Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
The revolutionary government were in the habit of celebrating the 21st
of January with great public rejoicing, as the anniversary of the
execution of the king. They urged Napoleon to honor the festival by his
presence, and to take a conspicuous part in the festivities. He
peremptorily declined. "This fête," said he, "commemorates a melancholy
event, a tragedy; and can be agreeable to but few people. It is proper
to celebrate victories; but victims left upon the field of battle are to
be lamented. To celebrate the anniversary of a man's death is an act
unworthy of a government; it creates more enemies than friends--it
estranges instead of conciliating; it irritates instead of calming; it
shakes the foundations of government instead of adding to their
strength." The ministry urged that it was the custom with all nations to
celebrate the downfall of tyrants; and that Napoleon's influence over
the public mind was so powerful, that his absence would be regarded as
indicative of hostility to the government, and would be highly
prejudicial to the interests of the Republic. At last Napoleon consented
to attend, as a private member of the Institute, taking no active part
in the ceremonies, but merely walking with the members of the class to
which he belonged. As soon as the procession entered the Church of St.
Sulpice, all eyes were searching for Napoleon. He was soon descried, and
every one else was immediately eclipsed. At the close of the ceremony,
the air was rent with the shouts, "Long live Napoleon!" The Directory
were made exceedingly uneasy by ominous exclamations in the streets, "We
will drive away these lawyers, and make the _Little Corporal_ king."
These cries wonderfully accelerated the zeal of the Directors, in
sending Napoleon to Egypt. And most devoutly did they hope that from
that distant land he would never return.
AN INDIAN PET.
The ichneumon, called in India the neulah, benjee, or mungoos, is known
all over that country. I have seen it on the banks of the Ganges, and
among the old walls of Jaunpore, Sirhind, and at Loodianah; for, like
others of the weasel kind, this little animal delights in places where
it can lurk and peep--such as heaps of stones and ruins; and there is no
lack of these in old Indian cities.
That the neulah is a fierce, terrible, blood-thirsty, destructive little
creature, I experienced to my cost; but notwithstanding all the
provocation I received, I was led to become his friend and protector,
and so finding him out to be the most charming and amiable pet in the
world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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