termination of the wharf, under which the body was to lie in state
until transferred to the funeral car. Here Sergeant Hubert, who for
nineteen years had kept watch at the solitary grave of Napoleon at
St. Helena, landed. All the generals gathered around him, and he was
welcomed by the people with deep emotion. The imperial funeral car
was composed of five distinct parts, the basement, the pedestal, the
Caryatides, the shield, and the cenotaph. The basement rested on four
massive gilt wheels. It was profusely adorned with rich ornaments which
were covered with frosted gold. Upon this basement stood groups of
cherubs, seven feet high, supporting a pedestal eighteen feet long,
covered with burnished gold. This pedestal was hung with purple velvet
embroidered with gold. Upon it stood fourteen Caryatides, antique
figures larger than life, and entirely covered with gold, supporting
with their heads and hands an immense shield of solid gold. This
shield was of oval form, and eighteen feet in length, and was richly
decorated. Upon the top of this shield, nearly fifty feet from the
ground, was placed the cenotaph, an exact copy of Napoleon’s coffin. It
was slightly veiled with purple crape embroidered with golden bees. On
the cenotaph, upon a velvet cushion, were placed the sceptre, the sword
of justice, the imperial crown, in gold and embellished with precious
stones.
“The Church of the Invalides had been magnificently adorned for the
solemn ceremony. Thirty-six thousand spectators were seated upon
immense platforms on the esplanade of the Invalides. Six thousand
spectators thronged the seats of the spacious portico. In the interior
of the church were assembled the clergy, the members of the Chambers
of Deputies and of Peers, and all the members of the royal family and
other distinguished personages from France and Europe.
“As the coffin, preceded by the Prince de Joinville, was borne along
the nave upon the shoulders of thirty-two of Napoleon’s Old Guard,
all rose and bowed in homage to the mighty dead.” Louis Philippe,
surrounded by the great officers of state, then stepped forward to
receive the remains.
“Sire,” said the prince, “I present to you the body of the Emperor
Napoleon.”
“I receive it,” replied the king, “in the name of France.” Then taking
from the hand of Marshal Soult the sword of Napoleon, and presenting
it to General Bertrand, he said, “General, I charge you to place this
glorious sword of the Emperor upon his coffin.”
Beneath the lofty dome of the church, where the massive tomb of
Napoleon has since been erected, a magnificent cenotaph in the form of
a temple had been reared. Within this richly decorated catafalque the
coffin of Napoleon was reverently and solemnly placed, thus fulfilling
the last wish of the Emperor, expressed in these memorable words, “It
is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the
midst of the French people whom I have loved so well.”
“He who united in himself alone the glory of Alexander, of Cæsar, of
Charlemagne, and of Louis XIV., took his place in the Invalides, which,
during his life, he had marked as the place of heroes.” His devoted
Generals Bertrand and Duroc now lie beside him. A few aged veterans
of the Old Guard still watch over him. The sunlight, softened by the
rich tints of the costly windows, falls lovingly upon his tomb, and his
cherished memory lives in the hearts of his beloved people, growing
more beautiful, more triumphantly venerated, and sacredly respected
with each passing year. As his faithful veterans cast their crowns of
flowers at the foot of his coffin, with trembling voices they lovingly
though mournfully cried, “_Vive l’Empereur!_” and this loved Emperor
still lives in the hearts of his people, royally enshrined in a
nation’s undying love.
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Warenne, Earl of Surrey, was
spelled both as Warren and Warrene throughout the text. This was
retained. Varied hyphenation retained as printed.
Page xi, “Kremlin” changed to “Krémlin” (The Krémlin of Moscow)
Page 15, “Aphrodite” changed to “Aphrodité” (mother, Aphrodité, caught
him)
Page 80, “enthusiam” changed to “enthusiasm” (enthusiasm of Alexander’s)
Page 157, “guantlets” changed to “gauntlets” (garnished with gauntlets)
Page 160, “Debonnaire” changed to “Débonnaire” (called Louis le
Débonnaire)
Page 163, “Debonnaire” changed to “Débonnaire” (his son Louis le
Débonnaire)
Page 272, “seige” changed to “siege” (and commenced its siege)
Page 279, “cortége” changed to “cortège” (brilliant _cortège_
glittering)
Page 372, illustration caption, “KREMLIN” changed to “KRÉMLIN” (THE
KRÉMLIN OF MOSCOW)
Page 441, “endeavord” changed to “endeavored” (enemies who endeavored)
Page 442, “Sardina” changed to “Sardinia” (king of Sardinia together)
Page 445, “pontroon” changed to “pontoon” (and four pontoon trains)
Page 446, “striction” changed to “stricken” (terror-stricken inaction)
Page 454, “Friendland” changed to “Friedland” (of Friedland and Tilsit)
Page 454 “Tuilieries” changed to “Tuileries” (Tuileries in a splendid)
Page 460, “Kremlin” changed to “Krémlin” (established in the Krémlin)
Page 461, “Lutzen” changed to “Lützen” (of Lützen, which is)
Page 473, “falshood” changed to “falsehood” (prejudice, and falsehood)
Page 475, “cortege” changed to “cortège” (funeral cortège was to pass)
End of Project Gutenberg's The Boys' Book of Rulers, by Lydia Hoyt Farmer