The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-03-09


possessed at least ten grand cordons.
His title of Marquis d'Oyley had a
somewhat vague Norman origin. I'm
der William the Conqueror there was
a Baron d'Oyley in Normandy, and
DR.. Evans was only Baron d'Oyley IN
til Napoleon III. sent him as special
envoy to Pope Plus TX. At the re.
quest of Napoleon III. the pope
changed the title of his chamberlain
to that of Marquis d'Oyley, and subse-
quently DR.. Evans added a marquis
coronet to the D'Oyley arms. He used
his title in private life and signed his
private letters "D'Oyley"
Dentist and Diplomat.
In addition to being a master of the
art of dentistry DR.. Evans played a
role in French court life during the
brilliant period Of the second empire
He went to Paris at the invitation of
his uncle, DR.. Thomas Evans, who had
already become the dentist and friend
of Empress Eugene.
DR.. Evans was not long in Paris be-
fore he attracted the attention of the
emperor, Napoleon ILL.,, whose conf
dant he became. This honor brought
with it more than one inconvenience.
For one. thing, his uncle, who was
friendly with the empress, took offense
at it. He ignored his uncle's displeas-
ure and continued to cultivate the en-
peror's friendship.
From that time friendly relations be-
tween uncle and nephew ceased DR..
Thomas Evans remained the friend
of the empress, whom he was later to
assist in her escape from France, while
DR.. John Evans became a kind of spe-
cial envoy for the emperor on several
occasions.
DR.. Thomas Evans wrote his me-
moirs before he died some years ago.
DR.. John Evans in turn decided to pub
llsh his "reminiscences and collected a
mass of material, notes and letters
with this purpose in view. Some of
his intimate friends urged him to lose
no time in beginning the work, for
they knew that he could throw new
U,
that certain of the documents in his
possession would not reflect too highly
to the credit of the empress. When
they pressed 1.-The good doctor" to set
to work he used to reply:
"You want me to harm a woman
at my age! Now, now, now, you don't
Imagine 1 am going to fail in gallantry
in my old agev'
And he waited, hoping to outlive the
woman he disliked, but fate has ruled
otherwise. removing him at seventy
three and leaving her now close on
eighty-6ve
DR.. Evans handled the sword and the
pistol with skill and took part in sever
al duels. One of them had so pictur-
esque an accompaniment that it form
ed the subject Of salon picture year
afterward
One night at masked ball at the
Tuileries, at which he was dressed as
the traditional Yankee, he had differ
ence with the Due de Morny, who was
costumed as pierrot. The Yankee
and the pierrot, followed by a few 9TH
er masked dancers. left the ballroom
for the Tuileries gardens and fell to
with swords on ground thickly car
peted with snow. A few rapid passes
and scratch on the pierrot's arm put
an end to the combat.
Defeated Army Surgeons.
In 1858 and 1859 DR.. Evans took part
in the Italian expedition. His object
was to accompany the emperor and
assist in caring for the wounded. On
several battlefelds, and notably at Sol
ferino, he succeeded in displeasing the
staff surgeons of the French army.
He knew the value of iodine as an
antiseptic. The French surgeons were
o1ended and went to the emperor to
complain of ''this young idiot who was
killing all their wounded" DR.. Evans
had no trouble in proving the benefit
OF his treatment. and Napoleon, turn
Ing to the group of angry medical Of
fcers, said:
Il beg OF you to let the young idiot
act exactly as he wishes.' The result
was that they, too. adopted the use Of
iodine.
At the battle of Sedan DR.. Evans
was once more by the emperor's side.
he had organized an ambulance sery-
Ice with DIR. Plat. Here Napoleon as
last gift presented to him the COM
mander's cravat of the Legion of Hon
or.
The Marquise dOyley. who had just
become mother, took refuge in Brus-
sells little before the German forces
began the siege of Paris, leaving her
apartment on the Place de POpera to