River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-12-20

a chaisc going to Paris and traveller
of some fifty year old asked for news.
The Louvre is taken; the Bourbons
fed Provisional Government estab-
lished--vive la Republique the ex
cited painter poured out The gentle
man, fifty years old, scratched his ear,
and-Seontinued his journey. For the
next stage they had an old position,
who persisted in going at a steady trot,
and at every renlonstrance answered
doggedly, " leave it all to me. A man
knows his own business best" Dumas
at last, from the chaise window, laid on
the backs of the horses with stick,
and made them gallop. In a rage, the
man pulled up, swore no would unyoke
his beasts, and actually proceeded to
do 50. Dumas fred mt him with blank
cartridge, and so scared him that he
rolled on the ground in terror. Alex
andre then put on the huge posting
boots, and, mounting, galloped on 10
the next post. They soon reached the
old familiar Villers Cotterets--the
whole town, as may be well imagined,
being thrown into intense excitement
by the appearance of the chaise with
the tricolor and the excited Alexandra
Dumas. Late as it was, every house
poured ont its Inhabitants, who rushed
to the post-house.8 "A Thousand eager
questions We're put TO. him-what did
ii mean, tins flag and the guns He
knew all the towns-people, and told
the story Of the last few days. 1t was
insisted that he should stay a short
time, and have something TO eat; and
he was carried off to the house of an
old friend, where hasty supper was
got ready. A number of old compan-
ions who had been boys when he was
IN the little town, gathered round, list
aning eagerly as their old friend de-
claimed and recounted between every
mouthful Asyhe dashed in for them,
which be could do admirably, vivid
sketches of these thrilling scenes, the
rustics listened with delight and won
der; but when he came to explain the
object of his present expedition, ''when
| announced that / meant to capture,
single handed,all the powder that was in
q military town, containing eight thou
sand inhabitants, and a garrison of
eight hundred men, they looked at
him doubtfully, and thought he was
crazed. This was, of course, welcome
toAlexaudre, who ALWAYS delighted to
put himself in theatrical attitude, and
be the centre of dramatic situation.
He turned to his companion, Bard
"What were my words when pro-
posing this expedition to your
you asked, was the reply, "was
inclined to get myself shot with you"
"And what do you say now ?"
"That | am ready still"
All were cOnfounded at such gallant
~. One of his friends now stepped
forward, and offered to get him into
SCISSORS, as he had friend at the gates.
Then Alexandra, always anticipating
his D'Artagnan, raised his glass, and
drank his own return to them on the
next evening. "Have dinner readv.n
he called to the host, "for twenty peo-
pie; and it is to be eaten just the same,
whether we are alive or dead here are
two hundred francs" The other an
swered be might pay on the morrow.
" But if should be shot =" "Then [
shall pay" A shout arose, Hurrah
for Cartier :" Dumas drank off his
wine, and, we might add, the act drop
fell.
1t was now about eleven O'Clock.
The horses were put to. the chaise was
waiting, and the bold trio-Dumas.
Bari andlHutin (who were to pass them
through the gates drove away on their
daring expedition. By one o'clock
they had reached the rates OF scissors.
through which they were allowed to
pass, 1.-The door-keeper little dreaming,
says Alexandra the great, "that he was
admitting the Revolution"
They went straight TO the house of
Hutin's mother, where their first bust
ness was the manufacture of n huge
tricolor flag. She contributed her blue
and red curtains, with % tablecloth. and
AL the women of the household were
SET TO work to sew the pieces together.
BY daybreak the task was completed.
fhe pole. of course. gave no trouble,
ms the one from which the Bourbon
white flag was floating would answer
= The flag staff, as Dumas says, ''haa
no political opinions
The plan they had arranged was
really quixotic in its extravaganza, and.
indeed, seems almost incredible. Max
ing all allowance for Dumas's bOmbast.
it will be seen that, at the most, he has
only been guilty of the novelist's ex-
aggeration; and, though at the time the
story of the adventure was all but
scputed,it could not be disproved in its
facts, which are given with the most
minute details of dates, names, and
pieces IL was settled that Bard and
Hutin were to take the flag, aud con.
trive 70 get into the cathedral t.nder
tho pretence of seeing the sun rise
from the tower. Ii the sacristan made
my resistance, he was 10 be flung over
the parapet Then, having dragged
down the white flag, and set the tri-
,.inv NAatiVey from, fhn tnxvn,. r., 4 49,.