The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-11
An Imperial Hermit

When the heat of the southern summer descended upon San Martino. still sim pier abiding place was chosen by the Emperor This was in the house of a religious hermit who tended an altar of the Madonna high up Monte Glove. On the 2500-foot climb along the stony path to this solitary hermitage, where the altar candles are still kept burning, the traveller leaves the village of Mar ciana Marina, at the shore and passes through the mountain hamlet of Mar ciana Alta to the Madonnas lonely chapel.
 There in the late summer of his Elban year. Napoleon passed fortnight in the four-room stone hut of the hermit, although he really slept in a tent. There, too. is a rocky throne-Napoleon's seat, it is called. From it he looked over the amethystine sea to the northern slopes of his native Corsica, with the town of Basta shining white against the ver- dant mountain sides. How near to- gether his two islands were. and yet how long the path between them
 Stern as the imperial refuge on Monte Glove is, it holds a soft memory, for it was in that wild fastness, in that grim solitude that Countess Walewska came to visit the conqueror of Poland and its fair daughter. The countess brought their son with her, but her journey would have been mores sentimental had it not been prompted by her anxiety abotu her ben sion. The Emperor, moreover, was alarmed by her unsolicited visit, because he was still hoping to be reunited with Marie Louise. After two days the mother and son descended the mountain and sailed away i ntheir ship, leaving the mystifed islanders dsputng with one another whether the Empress and the King of Rome had been among them.
 Signing for Wife and Child
 The Elhans, only less eagerly than the Emperor, watched for the coming Of Marie Louise and her child Napoleon himself at first hoped and next implored that those who had taken away his em- pre would restore to hm his wife and son. When he saw that his letters ad- dressed to My good Louise were in tercepted, he appealed to members of her family for some report of her and the little King, but no reply came and then he dispatched secret emissaries to the Empress. His efforts were vain. The politicians. so far from permitting the omther and child to join him. would not even let them go to their allotted duchy because Parma was too near Elba. They separated the Empress and the boy and moved her a bout from place to place. like a piece on chess board. At first she mildly begged to be allowed to join hel husband in his exile but soon her father brought her back to her girlhood fahii of obedience to his will. and almost be- fore her summer wanderings in Switzer- land were over. her pliant affections were quite diverted to Count Neipperg, an in gratiatipg courier whom Metterneh had craftiy chosen to attend her.
 Napoleon however. continued 10 amuse himself with preparations for the com. ing of Marie Louise. Wherever he dwelt lie fitted upia room for her and her favor. ite saddle horse awaited her in the i'm perial stable. His chosen snuff box bore a miniature portrait of the King of Rome and on this he lavished fatherly kisses and signs.
 The mother of the Emperor, whose