The Washington herald., 1914-06-28

, the centines as vigilantly as the francS
correcting the Empress laundry bills and
rejoicing over the saving Of 1900 a year
effected by having systematiZed the ex-
penditures for the l55 cups of coffee daily
drunk in his palaces. He made his mar
shals and courtiers furnish their own
blankets, linen, towels, hrewood. and
candles when in attendance at court. and
gave them nothing but the bare beds.
Not sip Of soup or wine could be OBJ
tanned in any Of the palaces without
check from Duroc. the grand marshal.
Life at court necessarily was robbed
of its joyousness by such a spirit OF
cheese pairing, but the Emperor believed
he was serving large purpose thus in
setting an example Of economy in his
own palaces the upkeep of which he re-
duced to an allowance Of only $4,000 q
year. whereas il had been as much as
s5,00aoo0 under the Bourbons. when the
broth for a two-year-old princess cost
$1,000 a year and rolls for each lady in
waiting $40. Louis XVI spent $4,000 on
a court journey to Fontaineblcau. a funC-
tion that Napoleon duplicated. in outward
form at least, for $5nO0O. Never" the
Emperor vowed. will / pardon those who
squander the public funds
Yet he was prodigal with rewards.
Every man in France knew that il he
devised anything useful in science or rem
dered an important service the Emperor
would handsomely repay him. Napoleon
had insisted from the outset that the
Legion OF Honor should not reward SOL
diers alone. He contended. on the con-
trary. that all sorts of merits are
brothers" and that intelligence has
rights before force" Honors fell upon
exceptional men in every calling. As the
ChevelieTs of the Legion came and went
through life. with their decorations on
their coats. sentries presented arms and
the Eendarme lifted his sword: their sons
and daughters were educated by the
state. and when they themselves died a
a squad OF twenty-five soldiers marched
beside the funeral car.
eli
awakened the Emperor's appreciation. He
could not read a report that was well
done without wishing to know what clerk
prepared il and how he could show his
approval.
A Heavy Yoke.
But many broke under his heavy yoke
He said OF one of his ministers that he
had some merit at first. but by cram
ming him too full l have made him
stupid Decres groaned that terrible
man has subjugated US all" Another Of
his ministerial tools said, I used to think
saw the Emperor standing over me as
worked shut up in my office"
Compassionless toward himself. this
taskmaster was not without compassion
toward others. He confessed at one time
that he had already worked TO death two
of his ministers and would have killed q
third had he not been so tough. The
lucky man." he said. lis he who hides
away from me in the depth of some prov
ince. When die people will draw their
breath and say 'ouf. "
For himself there was no hiding place,
no refuge from his genius. from the
terrible abnOTmality with which nature
had visited him. Power warped his whole
being. He lost the capacity to smile
he never could laugh. Care furrowed his
face and left his eye cold and searching
That devil of a man." the bold rufian
Vandamme exclaimed. Il who fear
neither God nor the devil. tremble like a
child when I approach him. He could
make me jump through the eye Of q
needle into the fire."
From the towering summit OF his own
eminence. he saw mankind so nearly on e
a dead level below him that individuality
was almost lost. The imagination and
plans OF others could not keep up with
his own and were but a drag upon him.
He needed only the arms and hands and
legs of men to execute his thoughts,
which gushed forth. spontaneously like
water from a geyser.
Thus, one man absorbed France and
Europe until he was all in all. nations
and armies, commerce. industry and lit
erature. Kings, queens princes, minis
ters. and marshals, like flying horses In
merry-go-round, revolving on his atlean
shoulders
(oopyrisht. IgI5IsiI. By JIms NOrgsaJ