The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-04-02


the scenes Of horror through which an had re-
Gently passed. One Of them, the most iashion-
able assemblies then known N Paris Was called
The Ball fke PGcfims. No one was admit.
ted to this assembly Eho had not lost some near
relative BY the g0illOtine. The mos fashion,
able mode Of dressing the hair, was arranged in
the manner in which it had been adjusted by the
eKeCutiOher, for the unimPedgd operations Oi
the axe,
Josephine, young widow with beauty, grace,
intelligence and property, was sure 70 attract
attention, and TO meet with admirers who WOald
seek her hand.
A new insurrectiOn BY the POpulsnee Of Paris
was at the time planned against the Convention.
The exasPsrated people were again to march up
on the Tuilleries. The members were in ex-
treme cOnsteruatiOn. The mob eould bring tens
Of Thousands against them, well armed with
muskets aud heavy artillery. There were but
five hundred regular troops, with which to re-
siSt the onset. Menou, the officer in command
admitted bis inability 10 meet the crisis, and
surrender his power to BaFrOs. He Immediately,
as by a sudden thought, exclaimed, n know the
man who can defend rs. Il isa little Curaoiean,
who dares do anything, and is perfectly Fsck-
less Of Ofconsequenee."
The little Coraciean Napoleon Bonuparte, the
day.star Of whose fame was just beginning 70
rise over the smOuldering ruins ol Toloun, was
presented to the Convention, Hia fpeile form
was almost femenine In iis prepoi i6lA tul an
eagle eye calmly reposed in bic paiiid and emac.
lated countensnce. He had been severely sick
and the Convention looked with amusement up
on this feeble youth, as the one presented to res
cue them from their peril
The President looked upon him dOnbtingly
and said, care you willing to undertake our de-
fence !"
"Yes |" was the calm, lacOnic reply.
"But are you aware Of the magnitude Of the
undertaking.
81 am iu the habit Of accomplishing every
thing undertake" was the imPerturbable re-
sponse.
From that moment his authority was estab.
lished. Every member Of the Convention felt
the mysterious fascination Of his master mind.-
Barras surrendered the whole command into his
hands.
He instantly called in ell the national forces
which were around Paris, and disposed fifty
pieces Of artillery under the command Of Murat
50 as to rake all the avenues to the Convention
His calm and almost superhuman energy sought
no repose that night. The delay q sfeW mo
ments would have placed this very park Of artil-
lery, which secured his victory, in the hands Of
the insurgents. When the morning dawned, the
tuilleries, as if by magic, had assumed the aspect
Of fortified camp. The little Corscican was
calmly awaiting the onset, as secure Of triumph
as if the victory was already achieved,
But in every quarter Of Paris during the night
the insurgents had been mastering their forces
and the mutterings Of tie approaching storm
we're dismally echoed through the streets Of th'
metropolis. Above thirty thousand men; al
armed with muskets and artillery, in regula
military array, and under experienced generals
came pouring down upon the feeble band which
surrounded the Convention.
Will the little CorsciCan dare to fire upon tn
people? viii this pale aud slender youth, VIII
had hardly yet entered upon the period Of man
hood, dare TO delHge the psvemeDts Of Paris witt
the blood Of her own citizensi Will he ventur
upon conflict so unequal, when failure is hi
certain death.
Napoleon, with his Colorless cheek, his flash
5 ing eye, and his air Of mysterious melancholy
stood in silence, as the gathering thousand
; crowded down upon him, He Offered no parley
!; he uttered nota word Of warning, he eOnde
e seended to no words Of threats. TheinSurgent
81 believing that be would not dare to fire upO
them, advanced within fifty yards Of his mu
. ket battery, when be opened his columns an
81 his voice was heard in the streets of Paris tt
9 thunder Of his tones was preceded BY the ligh
ol ning's bolt. Agenersl, discharge Of grape she
~ from guns loaded TO their muzzles, covered Il
a ground with the dead and dying. No mort
= could Withstand such q conflict.
g The advancing foe waved for an instant, al
~ then with the utmost conformation took to flgh
j. Napoleon commanded Immediately the mo
s rapid discharge Of blank cartridges. Peal upC
'e peal their loud reVerbeTatiOns deafened the ci
A. and added wings to the flight to the terror str
VI en- crowd. But few mOments elapsed, Ell
q not even solitary straggler could be seen in t
Is solitary streets The little Corscican, pale al
"a calm, stood with folded arms, as inpsrturbed
ID If no event Of any moment had occurred. Du
TO ing the whole day, however, the conflict co
IS tinued in different parts Of the city, bot befO
e. nightfall the insurgents were everywhere e
le tirely discomfited.