The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-10
fFrom the Courier dee Etats Unis.]
The siege ~ Berlin.

.
fFrom the Courier dee Etats Unis.l
The siege u Berlin.
We were going up the Avenue Of the
Champs Elysees with DR.. ", examining
the wallis pierced with shells, when the
Doctor atopped and showing me one OF
grouped around the Tiiumphal Arch: "You
see.n said he, "those four closed windows
ongthatbalconyi In the beginning of that
terrible month Of August of last year, so
heavy with storms and disasters, 1 was
called there in a case of apOplexy. The
case was Col. Jouve, q Cuirassier of the
First Empire, crazy with glory and Bona |
partisan, who, from the beginning of the
war, had taken house in the Champs Ely.
sees-a house with a balcony. Guess Why
To witness the triumphant return Of our |
troops into Paris. Poor old man! The
news Of Wissemburg reached him as he
arose from dinner. On reading the name
Of Napoleon, at the. bottom of this disas- |
trous bulletin, he had fallen as if thunder |
struck.
found the ex. Cuirassier stretched ont
full length on the carpet of his room, his
face bloodshot as II he had received blow
on the head. Standing. he must Lave been
very tall recumbent, he looked gigantic.
Fine features, splendid teeth, thick, curly
Near him his grand daughter, all In tears.
She WA like him. Seeing them side by
side, reminded one of two beautiful Greek
medals struck in the same die, only one of
them ancient, corroded. . little worn in its
outline, the other Iesplendent and clean
recent coinage.
The grief of this young girl touched me.
The daughter and grand-daughter of sol
diers, her father was on McMahon's staf,
and this tall old man stretched ont before
her called up in her mind another image
not less terrible. I comforted her as we'll
az could, but had little hope. had to
deal with genuine case Of homipieEy, and
at eighty very few recover from it. During
three days, in fact, the patient remained IN
the news of Reischofen, you remember
how strangely. Until evening we all be-
lieyed in q great victory twenty thousand
Prussians killed, the Prince Royal pris-
oner. I know not by what miracle, by
what magnetic current an echo of this ma
tional 10Y reached our deaf mute in the
limbo Of his paralysis; but it is certain that
on that evening, in approaching his bed, l
found a different man. His eye was almost
clear, his tongue less thick. He had
strength to smile and stammered twice
Victory! Yes, Colonel, great victory,
and as gave him details upon the great
success Of McMahon, saw his features ex-
pand and his face light up.
When / went out, the young girl was
waiting for me, pale and sobbin9 at the
hand. The poor child could hardly reply.
She had lust received the true Reischoffen
McMahon in full flight, the army crushed
We looked at each other dismayed. She
was thinking Of her father, and tremelee
in thinking Of the old man. Very certainlJ
he could not stand this new shock, and yet
what could be donef Leave him the joy
the illusion which had recalled him to life
To do this, it was necessary to deceive
him. Well, will deceive him, said to M
GIRL
and with joyful face she entered he
grapdfather's room.
It was a hard task she had undertaken
The first day she got through it we'll enough
himself be deceived like a child. But wit
returning health his ideas became cleare
1t was necessary to keep him up with Il
movements of the armies, and to invent fl
him military bulletins. 1t was indee
pathetic to see this fair girl bending nig
and day over his great map of German
sticking little flags here and there, tryir
to combine an entire glorious campaig
Bazaine towards Berlin, Frossard in bav
ria, McMahon on the Baltic.
In all this she consulted with me, and
aided her as much az / could but it W
the grandfather especially who helped
in this imaginary invasion. He had co
quered Germany so many times under
hand. HNow they will go there. this
what they are going to do" and the p
dictione were always realized, which ma
him very proud. Unfortunately, in sp
Of our capturing cities and gaining battl
we never vent fast enough for him.
was Unsuitable, that old man. Every
on arriving learned a new expiSS's ala y
young girl with forced smile, and he
through the door joyful voice cry,,,
"Hurrah, hurrah, in eight days we VIII WI!
in Berlin!" At the moment the Prnssi
were only eight days from Paris. We
liberated at first whether it would not
advisable to take him out of Paris
then he would Immediately perceive
truth from the condition of the count
and ! s5oSSghSS ,t MIN mt. too weak 700 To+ ~
know the truth. We decided to remain
The Arst day of investment called
remember, very much agitated with
crest anguish of heart caused by the clos