MARK TWAIN "INTERVIEWING" NAPOLEON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 44, 21 February 1871, Page 4

MARK TWAIN "INTERVIEWING" NAPOLEON.

(F/w» the Buffalo Express.) .A remarkable feature of the present European war is the extraordinary candour of tbe prominent persons who have been engaged in it. From Bismarck to Napoleou, from Bazaiue to William, the dignitaries have manifested a miraculous alacrity in the frank avowal of their intentions, plans, aud projects, and have seemed happiest when making a cleau breast of it to some newspaper correspondent. As a fair illustration of their amiable candour, I have condensed the following specimen from tho New York Herald correspondent's recent interview with Napoleon. [Cabl Byng*.] As I was ushered into the reception room at Wilhelmshohe, the Emperor rose [from a " luxurious fauteuil," of course) and advanced to welcome me with extended hand and an air of extreme gratification that put me perfectly at ease. '"Bung zhoo, sire," said I, giving his hand a cordial shake. With the exquisite tact of a practical courtier, his Majesty seized the occasion to pay me (and my countrymen) one of his neatest compliments. He said, " Perhaps we had better conduct our conversation in English. The fact is, you speak French with an accent that really shames us Parisians. I've often remarked this trait in accomplished Americans, and woudered at it." The Emperor's remark was so unexpectedly flatteriug tbat it took ray breath away for a moment, but, under cover of a profouud bow, I recovered my fluency, aud observed : c*e * Such a compliment from your Majesty, in happier days, would have brought the entire American nobility to your feet." My indirect allusion to his misfortunes affected his Majesty profoundly. The tears that chased each other silently down his mßJestic aud imperial nose and dripped in imperial sorrow from the waxed ends of his moustache, might have moved a heart of stone, with a little assistance. Surely, thought I, the Emperor who can thus weep at his own calamities cannot be utterly heartless. When the Emperor had recovered his composure, and had his nose blowed by the proper officer, I opened the conversation in a way that I thought least likely to offend his delicacy. I told him it was currently reported that he had feathered his nest pretty well while Emperor, and I should take it as a special favor if he had really stolen. In America, I told him, public men were expected to lay by something for a rainy day, and it would rather enhance our respect for him to be assured that he had exercised a like justifiable prudence. He replied, "My friend, I respect the Herald too much to deceive it. I have made a nice thiug on the whole, and my chamberlain shall provide you with au inventory of all that I have gobbled." I asked him if he owned any property in New York. " Well, said he, "I. thought I owned the Neic York Herald a few months ago, but since the Sedan affair it has gone back on me." " Your Majesty was accused of treachery at Sedan. Was you really a traitor?" " Frankly," said lie, " I think if I had tried I might have died at the head of my army instead of surrendering. If this be treason, make the most of it." I said, " Sire, we Americans aye very frank and straightforward, especially in asking questions. Now, you needn't answer if you feel the least bit squeamish about it ; but I should like to know — I really would be pleased to know whether your father was a Bonaparte or a Dutch admiral, as some have intimated ? " ' His Majesty with great cheerfulness, replied, "So would I." The engaging freedom with which his Majesty unbosomed himself emboldened me to pursue my enquiries,- and our conversation almost became confidential. I asked him if Eugenic was ever jealous. He replied,- "Not as Empress ; but as Mrs, Napoleon I have sometimes thought she was inclined to be a little too strict with me." I said, " Can you lay your hand on your heart, sire, and solemly assure the Herald that you never gave her cause for jealousy? " The Emperor (musingly) — " You : . : may be right." At this point the Emperor seemed a good deal cut up, and sighed profoundly. Instead of answering my question explicitly, I was sorry to see him put both hands in his pockets instead of on his heart. I told him he might deem me rather inquisitive, but if he knew how deeply interested wb Americans were in such scaudal, I was sure he would gladly tell me all about the Bellanger intrigues referred to in his private correspondence, which was, discovered at the Tuileries after the flight of tbe Empress. He said, "My friend, I am deeply touched by your friendly solicitude about ray affairs. Your curiosity is tempered with an ©quisitive delicacy that disarms ifc of any power to offend. That correspondence T grieve to confess — " The announce-

ment of a messenger from Berlin unhappily interrupted tho Emperor's remarks on this point. I intended to have gradually drawn Napoleou to speak about private and personal topics, and should have succeeded but for that interruption. As I was about to withdraw, the Emperor embraced me with every mark of esteem, particularly on my shirt front, which he marked with his nose, in the ardour of his country. If the mark is indellible — and it has that appearance — I am an historic shirt ahead.

An eminent physician has lately given it as his deliberate opinion, after long yeavs of practice, that, whereas men engaged iv mere physical labour may work ten and twelve, and even fifteen hours a day, brain workers should stop at five or six, and occupy the remaining time in the process of building up the machinery through which the soul-powers work. The Chief Rabbi of the Dautzic Jews had taken a new house, aud his flock determined to stock his wine-butt for him. An evening was set apart for the affair, and one after another the Jews went down into the cellar and emptied each his bottle into the big vat. When the rabbi came next day to draw off his dinner-wine he found that there was nothiug in the cask | but water. Each and every Jew had said to himself that one bottle of water could never be noticed iv so great a quantity of wine, and all acting upon this, the rabbi had not got a drop of wine in his butt. The French don't m.Dd parting with Alsace and Lorraine, but have a decided objection to parting with the Rhin-o !