Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-07-13
The Siege Of Berlin.

mother resembles the Dame Blanche
rs she appeared to me that night -
The Siege Of Berlin.
From Appleton's journal.
We were riding up. the Avenue des
Champs Elysees with DR.. ", read.
ing, in the houses riddled with bullets,
the pavements demolished by the shells
the history of the seige of Paris, when,
just before arriving at the Rond Point
de l'EtOile, the doctor stopped and
pointed out to me one of the large cor.
ner houses that form such an imposing
group around the Arch of Triumph.
''Do you see those four closed win.
dows y0nder on that balcony = he
said. ''In the beginning of August,
so pregnant with storms and disasters
for us, l was called to attend case of
apoplexy in that house. The patient
was Col. Jourve, a cuirassier Of the
first empire, a firm believer in the
glory of his country, who, when war
was first declared, took up his residence
on the Champs Elysees in an apart.
ment with a balcony. Guess why
In order to witness the triumphant en-.
try of our troops. Poor old man
The news of Wissembourg reached
him as he was rising from dinner.
While reading the name of Napoleon,
written at the foot of this bulletin of
defeat, he fell insensible.
II found the old cuirassier extended
on the floor of his room, his face
flushed, and as unconscious as if he
had been felled by club. Standing
he must have been a very large man
lying there, he looked immense. Reg.
ular features, superb teeth, a mass OF
white curling hair, 80 years old, but
looking 80. Beside him knelt his
granddaughter, weeping bitterly. She
was very like him. Seeing them side
by side reminded one of two Greek
medals struck from the same stamp,
only one antique furnished, rather
worn in the outline, while the other
was clear and distinct in all the fresh
ness and brilliancy of a new stamp.
''The gr1er OF the young girl touched
me. The daughter and granddaughter
of soldiers, her father was on MacMa,
hons staff, and the sight of the old
man lying insensible before her, called
up to her mind another sight not less
terrible. 1 did my best to reassure
her, but to tell the truth had myself
very little hope. The old man had
been struck down by an apoplectic fit,
and at eighty years of age one seldom
RECEIVERS from that. For three
days, in fact, the invalid re.
manned in the same condition, motion
less and insensible. just at this time
the news of Reichshoffen reached
Paris. You remember in what q
strange fashion. Until evening we all
believed in great victory, twenty
thousand Prussians slain, the prince
royal captive. I do not know by
what miracle, or what magnetic cur
rent, an echo of national rejoicing
reached our poor invalid in the depths
of his paralysis, but that evening, on
approaching his bed, I found him an.
other man. His eyes were almost
bright, his tongue less heavy. He
was strong enough to smile, and he
stammered out twice:
'Victory!."
"'Yes, colonel, a great victory!'
"And while I related the details OF
MacAlallon's success, I saw his counte.
nance brighten, and his features re.
lax.
when left the room the young
girl was waiting for me, and weeping
bitterly. ~..a,-..
t''He is saved!' said I, taking ber
hands in mine.
1.-THE poor girl had hardly courage
to reply. The real news of ReichshOf.
fen had just been published-MacMa.
hon flying, the army routed! We
looked at each other in CONSERVATION.
She was heart-broken, thinking of her
father. I trembled, remembering the
old man. He surely never could stand
this new and terrible shock. What
was to be done! Should we leave him
to his Joy and to the illusions that had
revived him! Then we would have to
lie to him,
".Well, 1 will lie to him. said the
heroic girl, dashing away her tears,
and with a radiant countenance she re.
turned to her grand father 8 room.
''It was a terribly hard task that she
had undertaken. At first it was com.
paratively easy. The old mans brain
was feeble, and he believed blindly,
like a child whatever was told him,
But with returning health his ideas
became clearer. We were Obliged to
keep him informed respecting the
movements of the army, and to invent
military bulletins. It was pitiful to
see that fair young girl, studying over
her map Of Germany night and day,
pricking it with little flags, attempt.
ing to arrange a glorious campaign;
Bazaine advancing upon Berlin, TrOis-
sart in Bavaria, MacMahon on the Bal,
tic. She asked my advice about this,
and / aided her as well a. i could, but
the old man was our principal assist
ant in this imaginary vision. He had
conquered Germany 90 often under the
first Napoleon! Heknew all tho move
ments in advance. Now they will 20
here, this is what they will do! and
his predictions were always realized,
which made him very proud.
.sBut, unfortunately, no matter how
many battles we fought, how many
cities we took, No never went fast
enough for the old man was insa-
table. Every day on my arrival !
learned Of 3 new victory,
9. Doctor. we have taken May.
sence. = said tho young girl. coming to
meet me with . sad smile; and I heard
from % adjoining room 9 joyous voice
that cried 49,
1--WE are making great progress,
doctor !. lnawsek We shaal enter Bers
s: $. s, th.t ,p 5 IS, 8 ra,.,.n.