aud. as he afterwards related
,egan to dream Of the danger he hal
IN years before in crossing the Tag
iamento during a food by torch
light
No attempt was made to awaken
i'm. but Just as they reached the
orner of the Rue Nicaise a loud eX
losion was heard. and the first con
ul awoke with sudden start
we are blown upl" he cried.
But death by assassination was not
o be his destiny. An Internal ma
hine Of a most destructive character
repaired by St Regent. had exploded.
ust a second too late to effect its
eadly purpose. Although Napoleon
scaped. 20 persons we're killed ana
3 wounded.
lie ordered the coschman to dive
n. and a few minutes later he and |
josephine entered the opera and pro /.
eeded TO their box. The house
heered again and again. Napoleon
owing in apparent calm. But he did | -,
OF remain In the theater long. After
b anxious look around at the audience.
e turned 10 reassure Josephine. Who
as almost fainting with terror. and