The Remains of Napoleon [pp. 680-681]

T6ie Remains of Napokon.
they held a solemn meeting in the woods; appointed a king
from among them; who with great dignity took possession
of the island, and mounted his throne-the stump of an old
sycamore. The remainder of the day was spent in carousal and dissipation; and before his gracious majesty the
king had retired to his couch, he threw aside his dignity so
completely as to gratify his loyal subjects with a drunken
song, and when last seen that night, he had toppled headlong from his throne, and was lying sound asleep, with his
royal head completely encased in mud,-fully refuting that
line of the poets,
Disturb them not!Those relics of the dead; still let them lie
In that lone spot,
E'en now time-hallowed to his memory:
Fit tomb and requiem for him should be
Lone isle, and surging sea!
On the next day they built them a palace, constructed of
beach logs plastered with mud, and finished after a fashion
at once beautiful and unique. When the palace was completed, the king and his two subjects entered it with all due,
ceremony and form. That day too was devoted to merriment, and long and loud were the acclamations of the "sovereign people" when the king ascended his new throne
and accepted the sovereignty of the island. For weeks,
every thing went on smoothly and prosperously-the forest
supplying them with the choicest game, and the river yieldimg them the most delicious fish. Every day was a jubilee
with them. The sun never shone upon a happier Commonwealth. But, alas! their very prosperity hastened their
downfall. The "golden age" of the island-kingdom was
of but short duration. In an unfortunate moment, the intoxicated king struck one of his subjects. Farewell the
harmony of the kingdom! Peace and happiness were gone
forever. Louis Phillippe, in our day, has experienced
some of the feelings that harassed the king of Indian
Island. His crown was now a crown of thorns. Steel
traps, hair-triggered pistols, swords and daggers were nothing
to the visions that were before him night and day.
Swelling with anger, and nursing his wrath as the fond
mother does her offspring, the insulted subject awaited only
a fitting opportunity to seek redress of the tyrant and despot. Civil war, long smothered, at length broke out; the
emerald soil of the island was sprinkled with royal blood,
and the head of the king was hung over the door of the palace-a warning to future tyrants. After this bloody termination of their rebellion, the murderers, as the reader
will have observed was usual on great occasions, betook
themselves to the blottle, and steeped their senses in oblivion.
The return of Clark and his companions from Kaskaskia
found the vagabonds in this situation. When they came to
their senses, and saw themselves in custody, they got down
upon their knees, confessed their crime, and begged piteously for their lives, which being granted them, they were
driven from the island; and thus ended the reign of the
first and last king of Indian Island; which it will be conceded was fully as strange and wonderful as the wildest
vision that poet ever sang or satirist ever laughed at.
In my wanderings about this island, I have picked up
many interesting stories and legends connected with it,
which at some future day I shall dress up for the benefit
and edification of the readers of the Messenger. Such of
them as love to "sup full of horrors" among the ruins of the
past, will then find themselves in their native element; and
those on the other hand who prefer tales of daring adventure
and highwronight bravery, or who delight in stirring incident
and feats of prowess unequalled only in the days of the olden
time, when chivalry inspired with noble impulses and
proud resolves the gallant knight and ladies fair, and nminstrels gay echoed his praises to the corners of the earth,
will find that Poetry and Romance still live in our midst,
plentiful as the wild flowers of the forest, or according to
the most veracious of poets, the fairies that once danced
over the sunny lawns of merry old England.
Louisville, Ky.
6SO
[SF,PTt,MBER,
THE REMAINS OF NAPOLEON.
]BY L. J. CIST.
Suggested by the proposed removal-assented to by the
English Government-of the remains of Napoleon from the
Island of St. Helena; and the contemplated erection, by the
French Government, of a costly Monument to his memory,
undzfr the dome of the 11 Place des Invalides," in Paris.
11 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."
There, where he diedWhere from the mortal sprang th' immortal mind,
When purifiedFrom frail Mortality's dull dross refined,
It soared untrammell'd to its native sky; Tltere, let his ashes lie!, -
'Tis hallow ed ground,
And to his Ynemory consecrate: for Fame
: Not farther round
The world's remotest part hath spread his name,'I'ill all the Earth, Earth's Conqueror hath known;
Than Helen's too, hath gone!
It were not meet
His mighty dust should rest in crowded mart;
And the rude feet
Of low-born Iiinds o'er-tread the Lion's heart!'That over him, who, living, trod on kiiigs
Should walk eartli's meaner thin,,,s!
Yet they would take
From yon lone isle, where bends the cypress low,
His dust-and make
It, chief attraction of a 11 Raree-show!"Where pillared domes should rear their haughty head
I In mockery of the dead!
And Gaul and Guelph,
Who, living, at his very name would quail,
The dead himself
Can boldly now disturbs nor e'en turn pale:
Fear ye not. yet, the magic spell of FP.ANCE,
Will burst his slumbrous% trance?
And thoa*-wotild'st tuild
Pillar and monuinent; and off'rings give,
To carve and g'ld
His name-tbou bated'st while he yet did liveAs they of old built monumeiits, unto
Prophets their fathers slew!
I No need from thee
Hath he of urn or monument, whose name
Shall deathless be;
As Fate, eternal,-glorious as Faine,Borne on, and onward, down Time's latest shore,
When thou art named no more!
And thou "-dost dream
Thy marcl-i of Dei,ot'Ism'twill advance,
To point to him
Whose lust, tllo'wild was less for se?fthan F-RANCP,?
Better, like him, ne'er utter Freedoin's vow,
Than break it-as did'st thou!
* Louis Philippe.