Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1881 — A Little Prince Projecting a Great Emperor. [ARTICLE]

A Little Prince Projecting a Great Emperor.

That great but barman, Napoleon 1., had an only son, who, after the downfall of his father's empire, was taken by his mother to Austria. His home then was In a royal palace at Vienna. It happened that the English prince of Wales sent the emperor of Austria two young lions as a present. These beasts —mere cubs, I suppose—were kept among a collection of wild animals near the nalace. The little Napoleon soon grew quite fond of them, and the lions so familiar with him as to submit to be fondled by him. They were somewhat dangerous playmates.for any boy, whether prince or peasant; but, not knowing how dangerous their friendship might prove, the flaxen-haired boy was not afraid. One day the emperor of Austria visited the lions, and, while he stood looking at their gambols, bis face, as the little Napoleon thought, showed some signs of fear. In an instant he ran up to the lions, clasped one of them round the neck, and, looking toward the astonished emperor, exclaimed :

“Now, grappa, you may come near, he sha’n.’t touch you.” The emperor, no doubt, smiled at his little protector, for there was something ridiculous in . this little ch|ld actjqg the part of protector to an armed emperor. But there was also something so affectionate irrthc aCt of this child-prince that it must have made the emperor’s heart beat, with love toward him, Whether it 'id or not, I cannot say. M t likely it did, for, notwithstanding ail their grandeur, ki tian and princes, lords and ladies, feel pretty muc . as we Americans do. You know, I daife say, that the yodng Napoleon died young. Peri.apa it was. best for the world, that he dip, tpopffh fie might, net. have loved war and power a® nis fa her did. He did not lopk like h|s father in the face, and' Ke prob ibly was unlike him in his nature., Certainly, the boy who could proHet his royal grandfather as he did had' a generous hedrt, and we can afford to love him for that. Love is better than royalty.— Francis Forrester, Esq. ,