Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-06-22
How q Queens Dainty Feet
Played a Part in Politics
lRy Mark StuYyesanNl

The means by which Napoleon in
duced Pope Plus VII to come to
Paris and appear in Notre Dame at
his coronation as emperor may be
left to the student of history TO ap-
praise One Of the reasons Napoleon
wished the Pope to crown him may
he found in the interesting idea that
| by this ceremony there would be
transferred to Napoleon the right
to the ancient Roman empire of
Charlemagne. oddly enough, how
ever. Napoleon took the crown from
the Popes hands and placed it on
| his own head.
1t was during this visit of the
Pope that there occurred an incident
which caused Napoleon to laugh de-
| Ilightedly when he heard of II. and
the Pope is said to have been much
amused when it happened.
TO meet the Pope certain num-
Der of high dignitaries of the emf
pire were invited. Many OF them
We're poor. They found il neces-
sary to combine economy with the
etiquette necessary to be observed
under the new order. To save
the expense of hiring carriages, we
are told by Burienne, these gentle
men proceeded to the Pavilion de
took the precaution of putting on
CATERS to cover their white silk
stockings from the mud which GOV
cred the streets
When these gentlemen arrived al
the palace in which the presentation
Twas to take place they removed
their CATERS. One placed his gaiterf
In his pocket. The Pope addressed
Ithem so elOquently several were mov
ed to tears. The gentleman who
had placed his CATERS in his pocket
reached for his handkerchief drew
the CATERS out instead, wiped his
eyes with them, and-smeareed hi?
face with mud
| This anecdOte is typical of the
humor most appreciated in that day
So heartily did Napoleon enjoy hear
ing the story that he commanded
MichOt, the actor, to relate it &c
| the Empress, while he sat beside
her and roared with delight
| The Empress then was Josephine
TO whom Napoleon was devoted
Within half decade Napoleon di-
:vorced Josephine. In her place he
paid court by proxy to Marie Louise
Archduchess of Austria.
When the marriage was arranged
his ambassadors cast about for some
particular feature of beauty in the
new Empress OF which they could
attach unique sentimental value
| Marie Louis, however, was but
Islightly favored by nature. HeI
feet were tho only beauty featuI IS
she possessed. So the ambassadors
sent to Napoleon the little slipper
of the Empress in the form OF q
portrait. Napoleon is said to have
been much pleased.
But he could not have been de
!lighted several years later when
word came to him Of how the EN-
press, the mother of his son, had
heard the news of his downfall. The
story, however, gave great delight
to Napoleon's enemies, who laughed
heartily when they heard 1t. His
torians find in it striking evidence
of the friyolity and egotism OF thu
character of Marie Louise.
According to Ralph Neville, M
de st. Aulaire went to break The
news to Marie Louise that the EN-
ipire had fallen, and that Napoleon
was in the hands of his enemies
Marie Louise was but just awake
when M. de ST. Aulaire was usheret
into her presense. She sat at th'
side Of her bed with her bare fee
showing under the cOyerlet. AS tn,
bearer OF such sad news, M. de st
Aulaire stood with his eyes cas-
down.
"Ah!" was the exclamation wrun,
from Marie Louise. You are look
ing at my feet! am always beint
told how pretty they are"