Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-21
BOYS GIFT
Napoleon Suspects Poison in
Bouquet of Flowers.
HIS FEAR OF BONBONS
Story of Incident in Life of Famous
Emperor Handed Down to
French Author.

Special cablesrsm 10 The Star
PARIS. July Nm Maurice vaucairs
Is widely known dramatist He coflaho-
rated with Sardou In q three-act PLAY i'm
verse. La Jeunesse de Figaro: he wrote
Hans the Flute Player and the '-Manon
Lescaut' to which Puccini wrote the
music. and his .Chatterton 10 the mu-
sic OF Leoncavallo has become classic.
He can do more than write plays. He
tells story better than any man in
Paris. Here Is one OF his stories:
"A great many years ago. when | was
a very small boy. my grandfather was
fond OF telling me how he. when he was
seven years old. made the acquaintance
Of the Emperor Napoleon. Ny grand
father was a flower grower at Grasse.
His father had grown violets and orange
blossoms before him. and few DAYS
after Napoleon landed from Elba-to be
exact. March = lsl5-my grandfather.
Jean Paul Bedelle, made the great mans
acquaintance,
Repeats Grandfather's Story.
He used to tell the story in this way
l will tell it to YOU in his own words
The emperor arrived at the Collie
Juan on board the 1nconstant He had
Cambron, Drouot and Bertrand with him.
and l, 100 men. He landed at 3 in the
afternoon. and he left for Grasse at mid
night
The little town. or al all events, tho
townspeople, wished that he were any
did not know just what they ought 10 do
with him. There was no enthusiasm in
Grasse for the Emperor NAPOLEON March
= 1910. | remember my father removing
his nightcap and scratching his head.
and explaining how badly the towns
people of Grasse Were treating the en-
peror l remember how he sprang out of
bed and pulled me out of mine. Little
man. he said. the people of Grasse do
not know how to treat Napoleon You
and l are going to show them. Put on
your best clothes.
Ten minutes afterward my father put
fine bunch of violets into my hand and
OH he went, he in his best clothes. I In
mine. 1t was bitterly cold: then was
snow OF. the ground. and we ran all the
way to keep warm. Every now and again
my father would shout. "Eive Tempe
| reur.' and. though l was out of breath.
he made me do the same. The emperor.
when we found him, was standing i'm the
middle of "A group of soldiers with the
tricolor cockade Outside the circle Of
the soldiers stood crowd of townspeo-
pie gazing in silence at Napoleon. Now.
| then" said my father, slip through the
SOiuleTS ieSS ana give your mowers 10
the emperor. Be quick He must not
leave Grasse with the bad impression he
has got already"
Declines the Flowers.
- slipped through the legs OF big
grenadier and ran to where the emperor
was standing. l pushed the vioiets into
his hand and fell on my knees in front
of him. ] don't know why l did that.
but It seemed exactly the right thing to
do.
"'"What does the boy want" said the
emperor. who seemed in a very bad tenn
per.
sire" said somebody was told
aNerward that il was Rrouot-.,howers
are the industry of the country. These
have been sent you as welcome
lido you think so?' said the en-
peror Il DON'T
took the flowers and was going to SINE
them.
.."Don't do that" shouted Napoleon.
This may be "A Bourbon trick. | don
trust these people Throw the flowers
down.
'Cambronne dropped the violets and
! began to cry Where did you get
those flowers, child?" the emperor growi-
ed. 1 was trembling all over. II wasn't
the cold. 1t was because of his voice.
Where is hep l pointed to him with
out word. Bring the man here" said
Napoleon, sharply.
Questioned by Napoleon.
My father faced the emperor. He
was very pale and looked as though Ma
poleon's big eyes had turned him into
stone. You gave the child those flowers
to give to me-" Napoleon asked. Yes.
sire" What is your nance" "Evariste
Bedelle." my father said. Il am dis
tiller of perfume.
THE emperor stared at him as though
he would read his mind.
why did you send me those violets,"
he asked.
Ms homage from a humble indiyid-
Everybody was looking at him. and
everybody looked suspicious. There is
some trick in this said the emperor.
Trick? said my father. "A trick in
Napoleon laughed. short, nasty
laugh like a bark. Poison, he said.
THE thing has been done before. We
know the Bourbons."
My father smiled. Sire he said.
there is no poison in these flowers, and
will prove it, He snatched up the
bouquet and two soldiers leaped forward
Leave him alone" Napoleon barked. The
two men, my fatHer ana the eiHpcrois
stood staring into one anothers eyes
My father laughed again.
Proves His Words.
Then. very slowly. with his eyes on
the emperor's eyes, he raised the violets
to his mouth and began eating them. He
took mouthful after mouthful eating the
petals as though they had been preserved
and crystellized In sugar. and his eyes
never left the emperor's face till he had
eaten up the bouquet. stalks and all. He
nearly choked over the stalks. There!
You will not deny that / am still alive.
SIRE" he said as he finished, and am
not q friend OF the Bourhons.