Evening star., 1914-04-19

calm and apparently in his usual physi-
cal condition, and he prepared docu-
ment of unqualified abdication, with
which Ney hastened once more TO tne
capital. Alexander well knew that Ma
poleon was still power IN france.
appealed to, and with a generous I'M
pulse his first idea was that the de-
feated- monarch should retire to Ruseia-
there to accept a home and such estao-
lishment as was proper TO ms es.ate.
Then the proposal was made to provioe
him with a suitable income to maintain
the form of an empire and to make MIN
the guest Of Europe as whole. The
idea was fantastic but impracticable.
At last a treaty. more properly a
contract, was drawn up between Ma
poleon, now to all intents and purposes
a private citizen, as a party on the one
hand, and the states of England, Prus-
sia. Russia and Austria as party on
the other. He was to reign undis-
turbed over Elba, with an annual In
como of two million francs. to be pro-
vided by France: while the allies granted
to Maria Louisa and her heirs through
the King OF Rome realm in perpetuity
consisting of Parma, Placentia and Guas-
talla-
Each of the four powers appointed a
commissioner. and together they set out
for Fontainebleau. where they treated
Napoleon with extreme courtesy oenttin8
an emperor, for such he was yet, his
domain being tiny Elba, but still an en-
pire
April 20. 100 years ago tomorrow, all
was ready for the departure for the
island. Napoleon and his attendants were
to proceed to the harbor Of st. Tropez,
there to embark in a corvette. By the
terms of the treaty or contract Napoleon
had stipulated that the empress should
be allowed to accompany him to st.
Tropez. but she did not appear Amazed,
chagrined, unable to grasp the signih-
canoe of her absence. he declared that
she had been kidnapped and refused to
start, even threatening to withdraw his
agreement of abdication. until one of
the commissioners, Roller. representing
Austria, told him that, regardless of per
mission to accompany him to the port
of embarkation. the empress had re-
fused to be present.
Convinced that no hope for the future
remained SO far as Napoleon was con
cerned, and that her own safety de-
manded common sense measures. Maria
Louisa had decided to throw herself on
her fathers protection. Joseph and Je-
rome had fed to Switzerland and the i'm
perial government at Blois had fallen
to earth.
Shortly before noon Napoleon descended
to the courtyard, and there, as he had
expected. found drawn UP for a last re
view by their worshiped commander the
few remaining members Of the Old Guard.
And then occurred an incident of real
pathos in the life of one whose life was
filled with storms within and without
As he passed through the courtyard he
beheld others there besides his faithful
guardsmen; he beheld the most brilliant
and numerous court in Europe reduced to
some sixteen individuals, who were wait
ing to manifest their regard and respect
for him. even in this hour of his down
fall. Napoleon shook hands with all of
these, then hastily passed by, advancing
toward the remnant of his imperial
guard.
For an instant he stood in silence and
then at his request more than at word
of command. the officers stepped forward
commissioned and non-eommissioned as
well. In another instant the emperors
voice broke the profound silence as he
delivered his famous farewell.
The emperor had not recovered from
his agitation when he stepped into his
carriage and drove off toward Lyon. Up
to that point the journey was made with
out discomfort and there were even out
bursts of good feeling now and then from
persons who stopped to see him pass. But
a decided change in the attitude of the
populace became noticeable as soon al
most as the descent began of the valley
of the Rhone
AS one village after another was reach
ed cries came of hatred and contempt.
There were dangers. too. far more real
than those implied by the hooting OF a
scattered populace. for already a hired
assassin, Maubreuil. was rushing from
Paris at the head of band of desperate
ruffians with the declared purpose OF
overtaking Napoleon before he set sail
for Elba and OF recovering crown Jewels