Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-08
BoSAPARTE's STAR.
Its BriIIianey and Eclipse.


Napoleon (Napoleone Tertio felicite
imperante, as the official inscription
say), ! have enjoyed q spectacle whic
my father and grandfather saw twice, i
1914 and 1915, and of which they neve
spoke without shame and rage.
You are born in happier days sal
these good people to me, with littl
envy in their tones; you will never hay
such an experience as we have had.
Poor Francel She has permitte,
everything and forgiven everything T.
the man who once said to her, "The EN-
pire is peace, and who afterward said
''The Empire is glory and victory, th
revision of shameful treaties, the ratifi
cation of frontiers, the war of principles
war of interest, war of adventure
but war, invariably successful raising
the name and fame of France higher
day by day"
France believed what she was told
believed in her masters star, as sh'
believed in the disinterestedness o
Morny, in the austerities of Troplong, il
the genius OF Rouher, in the liberalism
of Olivier. What an awakeningl To
day the Empire means defeat through
the incapacity of its chief; it means in.
vasion with all its train of wretchedness
and misery; it meant the Prussian
soldier strutting about as master through
three or -four departments after cam
paign Of eight days. at
About two o'clock it was easy to see
the scouts on every little hillock, or
coming round about slowly, one by one,
or two by two, along our roads.
At last, at half past four o clock, a
movement of the people in the main
street announced to me the final result.
Almost Immediately | saw two hussars
go slowly up to the hight of the Casino,
where the authorities of the town were
assembled. Behind them, one hundred
PAGES off, three more we're seen, and
these five risked themselves in the midst
of 1891 souls, if the guide book tells the
truth.
One of the two first, whom | never lost
sight Of, was simple cavalryman, with
a very short and stumpy musket the
other must have been sub-lieutenant,
from the stripe on his sleeve. His only
weapon was sword. Both of them
seemed young, and were rather good
looking than otherwise. They went
slowly forward, looking to left, to right
and behind them, with distrustful but
naughty and conquering air. Their eyes
said, I'VE are conquerors; the people
here may kill us, but if we leave our
skins here, there is an army Of 100000
men little bit off who will avenge us. !"
The Mayor came down from the Casino
and asked them in German what they
wanted
The officer, in sharp, harsh voice
asked, Are there soldiers herel At
the same time the soldier covered the
chest of the excellent Advocate and
Mayor 0stermann with his weapon.
The Mayor put the uncomfortable
looking thing aside and said, "lf you
wouldn't cover me in that way | could
talk more at my ease"
The officer asked dryly a second time,
q Have you soldiers2
No sir; | am the Mayor of the
town"
That is nothing to me"
81 shall tell you everything that you
wish if you will come with me to the
Town Hall.
I'VE have no time. Have you any
Yes, few in the ambulance" +"
Much wounded or not2
Some much, some little.
Have you any troopers horses"
"None.n
81 saw some in the plain of Monk
viller.
They are all either runaways or sick
which is why our soldiers abandoned
hem.
Very well
The officer then turns his horses head
his orderly follows him. The three other
iussars, who had meanwhile bought
ome wine and some sausages, grin, pay
or what they have had and disappear.
Twenty more come back at a quarter
last seven, Their leader went to the
Mayor and said;
We must have, at ten tomorrow
twenty thousand loaves of six
pounds each; if not, we must have one
hundred thousand francs down"
We shall do everything that is posi-
lie"
Good evening"
After that they disappear in every di-
ection, wander through the streets,
altering together again, and go off, to
ONE back in greater numbers to-mor-
ow. Our enemy is like a prudent play
r, risking little first, then more, then a
ood deal, but always safely. Would
nat opr leaders wedld profit by their
and get into the way of feeling
bout little before putting their last
ixpence down on the table.
! don't know how the Mayor of Sa-
arne means to manage with these gen
emen. The people ape just as inoapa-
le of paying leo, 200 francs in day as
ley are Of improYising sixty tons of
,ayes in a night. They are not rich
ere. Manufactures are stopped, and
le woFkmen, living almost from day to
ay, have hardly any savings. The
rops, too, have been very middling. :
he burning shame which ehokes us to-
iy will soon mingle with the miseries
~ accompany il. Ace, DBsag il is
lucky thing that imperial responsible
y was maintained in the Olivier con-
tuition.