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means of cords； pulleys； and weights； like those at the theater。
The beautiful grove which serves as park and garden to the palace of
Schoenbrunn is much too small to belong to an imperial residence； but；
on the other hand； it would be hard to find one more beautiful or better
arranged。 The park of Versailles is grander and more imposing； but it
has not the picturesque irregularity； the fantastic and unexpected
beauties； of the park of Schoenbrunn； and more closely resembles the park
at Malmaison。 In front of the interior facade of the palace was a
magnificent lawn； sloping down to a broad lake； decorated with a group of
statuary representing the triumph of Neptune。 This group is very fine；
but French amateurs （every Frenchman； as you are aware； desires to be
considered a connoisseur） insisted that the women were more Austrian than
Grecian； and that they did not possess the slender grace belonging to
antique forms； and； for my part； I must confess that these statues did
not appear to me very remarkable。
At the end of the grand avenue； and bounding the horizon； rose a hill；
which overlooked the park； and was crowned by a handsome building； which
bore the name of la Gloriette。 This building was a circular gallery；
inclosed with glass； supported by a charming colonnade； between the
arches of which hung various trophies。 On entering the avenue from the
direction of Vienna； la Gloriette rose at the farther end； seeming almost
to form a part of the palace； and the effect was very fine。
What the Austrians especially admired in the palace of Schoenbrunn was a
grove； containing what they called the Ruins； and a lake with a fountain
springing from the midst； and several small cascades flowing from it； by
this lake were the ruins of an aqueduct and a temple； fallen vases；
tombs； broken bas…reliefs； statues without heads； arms； or limbs； while
limbs； arms； and heads lay thickly scattered around； columns mutilated
and half…buried； others standing and supporting the remains of pediments
and entablatures； all combining to form a scene of beautiful disorder；
and representing a genuine ancient ruin when viewed from a short
distance。 Viewed more closely； it is quite another thing： the hand of
the modern sculptor is seen； it is evident that all these fragments are
made from the same kind of stone； and the weeds which grow in the hollows
of these columns appear what they really are； that is to say； made of
stone； and painted to imitate verdure。
But if the productions of art scattered through the park of Schoenbrunn
were not all irreproachable； those of nature fully made up the
deficiency。 What magnificent trees！ What thick hedges！ What dense and
refreshing shade！ The avenues were remarkably high and broad； and
bordered with trees； which formed a vault impenetrable to the sun； while
the eye lost itself in their many windings； from these other smaller
walks diverged； where fresh surprises were in store at every step。 At
the end of the broadest of these was placed the menagerie； which was one
of the most extensive and varied in Europe； and its construction； which
was very ingenious； might well serve as a model； it was shaped like a
star； and in the round center of this star had been erected a small but
very elegant kiosk； placed there by the Empress Maria Theresa as a
resting…place for herself； and from which the whole menagerie could be
viewed at leisure。
Each point of this star formed a separate garden； where there could be
seen elephants； buffaloes； camels； dromedaries； stags； and kangaroos
grazing； handsome and substantial cages held tigers； bears； leopards；
lions； hyenas； etc； and swans and rare aquatic birds and amphibious
animals sported in basins surrounded by iron gratings。 In this menagerie
I specially remarked a very extraordinary animal； which his Majesty had
ordered brought to France； but which had died the day before it was to
have started。 This animal was from Poland； and was called a 'curus'； it
was a kind of ox； though much larger than an ordinary ox； with a mane
like a lion； horns rather short and somewhat curved； and enormously large
at the base。
Every morning； at six o'clock； the drums beat； and two or three hours
after the troops were ordered to parade in the court of honor； and at
precisely ten o'clock his Majesty descended； and put himself at the head
of his generals。
It is impossible to give an idea of these parades； which in no particular
resembled reviews in Paris。 The Emperor； during these reviews；
investigated the smallest details； and examined the soldiers one by one；
