The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-11-01

Bernadotte, King OF Sweden and Nor.
Way.

Pau, in the department of the Lower
Pyrenees. on the Goth of January 17G4.
HIS father an attorney of that place. ap-
pears To have treated him in early life with
some degree of harshness the old lawyer
evncing so decided a partiality for an
elder son, that, at the age of sixteen,
Charles quilted his paternal roof, and en-
'lN'ed az private in the royal marines
lie went Immediately to Narcotics,
whence he was ordered to Corsica, of which
Island he first saw active service. At the
end OF nine years, steadiucss and good con.
duct had promoted Bernodotte to the high
est rank ii was possible for q private
soldier under the old system to attain
namely, that of sergeant-major. Thus
at the age Of twenty-five, his prosp ects in
life were settled. 70 rise higher in the
world seemed an impossibility But the
Revolution of 1889 broke down the barriers
which stopped promotion, and, like most
young soldiers, he sided with the new
order of things
In times of revolution. energy and per.
to obtain advancement. These Bernadotte
possessed in an eminent degree, and his
rise was rapid. In 1892 he was promoted
to colonelcy, and as such served in the
campaign of the Rhine After the battle
OF Fleurus Goth May, 1902 TO the gaining
OF which he was mainly instrumental,
hleber, the commander in-chief, promoted
him on the field to the rank of general OF
brigade A few years after, Bernadotte
performed one of those dashing exploits
Which are so captivating to the multitude,
and which invariably secure the popula rity
of the actor. In one Of the battles on the
banks of the Rhine, the division under his
command began to falter. In vain he tried
to rally them by his example and his com
mands. At length. finding them still in
clined to retreat. he tore his cpaulettes
from his shoulders, and threw hem into
the ranks of the enemy. Now to recover
them he exclaimed, and dashed into the
thickest Of the fight Those who witness.
ed the feat were ashamed to desert him !:
they followed, inspired the others with
courage, and the enemy was routed. At
the end of this campaig ign-which lasted
till 1191-the French Directory wrote t.
him very fattering encomiums on his con-
duct.
Though Bernadotte was extremely dc.
sirous OF accepting the reversion OF their
crown. offered by the Swedish enyoys yet
it was difficult 10 know what effect such
step would work upon the emperor.
whose subject the new crown prince still
was. He took the proper course, and
formally applied to Napoleon for his per-
mission TO accept the proiered dignity.
The answer was one of those dramatic
opigrams in which Frenchmcn so much
delight - Elevated from the French peo-
pie myself answered the emperor, Il dare
not oppose the choice Of another people
The reply was equivocal, and so were the
after proceedings of Bonaparte. He de.
lsyed the official documents necessary TO
releaso Bernadotte from his obligations as
French subject as long as possible Sew
eral interviews took place between the
two enemies; but the future king of Swe.
den gained his point at last.
The farewell interview wns exceedingly
stormy. The last words were uttered by
Napoleon. go, he exclaimed, that our
destinies may be accomplished 2
Bernsdotte took his imperial rival at his
word. and departed Immediately. On ar.
rivinR in his adopted country, he was re-
ceived with every mark OF regard and
honor. This was in the beginning of 1911.
Two years afterwards. he was placed in a
most difficult position. OF the sovereigns
who allied themselves to crush tho power
OF Napoleon, Charles XIII. OF Sweden
was necessarily one. The military talents
OF the crown-prince were too great to be
disl ensed with, and he WAS called upon 10
take the field In behalf OF his adopted
against his native land. 1t is said that
this terrible necessity caused him a men.
tai struggle of so violent nature. that he
was thrown on a bed of sickness. which
threatened to terminate fatally. But he
recovered In time for action, and took a
prominent part in the battle OF Leipsic.
t10Ao h'o tp''ioh "aS biunuiar. By his
former successes in Germany, he had
mainly contributed to the annexation of
the German states. the French republic and
empire. Now he appeared among Frances
enemies, TO undo all he had previously
done. Tho battle of Leipsic proved
sweeping day of reckoning for the French.
who were defeated with unusual slaurh.
ter. On that day Bernadottes triumph
over his ancient enemy must have been
complete. In fact. Napoleon always smoke
of Bernadotto as the proximate cause of
his downfall lie was exclaimed tho
exile of st. Helena to General Las Casae
the serpent nourishdd in our bosom
On the 9th Of February, 1918. Charles
XIII. died, and Bernadotto was proclaimed
king Of Sweden and Norway, by the title
of Charles XIV. On the ,th of the follow.
ing May he was crowned at Stockholm
At this ceremony fattering and somewhat
poetic mark of attention was paid him.
The throne was very elevated, and ap
preached by steps. On each step was en-.
broidered the name of a victory in which
he shared, beginning with Fleurus Ton the
Rhne) and ending with Ileipsic for IL was
n -