New-York tribune., 1911-11-26

But most of the way its seniors will
rehec; that Mr.. Lcgge could have told
much. very much more, if 50 he had
chosen.
The book covers a great deal of terri
tory: the childhood and youth of Mile
dc Montijo, the early life and adventures
of Louis Napoleon. the Vie Parisienne"
of their reign. the history Of the down
fan and what led up TO it, the dispatches
exchanged between the imperial couple
in 1870 and the marriage and political
views of the present pretender TO the
throne. 80. "a, least interesting, per
haps. is the chapter devoted 10 that true
servant of the Empire, Colonel Stoffel,
the French military attache at Berlin
from 1866 to 1870, who never ceased
from warning his superiors against the
war preparations of Prussia. Says Mr..
Legge:
Those who assume (Which ! do not and
never shalD that Napoleon III was as a
EULER, as black as he has been painted, VIII
now learn for the first time that while IN
The highest military circles StOueiS ; re-
pcated warnings We're scoffed at, the En-
perOr attached the utmost importance TO
his military attaches reports. insisted
upon being kept fully informed Of what
was being done by Prussia and did his best
10 prepare his forces for the struggle which
he, like StOffel, fOresaw In the near future.
There is plenty OF the froth and frivol
Of the Paris Of the heyday of the Sec
ond Empire in the pages devoted TO it.
The Empress lacked dignity, Mr.. Legge
admits She was not to the manner
born. Moreover. her social attitude and
behavior were in great measure forced
aIpon her by the tac.t ostracism to which
the court was submitted by the old
French nobility, on the one hand. and
by the reigning houses of Europe on
she other. II was the period Of the
"exotiques," of foreigners with or with
out credentials, who were received for
lack of better material Meilhac and
Halevy's satirical librettos are not the
worst Of historical material we possess
concerning that period, and Offenbach's
music continues 10 enhance their value
There is much gossip here concerning
Nine. de Metternich, who dominated
Empress and court, and concerning
those aristocratic ladies. "Canaillette,"
s-Cochonette" and "Chiffonette" Mr.
Legge revives one Of the many versions
of "Cochonette's" dislike Of her wash
basin, as proved by her husband, the
gallant Marquis de Gallifet. On the
other hand, he passes over with a mere
mention such notorieties as Cora Pearl
and Hortense Schneider NJ. Augustin
fOId
The story of Nine. de Castiglione. but
of Miss Howard the author might well
have given some account Only the other
dav "A correspondent Of Notes and
Queries asked for information concern
ing this lady. Still. though her name
IS not found in the index, the author
tells an anecdote concerning her that
throws a vivid light on Napoleon. While
still President of the republic he went
10 Tours TO open a new railway. Miss
Howard who was Of the party, was
lodged at the prefecture, the official
residence Of NJ. Andre, the Receiver
General. who was away from home with
his wife at the time. On hearing OF
this desecration of his hearth and roof
tree the gentleman made trouble
whereupon Napoleon wrote letter that
Is startling revelation Of his utter
lack of moral sense and Of a sense OF
social decency as well. The epistle is
revolving in its blasphemous use of
Scripture, and this extract from II must
suffice here:
detest this pedantic strictness. which
hadly conceals the anne seche,' indulgent
FOR himself. inexorable for others. True
,eligion Is not intolerant IL does not. seek
70 raise storms in a glass Of water. 20 make
> scandal for nothing, aud 10 change into
: crime a simple accident or an excusable
mistake.
Mr. Legge, who was present at Sedan
es war correspondent, discusses anew
the story. spread through all the world
hy Emile Zola, that the ailing Napoleon
was rouged on that fsteful day. adduc-