so to speak； looked into the eyes of each to see whether there was
pleasure or work in his head； questioned the officers； sometimes also the
soldiers themselves； and it was usually on these occasions that the
Emperor made his promotions。 During one of these reviews； if he asked a
colonel who was the bravest officer in his regiment； there was no
hesitation in his answer； and it was always prompt； for he knew that the
Emperor was already well informed on this point。 After the colonel had
replied； he addressed himself to all the other officers； saying； 〃Who is
the bravest among you？〃〃Sire； it is such an one； 〃and the two answers
were almost always the same。 〃Then；〃 said the Emperor； 〃I make him a
baron； and I reward in him； not only his own personal bravery； but that
of the corps of which he forms a part。 He does not owe this favor to me
alone； but also to the esteem of his comrades。〃 It was the same case
with the soldiers； and those most distinguished for courage or good
conduct were promoted or received rewards； and sometimes pensions； the
Emperor giving one of twelve hundred francs to a soldier； who； on his
first campaign； had passed through the enemy's squadron； bearing on his
shoulders his wounded general； protecting him as he would his own father。
On these reviews the Emperor could be seen personally inspecting the
haversacks of the soldiers； examining their certificates； or taking a gun
from the shoulders of a young man who was weak； pale； and suffering； and
saying to him； in a sympathetic tone； 〃That is too heavy for you。〃 He
often drilled them himself； and when he did not； the drilling was
directed by Generals Dorsenne； Curial； or Mouton。 Sometimes he was
seized with a sudden whim； for example； one morning； after reviewing a
regiment of the Confederation； he turned to the ordnance officers； and
addressing Prince Salm； who was among them； remarked 〃M。 de Salm； the
soldiers ought to get acquainted with you； approach； and order them to
make a charge in twelve movements。〃 The young prince turned crimson；
without being disconcerted； however； bowed； and drawing his sword most
gracefully； executed the orders of the Emperor with an ease and precision
which charmed him。
Another day； as the engineer corps passed with about forty wagons； the
Emperor cried； 〃Halt！〃 and pointing out a wagon to General Bertrand；
ordered him to summon one of the officers。 〃What does that wagon
contain？〃〃Sire； bolts； bags of nails； ropes； hatchets； and saws。〃
〃How much of each？〃 The officer gave the exact account。 His Majesty； to
verify this report； had the wagon emptied； counted the pieces； and found
the number correct； and in order to assure himself that nothing was left
in the wagon； climbed up into it by means of the wheel； holding on to the
spokes。 There was a murmur of approbation and cries of joy all along the
line。 〃Bravo！〃 they said； 〃well and good！ that is the way to make sure
of not being deceived。〃 All these things conspired to make the soldiers
adore the Emperor。
CHAPTER XVI。
At one of the reviews which I have just described； and which usually
attracted a crowd of curious people from Vienna and its suburbs； the
Emperor came near being assassinated。 It was on the 13th of October；
his Majesty had just alighted from his horse； and was crossing the court
on foot with the Prince de Neuchatel and General Rapp beside him； when a
young man with a passably good countenance pushed his way rudely through
the crowd； and asked in bad French if he could speak to the Emperor。 His
Majesty received him kindly； but not understanding his language； asked
General Rapp to see what the young man wanted； and the general asked him
a few questions； and not satisfied apparently with his answers； ordered
the police…officer on duty to remove him。 A sub…officer conducted the
young man out of the circle formed by the staff； and drove him back into
the crowd。 This circumstance had been forgotten； when suddenly the
Emperor； on turning； found again near him the pretended suppliant； who
had returned holding his right hand in his breast； as if to draw a
petition from the pocket of his coat。 General Rapp seized the man by the
arm； and said to him； 〃Monsieur； you have already been ordered away； what
do you want？〃 As he was about to retire a second time the general；
thinking his appearance suspicious； gave orders to the police…officer to
arrest him； and he accordingly made a sign to his subalterns。 One of
them seizing him by the collar shook him slightly； when his coat became
partly unbuttoned； and something fell out resemblin