The Princeton union., 1881-08-18
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.

SAD eX1leS GOWrQ LQ0lr SGar
Joaquin Miller, in the Californian.
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.
Translated for the Troy Times from the French
of Alphonse Daudet
We were strolling up the avenue of the
Champs Elysees with our friend the doctor,
asking Of the houses torn by shells, and Of
the sidewalks ploughed up by grapeshot, the
history of Paris besieged, when just before
reaching the triulnphal arch the doctor
j stopped and pointing to one Of those state
ly corner houses grouped aroundthe square,
he said to me:
DO you see those four windows with the
blinds closed on that balcony up there? In
the first days Of August last, that terrible
month of August full of storms and disas-
ters, was called there for case of apo
plexy. They were tie rooms Of Col. Jouve,
"a culrassier of the first empire, stubborn on
the subjects of glory and patriotism, who,
as soon as the war broke out, moved to the
Champ Elysees into an apartment with a
balcony-guess what for? 10 be able to
witness the triumphant return of our troops.
Poor old man! The news of Wisemburg
reached him as he was leaving the dinner
table, and when he read the name of Napo-
leon at the foot of the bulletin of defeat,
the apoplectic stroke fell upon him like
thunderbolt
Il found the old cuirasser stretched up
on the carpet with blood upon his face, and
motionless, as if he had received blow
from heavy club upon his head. Stand
ing erect ne must nave been very tall; ly-
ing there he seemed of immense size, With
his handsome features, his beautiful teeth,
and his curly snow-white hair, his 80 years
seemed scarcely so. Kneeling at his side,
and weeping bitterly, was his granddaugh-
ter. She looked like him, and the two
heads there, close together, seemed like
two fine Greek medals struck from the
same die, the cne q little worn and effaced,
the other clear and bright, with all the
blush Of its fresh imprint upon it.
The grief Of the girl touched me Deep
~; daughter and granddaughter of soldiers,
her father vas away serving on McMahon's S
staff and the tall form of the venerable
man lying before her was calling up in
her mind another picture, not less terri
BILE. Gid my best to reassure her, although
L had little hope, for at 80 years ono hardly
RECEIVERS from such things. For three days
my patient still remained in the same mo-
uonless and comatose state, and thereup-
on came the news Of Reischoffen. You re-
member how strangely it came. Until even
ing we all thought great victory had been
achieved. 20, coo Prussians killed, the prince
taken prisoner. cannot say by what miracle,
by what magnetic current, sort of echo of
the national joy reached the poor sufferer
through the torpor of his paralysis. I
found him another man; his eye was almost
bright, his speech almost clear; he smiled
and twice stammered:
"Victory!''
Eyes, Colonel, a great victory and as 1
ou0 inn fhn <n;1, r..
did success could see his features relax
and his eyes light up. AS went out I
found tbs young girl standing across the
door, pale as death, and sobbing.
But he is savedI exclaimed, taking
her hands
The poor child had scarcely strength
enoughtc reply. The true history of Refs
choffen had just been posted: MacMahon
retreatlGg, the entire army crushed. We
looked at one another in despair. She was
thu king Of ner father, and I trembled' for
the poor old man had just left He could
not resist this second shock, and yet what
could be done? Leave him his ioy and
the illusions which have brought him back
to lie! Bu. Tor this the truth must not be
told.
I will not tell the truth, them said the
heroic girl, simply, as she rapidly wiped
away her tears, and then, with smile upon
her face, she silently reentered her g,and-
fathers room.
It was hard task she undertook, poor
child! At first it worked pretty we'll. The
old gentleman's head was weak, and he
could be deceived like child. But as his
health improved, his ideas became clearer.
We had to keep him posted on the move
: ments of the army and compose military
bulletins. It was pitiful to see that lovely
girl bending day and night over the map Of
Germany, sticking in little flags and trying
to plan out glorious campaign. Bazaine
marching on Berlin, Froissart in Bavaria,
MacMahon on the Baltic. She would ask
my advice, and helped her as best /
could, but the grandfather himself aided
Ms most OF ali in this imaginary invasion.
He had conquered Germany so many times
under the first empire! He knew every
movement IN advance! They will 20 there
now; this Will be done next aud has
prophecies always came true and he was
very proud of them.
Unfortunately, rapidly as we gained
battles and captured cities, we never went
fast enough for him. The old man was in
: satiable. Each day when arrived I learn.
ed OF some new feat of arms.
Doctor, We have taken Mayence,' the