The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-15

10 the emperor Il. O., NApoleon %lllI
her husbandl IN the old Museum Of
sovereigns. And no one would OBJ
ject TO her taking the belt buckle OF
Pepin the Short and the jeweied bc1
Of st. Louis, bought by Napoleon III
for $4,000 francs from the Abbey de
Lys.
But Eugenie's legal rights were too
magnificent, and Immediately after
the courts made her anal award, In
1907, the famous antiquary, Velche,
raised q cry before the public enumer.
ating the historical and intrinsic
value Of the relics thus awarded 10
Eugene. ...&%% .
, No one a 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 q public sale
they would bring above $4,000 for
their romantic history. An Oriental
scinitar, gold-handled, heavily jew
\ elsd, picked up by Napoleon equally
in the shadow Of the Pyramids, at the
beginning OF hfs career, and worn
constantly by him. EstimatedFa at tt6,.
900 for It's material, II is really worth
{, 100000, or perhaps double. An Amer
tican, they say, offered Eugenie.s law
tyers a quarter OF a million dollars Tor
1t in 1907. The parade saddle OF Ma
poleon I, flashing with Jewels, est.
mated at $50, 900; 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 IL, 1894;
his gloves, his pistols-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,
1 once saw a party OF French Boy
Scouts being shown the tomb and
relics by General Nioxy director Of the
Museum Of the Army, ,
We we're down in the crypt, before
the bronze door. Is,
HE is in there" the boys whis-
pered. So
my father saw him." said. one.
Everybody thought he must be mis-,
taken, but a famous Partisan who
knew the lad to be Of the MeIlinet
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 Riehepin,
the poet; for 1t was he. And 1 saw
the emperor. I have never forgotten
the sight. What is seer at that ags
by a boy Of eleven makes q deep
impression. I can still behold those
eyes half closed, the beard slightly
grown, the face OF the wilderness OF
marble, on which spreadyastew spots
that looked like bronze. Wien there
mingle in my memory that face Of
wax, which I have seen, and those
eyes, which I have seen, / see the en-.
peror as truly as II I had known
him" Y
The face was for q time exposed to
public view once a year, August is,
the fete of Napoleon. !
Vast crowds passed In, round ana
out. The upper part OF the CONN
was raised, and through plate glass
the Man of Destiny was seen, not AZ
sleeping, but awaking, eyes half
opened, just beginning to look up. I
This was until 1852; but Il was
presumed that the bronze spots
threatened injury, and 1t was ordered
to risk no more possible movement Of
exposure to the air, ven under thick.
ness Of plate glass. =
He was lever embalmed. At 81.
Helena they lacked the necessary 1na.
terial. So II was wonderful that he
was found untouched by time In 1884,
when they brought him back 70
Franco !