The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-03-03
YANKEE DENTIST FIGURED IN
|NTR|CUES Of COURT Of FRANCE
~ HE fame OF DR.. John Henry Ev.
ans, Marquis d'Oyley, the
American dentist, whose death

American dentist, whose death
was announced recently In Pa.
ris. was worldwide. Dom Pedro, the
former emperor Of Brazil, summoned
him to his palace once, and when "le
bon docteur," as he was generally call.
I'd, begged to be excused owing to the
dificulty he found in leaving his work
Dom Pedro made the journey TO Par
In to consult the dentist.
Gar Alexander II. gave him several
magnificent presents in recognition OF
his services, and Abdul Hamid when
sultan sent for him on several coca.
eions to visit Constantinople Pope
Plus TX wished to keep him In his
service, appointed him special cham
beriain Of the cape and sword and
decorated him with the collar OF St
Bulpice.
DR.. Evans received many decora-
tions from rulers and before he died
possessed at least ten grand cordons.
His title OF Marquis d'Oyley had a
somewhat vague Norman origin. On
q Baron dOyley in Normandy, and
Or. Evans was only Baron d'Oyley I'M
III Napoleon ILL., sent him as a 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 IL more than one inconvenience.
For one thing, his uncle, who was
friendly with the empress. took offense
at 1t. 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
Or. 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.
Or. John Evans in turn decided to pub
fish 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
light on many points; they knew, too,
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 am going to fail In gallantry
in my old age"'
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-fve.
DR.. Evans handled the sword and the
pistol with skill and took part In sever.
n duels. One Of them had so pictur.
esQue an accompaniment that It form.
cd the subject Of salon picture year
afterward
One night at a masked ball at the
Tuileries, at which be was dressed az
the traditional Yankee, he had a differ
ence with the Due de Morny. who wai
eostumed as a pierrot. The Yankee
and the pierrot, followed by few OH
er masked dancers, left the ballroom
for the Tuileries gardens and fell b
with swords on a ground thickly car
peted with snow. A few rapid passes
and a scratch on the pierrot's arm pu,
an end to the combat.
Defeated Army Surgeons.
In 1858 and 1850 DR.. Evans took par
In the Italian expedition. His object
was to. accompany the emperor and
assist in caring for the wounded. Or
several battlefelds, and notably at Sol
ferino. he succeeded in displeasing the
star surgeons of the French army
He knew the value Of iodine as ar
antisePtic. The French surgeons were
offended and went to the emperor t
complain OF this young idiot who wal
killing all their wounded" DR.. Evan.
had no trouble in proving the benefi
Of his treatment, and Napoleon. turn
ing to the group Of angry medical Of
1cers. said:
IL beg Of you to let the young lido
act exactly as he wishes" The result
WAS that they. too. adopted the use O.
iodine.
At the battle Of Sedan DR.. Evan
was once more by the emperor's side
He had organized an ambulance serv
Ice with DR.. Plat. Here Napoleon a
q last gift presented to him the com
mnder's cravat OF the Legion Of Hon
or.
The Marquise d'oyley, who had Jus
become mother, took refuge in Brus