Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-06-19
PARTISAN SKETCHES IN 1925.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

ken heretofore with some levity of the con-
trast that exists between the English and
French character; but it deserves more Sc
rious consideration. They are the two
great nations of Modern times most dia-
metrically opposed, and most worthy of
each others rivalry; essentially distinct in
their characters, excelling in opposite quail
tiles, and rejecting lustre on each other in
their very opposition. In nothing is this
contrast more strikingly evinced than in
their military conduct. For ages have they
been contending, and for ages have crown
ed each others history with acts of splen-
did heroism. Take the battle of Water
loo, for instance, the last and most memo
rable trial of their rival proves. Nothing
could surpass the brilliant daring on the
one side, and the steadfast enduring on the
other. The French cavalry broke like
waves on the compact squares of English
infantry. They were seen galloping round
these serried walls of men, seeking in vain
for an entrance, tossing their arms in the
air in the heat of their enthusiasm, and
Drawing the whole front of the battle. The
British troops, on the other hand, forbidden
to move or fire, stood firm and enduring
Their columns were ripped up by cannon
~; whole rows were swept down at shot;
the survivors closed up their ranks, and
stood firm. In this way many columns
stood through the pelting of the iron tenn
pest without firing a shot, without any &C
ton to stir their blood or excite their spir-
its. Death thinned their ranks, but could
not shake their souls.
A beautiful instance of the quick and
generous impulses to which the French are
prone, is given in the case of a French cav
alier, in the hottest of the action, charging
furiousy on British officer, but perceivlng
in the moment of assault that his adversary
had lost his sword-arm, dropped the point
ofhis sabre and courteously rode on. Peace
be with that generous warrior, whatever
were his fate! If he went down in the
storm of battle, with the laundering for
tunes of his chieftan, may the turf of Wa
terloo grow green over his grave!-and hap
pier far would be the fate Of such spirit,
to sink amidst the tempest, unconscious OF
defeat, than to survive, and mourn over the
blighted laurels of his country.
In this way the two armies fought through
long, bloody day. The French with en-
thusiastic valor, the English with inheXibe
courage, until fate, as if to leave the ques-
ton of superiority still undecided between
two such adversarieS brought up the Prus'
slams to decide the fortunes of the field.
1t was several years afterward, that Wis
tied the field of Waterloo. The plough
share has been busy with its oblivious la
bors, and the frequent harvests had nearly
obliterated the vestiges of war. Still the
blackened ruins of Hoguemont stood, {
monumental pile, to mark the violence O.
this vehement struggle. Its broken walls
MERGED by bullets, and shattered by explo
sions, showed the deadly strife that had ia
ken place within; when Gaul and Britain
hemmed in between narrow walls, hand t.
hand, and foot to foot, fought from gardel
to court yard, from court yard to chamber
with intense and contracted rivalship Col
umns of smoke turned from this vortex o
battle as from volcano; sit was" said m
guide, "Hke little hell upon EARTH" No
far off two or three broad spots of rank
unwholesome green, still marked the place
where these rival warriors, after their fcrc
and fitful struggle, slept quietly together i
the lap of their common mother EARTH
Over all the rest of the field, peace had re
sumed its sway The thoughtless whist
of the peasant foated on the air, instead {
abe trumpets clamor; the team slowly !;
bored up the hill side, once shaken by III
hoofs of rushing squadrons; and wide iielt
of corn waved peacefully over the soldier
graves. as summer seas dimple over the plaC
where many tall ship lies buried.
If YOU are determined to be poor, be
drunkard, and you will soon be ragged an
penniless, to your hearts content, says
exchange paper.