The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-25
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.


ments demolished by the shells, the history
of the scigc of Paris, when, just before ar
irving at the Rond Point de fEtOilC, the
doctor stopped and pointed out to me one
the large corner houses that form such an
imposing group around the Arch of Tri-
amph.
"Do you see those four closed windows
yonder on that balcony'" he said. In the
beginning Of August, that terrible month
of August, so pregnant with storms and
disasters for us, was called in to attend
case of apoplexy in that house. The
patient was Colonel Jouve, a cuirassier OF
the first empire firm believer in the
glory of his country. who, when war was
nrst declared, took up his residence on the
Champs Elvs6es in an apartment with
balcony. Guess wny1 In order to witness
the triumphant entry Of our troops. Poor
old man The news OF wissembourg
reached him Ms he was rising from dinner.
While reading tho name of Napoleon,
written at the foot of this bulletin of de-
feat, he fell insensible.
81 found the old cuirassier extended on
the floor Of his room, his face flushed. and
MS unconscious IA IL no had been felled by
tho blow OF club. Standing he must
have been very large man; lying there,
ne looked immense. Regular features SUI
perb teeth, a mass of white curling hair
eighty years old. but looking sixty. Be-
side him knet his granddaughter, weeping
bitterly. She was very like him. Seeing
them side by side reminded one of two
beautiful 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 freshness
and brIlliancy OF II new stamp.
The grief of the young girl touched
me. The daughter and granddaughter of
soldiers, her father was on Mac Mahon's
staff. aud the sight of the old man lying
insensible before her called up to her mind
another sight not less terrible. did my
best TO reas-ure her, but to tell the truth l
had myself very little hope. The old man
had beon struck down by an apoplectic
TIT, and at eighty years of age Que seldom
RECEIVERS from that For three days, in
fact, the invalid remained III the same
condition, motionless and insensble.
Just at this time the news OF Reich
shoffen reached Paris. You remember III
what n strange fashion. Until evening we
all believed in great victory, twenty
thousand Prussians slain. the prince royal
captive. do not know by what MIRA
Gle, or what magnetic current, an echo of
the national rejoicing reached our poor in
valid in the depths of his paralysis, but
that evening, on approaching his bed, l
found him another man. His eyes were
was strong enough to smile, and he stam-
mered out twice:
" Nic-to-ry""
"Yts, colonel, great victory!'"
"Aud. while related the details of Mo
Mahon's success, | saw his countenance
brighten, his features relax.
"WheD / left the room the young girl
was waiting for me ut the door she was
"'He is saved!" said 1, taking her hands
in mine.
The poor girl had scarcely courage to re-
ply. The real news of Reichshotfen had
Ju.t been publ shed-McMahon flying, the
army routed! We looked at each other in
CONSERVATION. She was heart broken,
thinking OF her father. i trembled. re-
inemberiug the old man. lie surely could
never stand tins new and terrible shock.
What was TO be doney should We leave him
to his joy and TO the illusions that had re-
Niyed hlmy Then We would have to lie to
him.
Well, | will lie to him. said the heroic
girl, dashlng away her tears, and with z.
radiant countenance she returned to hef
grandfathers room.
1t wasa terribly hard task that she had
undertaken At FIRST II was comparatively
easy. The old mans BRAN was feeble. and
he believed bliudly, like IA child. whatever
was told him. But with returning health
his ideas became clearer We were Obliged
to keep him Informed respecting the move
menis OF the army, and to invent military
bulletins. II was pltlful To see THAT fair
young girl studying day and night over
her map OF Germany, picking IL with little
uaRs, attempting 10 arrange glorious
campaign; Bnzalne advancing upon Ber-
I'm, Troissart III Bavaria, MacMahOn on the
Baltic. She asked my advice about this,
and l aided her rs well as l could, but
the old man was our principal as
slstant III TINS imaginary VISION. lie
had conquered Germany so often under
the first Napoleon He knew all the move
mcnts IN advance. NOW they will go here
this Is what they Will do! and ms prcdlc-
tons were always realized, which made
hun very proud.
But. unfortunately, no matter how
many battles We won, how many cities we
took. We never went fast enough for the
old man-he was Unsuitable. Every day on
my arrival learned OF II new victory.
80 Doctor, We have taken Mayence,'" said
the young girl, coming To meet me with
sad smile; and heard from the adjoining
room joyous voice that cried:
- We are making great progress. In a
week we shall enter Berlinr"
Al thar moment the Prussans were
within weeks march OF Pans. Our
INST idea was to transport our M
valid - the provinces; but as soon rs he
LETT Paris, the slate OF the country would
have told him all, ana feared that he was
a vel too feeble, too much stunned by his
great shock, 10 be abe to bear he truth.
So We decided that lie should stay.
"ihe FIRST day OF the siege entered their
apartment Il remember II as ii IT was yes
tcrdaJ very much moved, with that sad
heart wAeltwIth all of Us saw the gates of
Pans closed, the enemy under the walls,
ana our suburbs converted INTO frontiers.
found the old man seated On his bed, Joy
Gus aud "Xulung.
80 WeL doctor said he, the siege has
commenced.
looheI mt him in amaZemcnt.
80 what, cOiOuui! do you know 2 "
Iii- granddaughter tune TO me.
go why, ye-, doctor; that Is the great
news tLesicge OF Benin has commenced. 4"
She sad thai, while diawluS the needle
through the canvas, with such a quietly
dcllbe ate tone! How could he suspect
Ruy,hiu4? The cannon of the forts-he
could not hear them. Unhappy Paris, all
gloomy and disturbei-he could not see
Atr. A small section of the Arch of Tr-
uinph WAS all mat he could see from hs
bel, and III the room, all around HIM,
were the relics OF the fist empire,
wen calculated TO sustain his de-
.u,lOns Portraits Of mar-hns, enpIay-
MS II battle suhjrcts, the infant King of
Rome, large consoles covered with Impe-
mai lric, medals, bIonZrs, n stone from
-. Helena uuuer IA glass shdde. MINIATURES,
all representing the same lady IN bail COS
tune, a yellow dress, lcg-ot-muttOn