Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-26
"A4i FRANcE!no


The sad story OF Memphis Frenchman
who Went5O-FIght- La Belle
Franee-EOw he Left and How he Re
THE DEPARTURE.
Jacques EsRoque is the maine of a
Frenchman whom we have known for
years. He came from Nsshvill6&o Mem.
phis in '64, and lived here until the war
between France and Prussia broke out,
last year. He wss an itinersnt artist,
who could decorate q house or arrange g
lsdy's toilette with equal taste and sue
cess. When he heard that war was de-
clsred, he bundled up all his vsluables
n LEFT them in the care of q friend,
spent q few days collecting his debts, and
then, fixing himself up in q style of
grandeur this he did not indulge in
since he lett La Belle France, he
went 10 Barney Hughes and pur-
chased q ticket for New York. We cannot
even now forget the high hope and exult-
ant pride that cleaned from MS large, ex-
pressive eye as We parted with him that
hot day in July at the Charleston depot.
he felt a mingled feeling of ~pleasurable
anticipation and hope at the prospect of
returningonce more 10 his beloved France,
where he expected to meet with his old
comrades who fought with him at Msgen-
Ia and Solferino, and who shared his ra-
tions in the Crimess when he served IN
the YOltigeurs. He also hoped TO ind all
his kinsf5Ik well and happy in theirvine-
clad home in the department OF the
HRute Marine, where his rural. pa
rents made some wine and wove some
linen for a living. He spoke in lofty
and even poetic strains of what the splen-
did armies of France would accomplish
beyond the Rhine. He said plsyfully that
he would not fix up his Whiekers any
more until he could scent them with the
choicest odors of Cologne, and he was
particularly facetious upon the advantage
he possessed over most members OF the
French srmy in being able to manage beer
and sausage and SIGH. He wIung our
hand warmly as hegsyly stepped on board
the train for Chattanooga and giving us 8
parting salute told US We should hear
from him at Berlin in about six weeks.
Har THE CHARACTER ss
We did not hear from LsRoque since,
until yesterday We parted from the
merry, hght-hearted Frenchman with
regret, for we had known him under
many trying circumstances and never
found q change in his cheerful nature.
No weather could dampen his spirits, no
misfortune cast him down, he was
among the best type of national character.
There was nothing evil in his dispo-
sition, playful and pellucid as
q mountain stream be shone to
advantage in all circumstances. We often
remarked to ourself regarding himyi
there is q nature free from prejudice, He
is, Of course, the victim of n anliable
hsllucination, that France is the only
country on earth worth mentioning, and
the French army the only army in exist
ence, This faith of his is coupled with q
tender pity and true commiseration for
the unskillfulness and bsrbsrisms of the
rest of the outlandish world" In vain
we often attempted to measure the full
force and meaning of his ecststic express
sion when he would have occasion to apos-
trophise his country, "Ahi France, La
round richness, such q fullness Of feeling
and voice, that one would imagine the
best effort of his soul had been expended
it. Often have we stood under his lad
der, while he was perched upon
the upper rounds, his two hands
stretched out, holding s roll of
wall paper, damp and sticky with
paste, his eyes Lit up with the glory of his
theme, - La Belle France" on which he
descanted with rare eloquence and fervor
until the damp paper dropped from his
fingers, in the midst, perhaps, of an elO-
Iuent dissertation or bsrrack life, or IN
Without breaking off the
of his discourse, or allowing one
shade OF disappointment or a wrinkle of
disturbance to mar the complete serenity
IF his demesnor, he would glide down
the top of the ladder, never taking
his eyes of ours, or creating q suspicion
u our minds that he was moving. He
would recover the paper again, walk up
he ladder and suspend it on the wall be-
ore we would become fully aware that he
lad dropped it at all. If he had an OBJ
of worship on earth, it was for the
,lory of France. The idea of fighting for
he anla nF noFNfnfTana noUar nFnGapn his 1 :
That sentiment only comes into eX-
when ones country is in danger,
when she needs the service of
Ter children. Jacques had got above /
nd beyond that. ae regarded
t as a privilege of inestimable value to be {
flowed to serve France. Patriotism he
egarded as rather low; the struggles of '
he pOvsrty-stricken man, who labors in
be mud TO get bread for his wife. Jacques
vas a hero who won trophies to throw at
be feet of his beloved. France was be- '
'ond danger. France was above being
ided or honored. 1t was a condescension c
o her part TO allow q favored few to par
in the fresh glory that she was
Ding TO win in Germany. 1
HOW BE CAME BACK. I
1t was thus jacques went away, dressed ! !
p as one going to a wedding, with a :
urse full of money. We met him on -
HLre6b YE5EbIudls OIC5SC0 III s4O Ia .
of a beggar, haggard in face, :
eye and empty pockets, but not r
asst down. There was the same sort of :
re in those eyes as of yore, but not so :
lucb of it. He was as hopeful and
5 CHEEKY as ever, and as free b
ON all bitterness. He regarded b
le misfortunes of France as mere tenn b
Ozsry disasters, brought about by q COM il
nation of mismansgement and unac- %
incompetency. He has great G
nth in the Republic, still more in the b
.mperor, but more in France, and the b
smeold "Ahl Francei La Belle Francei" b
u that charmed our ears in days a
gone.
HIS STORY.
jacques had a sad story to tell. Before =
9 could get to Join the army of opera =
ons the Prussians had occupied the de -
OF the Haute Marine. After the n
III of the empire he was sent from Cher =
ourg to join the army of Psladines at =
rleans. He participated in q few y
gifts, was taken prisoner, and the =,
,c0nd day afterwardE was marched 81
asst the little village where he was
)rn and where the cottage of his parents
nee stood. There isn't a house standing II
lere now. Near the place, hanging from +,
le limb of a tree, were the dead bodies of =
70 franc tireurs. 1t nearly broke Jacques &
BART to see the white hairs of his father Il
roaming in the wind away W there IN. m
sr the naked branches of that CHASTITY III
ee. "We wereialeaned out, 'said Jacques, III
root and branch, and there was nothing al
us left but. me. When l was released, m
the conclusion Of hostilities, / learned al
my other brother was at the fight at
,dan was wounded and taken prisoner,
ID died q month Rfterward In Stutgardt. 81
y mother was dead before the war began nj
all. 1 found then that there re
as nothing left but me, with a piece of OF
vineyard and the ashes of my W
theirs dwelling. I made some little
with the Cure to look after
9 dirt of the plantation while l am gone W
the great country beyond the sea, to vt
IN some more money, so that the old De
me may be built up again and the race "
Rogue replanted There. France is e
WI as well as my fathers vineyard" nN
ID Jacques, but "they shall both flourish sc
IRE beautiful than ever" y
was only two days in the city,
{ he had already secured q job and he
IS setting out anew, with as much hope GO
d more determination perhaps, b ~
sr. 9
OF Rooms, a fsvorite method of co
tel life, are offered the guests of the Ii
nerican House, Boston, and may be Sc wi
by post or telegraph, by families &c
10 are travelling. All modern on no
are included with these rooms KIN
suite. pe
"A YOUNG WIRES REQUEsT.-Wlfe 40
arley, 1 wish when you come up to- 20
htyou'd stop in at your druggists apd Al
-