The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-04-14

great qualities, his iron tirmness, his pro-
found knowledge of his art, and the al
most superhuman tide of success which
followed him, he never displayed such
dazzling genius, and without enthusiasm
himself, seldom kindled it in Others
He was clear, steady star; Napoleon,
"a blood-red meteor, whose very downfall
is more Interesting than the others ris-
ing. Passing from comparisons, Napol-
con possessed a prodigal assortment of
faculties. He had an intellect clear, rap
id, and trenchant as crimeter; an i'm
agina.ion fertile in resources, if incorrect
in taste a swift logic; decided will /; a
prompt and lively eloquence; and pass
ions, in general, concentrated and quiet
as a charcoal furnace. Let us not forget
his wondrous faculty of silence. He
could talk but he seldom babbled, and
seldom used a word too much. His con-
versation was the reflex of his military
tactics. As in The field he concentrated
his forces on certain strong point,
which, when gained, all was gained so,
in conversation, he sprung into the centre
of every subject, and, tearing out its
heart, left the minor members to shift
for themselves. Profound in no science,
save that of war, what he knew, he knew
thoroughly, and could Immediately turn
to account.
Napoleon's real writings were bis bat
ties. Lodi let US call wild and pass
Ionate ode; Austerliz an epic; and Water
loo tragedy Yet, amid the bombast
and falsetto of his bulletins and speeches
there occur Goals of genuine fire, and
CLEANS of lofty genius. Every one re-
members the senten e, Frenchmen,
remember that from the top of these
pyramids forty centuries look down upon
your actions, a sentence sublime enough
to make man immortal. In keeping
with the genius discovered in this, were
his allusions u the . sun of Austerliz, >
which, as if al the command of another
Joshua, seemed to stand still at his lid
ding-his belief in destiny, and the other
approximations which, like bats in a mid
day market place, fitted strangely to and
tro through the clear and stern amos-
phere Of lis soul, and prophesied in 81
Ience of change, ruin and death.
Napoleon was brave, great man; in
part mistaken, perhaps also in part insane,
and also in a large part guilty. But be
did work--not his full work. but still
wo X that he only conld have accom-
plished. He continued that shaking off
the sediments of the nations, which the
French Revolution began. He pointed
attention with his bristling guns TO the
danger the civilization of Europe is ex-
posed TO from the Russians silent c0nspi-
racy ofages-cold, east. quietly progress
ire, as a glacier gathering round an Az
pine ratiey He shook the throne of the
Austrian domination, and left that of his
own successors tottering to receive them.
He drew out, by long autagonism the
resources of Britain. He cast a gEastly
smile of contempt, which fingers still,
around the papal crown. While he prov
ed the disadvantages, as well as the ad-
vartagers of the domination of a single
human mind, be unconsciously Swallowed
forth the time when one divine hand shall
take the kingdom--his empire during its
palmy days, forming a feeble earthly en-
bem Of the reign of the Universal King.
aa7s GiJfllaa.