Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 92
92.—A SECOND NAPOLEON.
Boucher was a violinist who succeeded in attracting the attention of Charles IV, of Spain, and was finally appointed special violinist to his Majesty. This man bore a great resemblance to Napoleon I, and when he was traveling in Russia, the Emperor Alexander, noticing this, sent for him and showed him a French uniform consisting of a three-cornered hat, sword, and a colonel's uniform of the Chasseurs of the French Imperial guard, and a cross of the Legion of Honor. "Now," said the Czar, "this uniform once belonged to the Emperor Napoleon, and was captured during the campaign of Moscow. I have noticed your likeness to him, and desire you to put on this uniform; I will then present you to my mother, who has often desired to see Napoleon."
When Boucher had arrayed himself as the Czar had requested, he was conducted to the apartment of the Empress, and her son assured her that she saw a perfect counterpart of the great Corsican.