THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16426, 14 May 1921, Page 2

THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON.

EXILE’S OYINC DREAMS. Napoleon Bonaparte, whose hopes of empire and conquest came to an end with his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on June 10, Icio, surrendered himself to tho British Government shortly afterwards, aud for the sake of security was interned oil the island of St Helena, where bo remained until lus death on May o, 1821, just 100 years ago. A dreadful storm raged throughout tho day preceding his death. A willow, which bad been tbo exile’s favourite, and under which ho often enjoyed the fresh breeze, was torn up by tho hurricane; and almost nil tbe trees about the prisoner’s home at Longwood shared the same fate. kt Way 5.' says Scott in his " Life of Napoleon.” "'cam© amid wind ami rain.. Napoleon's passing spirit was deliriously engaged. in a strife more terrible than that of tho elements around. The words ‘ Teto d’Armeo,’ tho last which escaped his lips, intimated that his thoughts were watching tbe current, of a heady fight. About eleven minutes before six in tbe evening, Napoleon, alter a struggle which indicated the original strength of his constitution, breathed his last.” Napoleon s remains were interred n.t St Helena, hut in 18-JO, with tbo conscrv of Britain, they were removed to V ranee, w here they were deposited with great ceremony in a graro of honour beneath the dome of the Church of St Louis, at the Hotel des Tnvalides, Baris- Ihe poet M Leilan gives the following graphic peu-picturo of tho curl • t Emperor iu his lonely island prison:— Mild wes tbn night, vet a wilder night Hung round the poJdier *. p-now; In bis b'taoui there raged a fiercer fight Tuan the fight on the wrathful billow. A e ' r for, d mourners were kneeling hy. The few that his stern heart cherished: Vueu-, by his glazed and unearthly eye, that life had uearly perished. They Vncw, hy his awful and kingly look, F*v tbe order hastily spoken. That lie dreamed of days vbeu ths nations shook. And the nationa’ hosts were broken. lie dreamed that the Frenchmen’s sword still slew, Still triumphed tbo Frenchmen’s ‘’Eagle.’' And the struggling Austrian fled anew, Like the bare before tho beagle. .The bearded Russian he scourged again, 'lhe Prussians’ camp was routed 1 And again on the hills of haughty Spain His mighty armies shouted. Gv« Egypt’s sands, over Alpine sdows, the pyramids, at the mountains TN hero tbe wave of the lordly Danube flows, And by the Italian fountain.

On the snowy cliffs where mountain streams Daab by his Switzer’s dwelling. He led again, in biß dying dre-ams. His hosts, tho broad earth quelling.

Again Marengo's field was won, And Jena’s bloody battle; Again tho world was over-run. Made pale at his cannons’ rettle.

Re died at the does of that darksome dav. A day that shall live in *torv; In tbe rocky land they placed his clay, And ‘left him alone with his glory.’'