Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1879 — A Piece of Real History. [ARTICLE]

A Piece of Real History.

, All through Germany the anniversary of the surrender at Bedan was celebrated by fireworks, illuminations and the inevitable oration. In connection with this event is a story which sounds more like romance thau real history. When the great Napoleon, the oily Napoleon in fact, was rushing through Europe at the head of his victorious army, made drunk by repeated successes, Louisa, Queen of Prussia, who was compelled to fly from castle to castle, determined to seek an interview with the resistless General. When she entered the room with her children, hoping that their guileless faces would touch the royal heart, she was so exhausted that she sank into a chair. Napoleon, addressing mr in his most brusque manner, said, "Midame, are you aware that you are in the presence of the Emperor?” She at once rose, and standing before the parvenu witii the dignity which the recollection that her family had been famous for hundreds of years replied, "Sir, I supposed that I was in the presence of a gentleman.” Even tbe tiny child felt the insult, for he flushed with anger and doubled his little fist. What wonder that he never forgot the wrong done to his mother, and that when he became a man and felt the pressure of the crown he sought for an ojfportunity to avenge it? Tiie Emperor reached the height of his towering ambition and theu fell Into the abyss of Bt. Helena. At last his nephew—a shadow, with a great man’s name attached—seized the throne of France. At Sedan that nephew—all there was left of the Napoleon who had insulted Louisa—delivered up his sword in disgraceful defeat to the Emperor William, who as a boy bad clenched his flst and vowed revenge. And now you can see in Berlin a magnificent monument dedicated to the memory of Louisa and built with money which the French people were compelled to Day. History seldom presents a picture so complete in all its details as this one.