Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-02

member about the eruption. There
have been several since, but believe
this was the worst.
NAPoLEoN's CORONATION.
81 went to Paris about 1900 and
studied vocal and instrumental music
at the Conservatoire, where Cherubini
was director at that time. Yes, that
is his portrait on the wall, and it is Il
very good likeness, too. He composed
many operas about that time and they
were very successful, rs you know. |
was taught in the French school of
music, which is to first learn to sing
and then to play every instrument
| can play everything except the horn,
and | haven't wind enough to perform
on that. | was engaged ut the Grand
Opera House as repetiteur of the or
chestra in 1904. | remember the first
production of La Dame Blanche at
the Grand Opera House at that time.
The composer himself (Boildieu) led
the orchestra and | was repetiteur or
assistant conductor there"
"Do you remember who were the
singers upon that occasion ?"
"Oh, no, no. cannot remember
that. | only recollect that Boildeu
conducted the orchestra and that the
opera was Il great success. | was en-
gagged at the Grand Opera House
when Napoleon was crowned Emperor
at the Church of Notre Dame in 1904.
All that was grand sight. | shall
never forget it. Soon after that | en-
tered the army"
"llow came you to join the army?
Were you conscripted? p was asked.
ooh, no" replied the old professor,
with laugh; 81 volunteered But
let me show you this" and the old
man took down from the wall frame
containing paper bearing the dingy
hue of age and written in French. 1t
was Il certificate similar to the hon
orable discharge of an American sol
dier and showed that Pierre Solidore
Milon had entered the Second Regi-
ment of the French Infantry of the
line July i, 1906. Then followed
full account Of his various promotions,
from private to n captain and pay
master, together with the campaigns
through which he had served and the
battles in which he had been engaged.
Above the paper in the frame was the
faded red ribbon and cross of the
Legion of Honor, and on one side of
the certificate was n detailed account
of the gallant service rendered by
Sous-L Lieutenant Milon in capturing n
cannon from the Russians at Polotsk,
for which he received the decoration.
The certificate was signed by the
Baron de Wimpfen, colonel com
manding the Second Regiment of the
line.
THE FIRST CAMPAIGN.
"Le Baron de Wimpficn,' said the
old Professor, succeeded Colonel de
Lavalatte as commander of the regi-
ment. The latter was an old soldier
and was with Napoleon in Egypt. He
received a wound in the leg at the bat
tie of Wagram and died from the
effects two days afterwards and the
Baron took his place. Ny first duties
upon joining the regiment were in the
paymaster's department and conse-
quently ! did not see any fighting
until we entered Swedish Pomerania.
Then came the campaign against the
Prussians. All. ] remember that well
and the passage Of the Jena, in which
| gave peasant forty gold pieces to
pull me out Of the water on the other
side. Then came the Austrian cam
paign of 1909, during which YOU see
| was made sergeant major, having
successfully been appointed corporal,
sergeant and fourier or paymaster's
secretary"
"Do you remember Napoieon's ap.
pearance?" asked a visitor.
"Perfectly," said the old man, spring
ing from his chair and his face light.
ing up with enthusiasm. II saw him
many times, and have been as near to
him as | am now to you. remember
his stern, rcsolute face and the way he
used to fold his arms and stand this
way" and the veteran assumed the
familiar attitude which is said by his
torians to have been the Little Cor.
poral's" favorite pose.
"Yes, my friends, | have seen Ma
poleon, the great Napoleon, standing
before the camp fire with piece of
black bread in one hand and a morse
of cheese in the other, eating it with
all the relish of common soldier.
All! he was always one of us. lie
loved his soldiers and his men loved
him." and the old mans voice trem-
bled as he spoke.
"Then came Russia, the march to
Moscow and the retreat Oh that