The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-01-11

much OF the time. Even for a We'll
man working under favorable cir
the literary output of
would be creditable; and
for one under the circumstances it
seems marvellous. And it is the
best possible proof against the Gov
ernor's assertion that he spent his
time in Tuning and stewing himself
in hot water"
The memoranda of conversations
with Las Casas, Bertrand, Montha-
Ion and O'Meara his physician, in
their range covered almost every
subject of life, and are full of truth
and true conception of its problems.
A few quotations must suffice: How
wretched is the lot. of man! He is
the same everywhere, on the sum-
nit of a rock, or in the halls Of
Palace. Man is always man wheth-
er in robes or chains!'
A man shows more real courage
in supporting and resisting the cal
antilles which befall him. than by
making away with himself. That
is the action of a ruined spendthrift,
or gambler, and is a want of cour-
age instead of proof Of it. My
weakest moments were W hen i
thought of suicide"
1t is said that when you know a
mans character, you have key to
his whole conduct; but this is a mis-
take, though he may be fundament-
ally good, he may be led into an act
of wickedness, without being him.
self wicked; this is because man is
usually actuated. not by his natural
bent Of character, but by secret
momentary passion which has been
dormant and concealed in the in
most recesses Of his heart
Another error is to suppose that
the face is the mirror of the mind
The truth is, that it is very difficult
to know a mans character. To
avoid beng deceived, it is necessary
to Judge man by his actions and
at the moment, and merely for that
moment
In no period of the Emperor's
life does his imperial character shine
more brilliantly than during the aw-
full tragedy at St. Helena. His
friends exerted the utmost energies
to battle the malignity of his foes.
Napoleon simply lived his life the
the best he could. opposing any in
trusion of his privacy from the Gov
ernor, and yet exercising sublime
patience in the endurance of his
physical discomforts. His abode
was damp and unhealthy and infest-
ed with ants, feas and rats and on
more than one occasion a rat ran
out of his hat when he took it to put
| on his head.
Toward the close, the time passed
sadly away, while Napoleon remain
ed in his room with his books and
his pen, his health rapidly failing
his limbs swelling. and a lingering
and painful death slowly dragging
on. He appeared cheerful with hls
friends. and seldom was any com
plant heard to escape his lips
Those who loved him tried to shield
him from the assaults Of the Gov.
ernor. and the days were filled uI
with constant conflict between Sill
Hudson Lowe, and all who had any
sympathy with Napoleon. And
they wisely refrained from annoying
him with the recital of their incess.
ant conflicts with their brutal jailer
The Governor had succeeded, by
arrest and Punishment to get rid Of
all but two Of Napoleon's faithful.
friends. Bertrand and Monthclon
Even good DR.. O'Meara fell under
the Ban because he would not re-
port all conversations he had with
Napoleon and was banished. Ma
poleon, whenever his health permit
ted. employed his time in little
] garden with few flowers and veg.
etables, in making a fish pond and
in tending the fish in it. Any per
son who showed any sympathy will
him in his almost dying condition
were punished for the crime b,
dismissal from service. As Napo
/ Icons health failed, Sir Hudson wa
detected in sending out false mes
sages regarding his condition. Al
: he was without a physician during
two months after O'Meara's dismis
sal. Sir Hudson was determined