The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-02


ceived like . child. But with improving
his health his ideas became more clear.
1t was necessary to hold him in the course
Of the movement Of the armies, putting
into order for him the military bulletins.
It was truly pitifui to SEE that beautiful
child bent over q map of Germany
night and day, pricking little flags,
and endeavoring to combine all in glori-
Gus campaign Bazaine near Berlin; Eros
rart in Bavaria; MacMahon on the Bal
tic. For all this required my advice, and
] aided her as much as [ could. But it
was the grandfather above all whom we
served in this imaginary invasion. He had
been at the conquest Of Germany under
the First Empire. He knew every step of
advance. CHOW that is where they all
go this is what they all do:' and his
predictions were always realized
which could not fail to render
him very proud. Unfortunately,
though we were lucky in
taking cities and gaming battles, we were
never quick enough for him. The old
man was Unsuitable! Each day or my ar
rival learned of a new feat of arms.
doctor, we have taken Mayence." the
granddaughter said, approaching me
with sad smile; and heard through the
door a joyous voice crying, t'That march |!
that march In eight days we will enter
Ber:in!" At that moment the Prussians
were not more than eight days from Paris.
We considered whether he had not bet
ter be carried into the country, but as
soon as the condition of France would
have become known to him he would have
been benumbed by the shock, and it would
not do toilet him know the truth. TWAS
decided that he should remain for the
present.
The first day Of the investment went
up to their house, remember, much
moved by that anguish of heart, which
the closed doors of Paris gave. and the
BATTLES under her walls now became the
frontiers of her jurisdiction. found the
good man seated upon his bed, jubilant
and proud.
"Well,'' he said, 'snow the siege be.
gins.''
regarded him with astonishment.
SLOW, Colonel, do you know?' l
asked.
His granddaughter turned to me:
''Oh, yes, Doctor. It is great news
The siege Of Berlin is begun!''
She said this as she threaded her nee.
die, with an air so grave and quiet. What
if he should question something? He
conld not hear the guns of the forts. I'm
happy Paris, unfortunate and upturned,
he could not see it. That which he saw
from his bed was the front of the Arch of
Triumph, and in his room, around him all
the bric.a.brac of the first empire, well
arranged to encourage his illusions. Por.
traits of narshalls, pictures of battles,
the King of Rome as child; then the
grand consuls in full dress, copper orna-
ments, trophies, numerous imperial relics,
medals, bronzes, the high ROCK of St..
Helena under a glass, different miniatures
representing the same woman with hair
curled. in ball costume, yellow dress,
with leg of mutton sleeves, bright eyes,
and all that. The consuls, the King of
Rome. the marshalls, the yellow ladies
with the upright cut, high girdle, and the
cramped outfit which was the fashion of
1906. Gallant Colonel, it was that at
mosphere of victories and conquests
much more than all we said to
him which made him believe so
innocent in the siege of Berlin.
On leaving him that day we found our
military operations very much simpli6ed.
10 take Berlin was but a question of pa
tience. From time to time, when the old
man became too impatient, we read him
a letter from his son, an imaginary letter,
to be sure, as nothing could come into
Paris, and since Sedan, the aide-de-camp
of MacMahon, had been confined in a
German fortress. You may fancy the
despair of that poor child, without news
of her father. knowing him to be pris-
oncr, deprived of everything, i'll perhaps,
and she obliged to make him speak in
these joyful letters, little brief, as would
be written by soldier in the field, but
always going forward into the conquered
country. Sometimes they were without
news for weeks, and her fortitude failed
her. At times the old man was so uneasy
that he could not sleep. At those times
letter would quietly come from Ger
many, which she gayly read to him by his
bedside. and Gained his fears. The Col
onel listened earnestly, smiled with an
air of wisdom, approved, and criticised,
explaining to US the difficult passages.
But he was delightful above all in the
replies he sent to his SON:
''Never forget that you arc French
man. said he ''be generous the poor
people. Do not make the invasion too
severe
And it was such advice even to the end
the admirable exhortation in regard to the
proprieties, the politeness due to woman;
true code of military honor, of the usage