Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-11-28

" tue ElnperOr u. e., Napoleon Ill,
her husband) in the old Museum of
Sovereigns. And no one would OBJ
]ect to her taking the belt buckle of
Pepln the Short and the jeweled box
or st. Louis, bought by Napoleon III
Tor 1900 francs from the Abbey de
Lys.
But Eugenie's legal rights were too
magnificent, and Immediately after
the courts made her final award in
1907, the famous antiquary, Velche,
raised cry before the public enumer-
ating the historical and intrinsic
value of the relics thus awarded to
Eugene.
No one can look on them without
dreaming. They are four magnificent
Moorish saddles, embroidered in gold
and pearls, picked up by Napoleon
after the battle of the Pyramids, and
estimated at $4,000. At public sale
they would bring above 100000 for
their romantic history. An oriental
scimitar, gold-handled, heavily jew
eled, picked up by Napoleon equally
In the shadow of the Pyramids, at the
beginning of his career, and worn
constantly by him. Estimated at $45,-
900 for its material, 1t is really worth
100000, or perhaps double. An Amer
lean, they say, offered Eugenie's law
yers a quarter of million dollars for
it in 1907. The parade saddle of Ma
poleon I, flashing with jewels, esti-
mated at 100000; the American Of
fered 100000 for it.
Then the sacred high glass case Of
all! Here is the "capote girls" of the
Man of Destiny, his historic battle
hats, cocarde, his cross of the Legion
of Honor his illustrious gray over
coat worn at Friedland, June IA, 1904; ;
his gloves, his pstols-the whole le-
gend of the Eagle.
The old veteran dreamed awhile,
then spoke at last:
These things belong to France"
he said. France paid dear for them -
l once saw a party of French Boy
Scouts being shown the tomb and
relics by General Niox, director of the
Museum Of the Army.
We were down in the crypt, before
the bronze door.
HE is in there" the boys whis-
pered.
MY father saw him." said one.
Everybody though: he must be mis-
taken, but famous Partisan who
knew the lad to be of the Mellinet
family. told us how he, too, had been
of the party when this boys father
and himself were taken there. General
Mellinet, then governor of the In
valides, took them.
my own father raised me in his
arms to look" tells Jean Richepin,
the poet; for Il was he. And I saw
the emperor. I have never forgotten
the sight. What is seen at that age
by a boy Of eleven makes a deep
impression. can still behold those
ewes half closed, the beard slightly
grown, the face Of the whiteness of
marble, on which spread few spots
that looked like bronze. When there
mingle in my memory that face of
wax, which l have seen, and those
ewes. which have seen, see the en-
neror as truly as II l had known
him."
The face was for time exposed to
public view once a year, August Is.
the fete of Napoleon.
Vast crowds passed in, round and
out. The upper part of the coffin
was raised, and through plate glass
the Man Of Destiny was seen, not as
sleeping, but awaking, eyes half
opened, just beginning to look up.
This was until 1852; but 1t was
presumed that the bronze spots
threatened injury, and it was ordered
to risk no more possible movement of
oxposure to the air, even under thick
ness of plate glass.
He was rever embalmed. At St.
Helena they lacked the necessary ma
terial. So II was wonderful that he
was found untouched by time in 1s41,
when they brought him back to
France.