Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-24
erect as could, and, raising my glass,


army, and its royal chief
At this moment the idea struck me
| that it would not be convenient to pre-
sent my glass to the buxum Silesian girl
| who smiled so beatifically in her frame,
and tried to find out the bust of the
sovereign, which was-I remembered
this confusedly-behind me, in the mid
die Of trophy composed of different
flags Mendorf, it is true, had manifestly
| ehdeavored to avoid showing me the
decorations of the drawing room, by in
teresting me IN the workmanship of the
silver trophy presented by Austria's En-
peror But felt sure now that l had
seen the bust there before, so turned
around, and presenting reverenuy my
glass, repeated: "To its royal chief y
The glass fell from my hand, and strik-
ing the floor with crash, broke into a
| thousand pieces. The fumes of wine left
me Ny eyes were immovable and bag
gard. felt cold preparation starting
out on my forehead Everyone believed
that was going to faint, and the assem-
bly, expressed its regret, attributing the
accident to the internal heat of the day.
Every one did his best to comfort me, and
at least ten servants received simultane-
ously the order to give me glass of
ice-w ater-an article not easily found on
such an occasion Some had even ordered
my carriage and wanted to accompany
me home.
But was neither.siek nor fainting. 1t
was mourning France that stared ME in
the face, recalling the remembrance of
past unfortunate days, of the bitter tears
shed after each defeat, and the silent
rage of the vanquished There, right
under the bracket on which the laurel
crowned bust of the old Emperor stood
attached to the wall as German trophy,
was relic of vanquished France-a guide
board painted blue, as they all were IN
my beloved country. Alas! this one has
been witness to heroic struggle. Itwas
pierced in many places by the bullets Of
the enemy, but still displayed proudly,
before the eyes of the Uhlans, the glori-
Gus name. "Bazeilies l stood there
rigidly, forgetting where was, thinking
only of the carnage and the terrible con-
fiagration on that memorable day. l
heard distinctly the rattle Of the mus
kerry, the groans of the wounded, the
huzzas of the victorious, the clangor Of
the churchbells, the cries ot the fleeing
inhabitants | heard, too, the farewell
words, the last sigh of my dying brother,
who died on the road n my arms, my
beloved Louis, who died at the foot of
this same guide board
Mendorf alone had understood my
strange behavior. Captain" said he,
in a low voice, 81 ought to have foreseen
and prevented this. Pardon me, but
compose Yourself" And he presented to
me another glass of wine, which Iseized,
mi looking at the ominous road guide of
Brazeilies, said:
eyes, gentlemen, drink to the health
of the sovereign and soldier! But | drink
also to the glorious memory of your
friends and mine who died for their
country"
The eyes of all the officers were now
fixed upon the little trophy, and having
read my heart, they repeated my toast in
voices trembling with emotion. 1t was
a touching homage, offered to the van
pushed brave by the gallant victors.
Next morning Mendorf entered my
room while was still in bed. He had
come to apologize for his thoughtlessness,
and silently we shook hands. When he
mentioned the sorro wful event at the din
ner-table, L related to him all the details
of my poor brothers. death near that
"road- guide" Mendorf proved then to
me that he was man with a warm and
feeling heart, and we separated as true
friends
II 4
Two months later l was in France on
leave of absence. l fastened home to see
my dear old mother She was awaiting
me, standing on the balcony, and from
afar could see that her venerable head
was snow-white, and she was yet in
mourning, though her face was calm. l
had not seen her since my brothers
death. AS soon as we met she fell in my
arms and said several times, with tears in
her eyes:
Thanks, oh! thousand thanks, my
poor boy, for your brothers sake"
was on the point of asking her what
she meant, when she took my arm and
led me into the village cemetery. There
upon the tomb of my brother Louis, 1
saw to my amazement, the bUllet-pierced
guide-board l had seen in Berlin, with
the momentous name, "BaZeilies." A
more eloquent epitaph could surely not
have been found With a heart full of
gratitude [ wrote to Won Mendorf, but
nv letter renamed unanswered After
my return to Berlin hurried to his resi-
dence, but found there only his servant,
busiIy packing his masters trunks. In
answer to my question as to where the
Major was, he said:
''The Major? Oh, he is far from here.
He has bsen reprimanded The officers
say that he has taken something from
their dining room-a picture. l believe,
but can swear to it, Captain, that no
picture whatever has entered the Majors
house They accuse him falsely All,
no, sir The Major is the most honest
man liz the world
How Strong Drink Affected Him.
From the Providence Journal
The barkeeper was about to close up.
He had said so several times, and had put
out all the lights but one. Only stran-
ger remained-a dark, saddened man,
who sat demurely on stool and kept his
thumbs revolving around each other like
white mice turning wheel.
When the coast was clear he stepped
up to the bar and said, softly:
''May whisper word in your carp
"You may, mister, if you'll be quick
about it," replied the drink mixer with
his hand on the lamp screw
| II want YOU to fill me flask of yO1Ir