The Argosy — page 123: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ii! TWO DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE LATE EMPEROR. HAT a strange life of vicissitudes was his who has just passed from among us, amid our deep sorrows and regrets—Louis Napoleon, the French Emperor! Born in a royal palace, and dying a private exile from his native land !—that first scene and that closing one were fitting types of the changing circumstances in his career. Now in prison, and then wielding the sceptre of one of the greatest thrones in the world; now obscurely inhabiting what was little better than a garret, and anon swaying the destiny of millions in his robes of purple ; the checkered days of Louis Napoleon present a strange lesson on the impotence of man. Earthly sovereigns are great, but over- ruling Fate is greater. There were two certain days in his life that exemplified the contrasts of that life in an eminent degree. On Thursday, August the 6th, 1840 —as hot a day as the hot sun, blistering the white walls of Boulogne- sur-Mer, ever gave us—an early commotion stirred the town. Now, as I write, I can see the scene; re-live the vague alarm. The heat poured in through the closed green persiennes of the chamber windows ; people below were running on and off the port, talking wildly ; the drums of the National Guard began to beat to arms. What could be the matter ?—what was taking place? A pale servant-maid rushed in with terrified words. ‘Mon Dieu, on dit que nous sommes pris: que le Prince Louis Napoleon s’est débarqué de la mer avec une grande armée pour préndre la ville!” It was the day of that mistaken escapade of his, that for him was to end so unfortunately—the landing in Boulogne. The “ grande armée” revolved itself into only fifty followers: almost as the girl spoke, the expedition was virtually at an end. Louis Napoleon had come over ' from London in the “City .of Edinburgh,” a hired steamer, with the Count Montholon, General Voisin, and those other few friends, a wild intention in his head of wresting the French crown from Louis Phillippe. But Boulogne was loyal to the Citizen King, and Prince Louis was cap- tured. In attempting to enter the gates of the upper town from the heights, they were closed in his face; it was said by an Englishman who recognized him for Prince Louts ; and the Prince and his followers were taken prisoners. Louis Phillippe sent him for trial and he was condemned to perpetual confinement in the fortress of Ham. There he remained six years, and then effected his escape in the disguise of a workman—a carpenter with a plank on his shoulder. For the third time, he took refuge in England, and “ waited his time.” In 1852 he was made Emperor. _ Monday, the 26th of September, 1853, was a grest eRRYo<ercom -