The Rhode Island Republican

Napoleon's first Appearance in Regimentals.—One of the most amusing anecdotes in the Duchess of Abrante's Memoirs relates to an occasion fraught with consequences but too disastrous to the world, namely, that on which Napoleon first appeared in military uniform. A mere boy at the time, and of an unusually slender habit, his slim legs were engulfed in an enormous pair of boots, in which he made so ludicrous an exhibition, that he no sooner appeared in Madam Permon's family, evidently elated by his regimental dignity, than he was greeted with an explosion of universal laughter. The merriment of this company gave him sensible embarrassment but his chagrin was susceptible of no farther aggravation, when he found himself designated "puss in boots," by a lively girl of thirteen. Yet, piqued as he was, with constitutional tact, he dissembled his vexation, and actually purchased a beautiful little edition of the story itself, accompanied by a costly toy, representing "Chat Botte" running before the carriage of the Marquis of Carabas, which he presented to Mademoiselle Permon, to show that he took the raillery in good part. His finances were then so low that he could ill afford the gift, not being able even to indulge himself with gloves, which he professed to consider an unnecessary luxury. Years afterwards, however, when Junot's lady made a jocular allusion to the subject at Malmaison, the first consul appeared little to relish the recollection, and the retort described in the following passage was truly well adapted to discourage its revival: "A quarter of an hour after, he suddenly approached me, and seized hold of my nose, which he pinched so severely that I screamed aloud. 'You,' said he, 'at no loss for wit, little plague,' said he, 'but you are malicious. A woman forfeits her charms, when she becomes an object of fear."

Of such manful marks of condescension, Napoleon was singularly liberal to his favorites, And Junot's ears, we learn from Madame d'Abrantes, occasionally bore bleeding evidence of Imperial pleasantry. During the Emperor's memorable interview with Escoiquiz, at Bayonne, the refractory canon's organs of hearing were also caressed after so rude a fashion as to elicit from him the remark, that he wished he could dissuade Bonaparte from his purpose, although not at the expense of his ears; and Bourmont's desertion on the eve of Waterloo is said to have reached the ears of his friend Gerard in more senses than one.