Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-08-06


every mental attribute went forward in
the race ol life, this hot blooded Corsican
kept gnawIng his own proud heart, and
wondering il his day would ever come.
1t did come, and it never will be forgot
ten. The National Guard OF Paris rose
in arms against the Convention.
Thirty thousand strong, they marched
to eud it. This was felt by the
Directory 10 ba case lor clnnon,
and the army OF France boastod no such
cannoneer as the general lying idle in his
lodgings. The crisis was not one that
admitted of much delay. In order to
save themselves the Convention we're
honestly ready TO choose the best defend
or they could ind. Sick Of inaoliOn,
Bouaparte suddenly iouad in his hands
number of cannon, five thousand regular
troops. aud force of trusty rural voluu-
teers. His work was TO keep the Conven-
iion safe. He gathered his troops, formed
his defending lines, aad Crammei his
guus to the mUzzleS with grape and can
is,er. The citizen guards came ON.
They had no cannon. Bonapartc never
stirred a finger till they came within a
stones throw Of his guns. lhcu, giving
the order Fire - he hurled upon the
masses OF citizen troops q tempest OF iron
and lend. Volley after voiley tore through
the narrow streets, nackol tul of the
helpless victims. who rushed upon
dreadful fate. L. lew hours the city OF
Paris was a- quiet es n lamb, and in q
few days General Bopaparto vas com
maatcr-in-chiet OF tho Army OF be 10
tJior.
he met Josephine soon ai'er. She
ws .ie friend OF Ta.iier oi h.s vie, OF
.he Director Barras-waJ had preceded
Boaapsrte in tho chiei command of The
Army ot tho InteIor-aud, indeed. oi
the most prominent politicians then
ruling Franco aud moving 10 the sa'0H'
of Paris. Bonaparte. no doubt, wos
struck 0y her graces OF mind and person,
bul iu view OF the circumstance that she
Sas six years MS senior, it Is but natural
TO irsCe their union in some degree to his
Suowiadgoo of her influence with the very
mon iu France Hho could make soldiers
.sme srj iUItul.. 4 soldier, 10 be sure,
must make .sme ior himself; but then
tho greatest slrate zist who ever drew the
b,ealh o. hle, might yield rp that breath
in coutomp,ib.e oo,curity because the oP-
poriunity ot winning reputation had
never chaut "a 10 come in his way. This
Bonapar,e know. l. was evident 10 him
that Bsrras and raiicu would do mucn o
plesse the charming Josephine. What
,b.v and their friends could do was to
open a araud career 70 any man OF war
ike gerius. Some historians and essay
lists would have "a, believe ,haj no gen.
erf married the widow IN tl.hilmeni Of q
practical CONTRACT, tho other article OF
which W.. llat b4rrss should procIre for
him tue t7i,t command OF the Fcencl
army t.rUltws. no Italy. This seemslo us
10 SQUAD u,ise.v In the first place, the
ar4y ia lAif mI been brought TO SO
wretched u pass 1} sheer want OF eble
geners,sbip. tuu 200 Directory must
have ae.u saxi1u- ~ Tor their own sskes
ONLY. 10 make choice OF the very best
commander. Beyond al! comparison,
tho young Corsicsn genera was bes.
suited TOR this pos. OF dangerous honor.
Hs had fought before 10 italy. lie "ss
by decent sr Italian, and thereby
might be useful in ,oosing the sym
pathy of the people. Owing his all to
tao Directory, he would naturally be
more depended upon for fidelity to them
and for zeal in their behalf than those
who had only given to the new regime u
second or q third hand leal,y Moro thar
all. no rad given proof, before the walls
of Toulou and IN the streets OF Paris,
tina, he knew how to make tho most OF
cannon. All these facts indicated Bona
uarto as the man for the army OF Italy.
To Italy, the,etore, he probably would
have gone. had Josephine never lived at
all. Bat Italy was not everything. A
campsign is ,h mere initial OF career.
Ho looked ou. into the future, and saw,
or thought no saw, the value and need Of
friends Of the Barras type. He vas not
able to love as mon in general do, nor
was he at oil the kind of man to engage
himself in marriage OF sentiment, or
nessiop, or romance. H5 had welded
Ambition only. What was woman )
love 10 him? One can hardly avoid con-
oludiry that his choice OF Josephine was
dictated by the promptings OF his ambi-
ton. After q brief acquaintance with
her. he offered marriage. She accepted
him. but no. eagerly, nor yet with the
iovful confidence Of true love. Her
hear, was i'll at ease, beset by doubts,
perplexed by grave and anxious qnes-
tious. The marriage took place, how
ever; Bonaparte was gozotted, al once,
to the Armylof Italy and ere many days
had passed. he bade his wife farewell,
and went to close his honeymoon in camp
and field OF battles.
The yaonb.nd lorLuno-le -l-r,s promised