The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-09
Bazaine.
SCENES AT THE TRIAL OF MONSIEUR LIE
MARECHAL.

SCENES AT THE TRIAL OF MONSIEUR III
| MARECHAL.
From . London Times letter.
| A curious study is presented by these two
men (Bazaine and Due d,Aumale) whom
ehe caprice of events has brought face to
race In such solemn circumstance of their
existence that the being, the honor of a
whole nation seem at stake in this terrible
controversy. The Duo d'Aumale has
studied this trial with unusual ardor; he
sat up over it the half of last night; he has
prepared his questions with most particular
care he is master of it. He knows all the
army has done, all it might have done, all
| it should have done.
The questions which the Duke puts are
| correct, precise, and mark we'll at which
they aim; the voice is cold, sonorous,
somewhat monotonous, but ineligible.
The Marshal, seated in front of him,
answers in an unimpressive, rather low
tone of voice. Now and then the voice
suddenly changes, 80 much so that people
at the lower end of the ball think it is some
one else who is speaking. This happens
when the Marshal reads any report or any
document which may help to justify him. AS
the Marshal then puts on his double eye
glass and tries to read in louder tone
than he speaks in, the change in the voice
is complete, and every one rises on tip-toe
w cSO W nv 10 SuO uC" .COIuoT UudU 10 Te6QluRs
The illusion is complete. But between
these two men, between that Prince, now
become judge, and that Marshal, now on
trial for his life, the conversation breathes
stiff, cold, but irreproachable politeness.
The Duke never says anything but Mon
sieur ie Marechal." The Marshal never
beginsIhis answer otherwise than ''Monsieur
lie President" But behind that formal
politeness infiexible determination is con-
stantly concealed. At every moment the
Marshal, in the interest of his defense, tries
to introduce some incidental narrative,
some unknown particular; but at every
moment the Duke stops him with 81 think,
Marshal, that incident will come in more
appropriately at such and such time"
and he brings him back within the narrow
limits OF the interrogatory he means to put
him through. At a given moment the
Marshal stops and says, Will you allow
order emanating from me- I" as ISL il Of in an 4
terest, Marshal P7' Of great INTEREST,"
Yes, but is it of interest to the question
now before us9" Yes, Monsieur le Presi-
dent" "Then read it, please - and the
Marshal puts on his double eye-glass, the
Duke bis most attentive look, and the
Marshal reads so that any one coming in
just then would think that it was council
Of war, not to judge him, but to deliberate
with him in common. On another occasion
this scene occurs again, but in a more dra-
matte form. The Duke has got to the bat
tie of Borny, to the bloody affairs of
strikes the Marshal home, he presses him.
he harasses him: "But, then, you did not
want to break through in the direction of |
VerGun : yon did not comply with the |
orders, the desires of the Emperor, who |
you to cross the Moselle.n 80 Will |
you allow me, Monsieur le President, to |
read you one of Napoleon LIS cemmenta-
70 Perfectly so, M. lie Due" Thereupon the
Marshal begins to read a passage ia com
nander-in-chie should never take into &C.
count the orders of a general or q prince |
who is at q distance from the field of bat
tle," etc: Meanwhile the interYegatory
aarrows it's circle, it becomes more press
.nng. Did you reflect that the .soad by
was dangerous defile eleven
niles long Did you destroy the bridge so
as to prevent the enemy from passing, and
your own retreats Had you not on
,he heights where you were supplies for two
1aysf Why, instead of taking ADVANTAGE
# them to march forward did yoa allow
hem to return Why did you keep your
'eserves On your left, which was protected,
md why expose your right when your re.
reat mi ght be cut Off And the questions
ollow closely upon each other. It is like
encing. The Marshal parties, covers him.
elf, makes return thrust by advancing
ONE military principle, but at length the
Duke draws from the Ntershal's answers
his conclusion, which is like a thrust right
lome "lt is, then, true, as was maintained,
nat yoa never had the Intention of going
o Verdun, and that your only object was
o camp before Metz" The Marshal feels
ne blow. He hesitates and then replies
harp!y. have not said se. stuck
asst To- Metz, which was my supreme re-
ource; but with the fra .resol ation of re-
rganizing the cadres, which had been
estroyea, and of cutting my way
With that answer the sitting came tn an
nd. The two fencers are worthy of each
Their, and both very clever; but one has
ne oeGas role of avenging the country the II
eavy, crushing task of the other is to save
,On this wreck his honor and his life, both
like threatened.
"LoEioCs NEWS FOR THE LADIEs-Mrs.