, 1882-01-13
"BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS.
FROM THE GERMAN.

On the l4th OF October, lSOo. the
plateau to the northeast of the Thurin'
gian city of Jena bore melancholy wit
ness to the brief, but bloody battle,
which opened the way for the triumphal
entry of the French army into Berlin,
eleven days later. Marshall Davoust,
1.-THE butcher OF Hamburg g'-thus named
on account OF his cruel treatment of that
city-had taken up his quarters in the
most comfortable house he could find
near the field of Jena, and here issued
his orders regarding the disposal of his
troops, and received the reports OF bis
adiutants. He had just thrown aside
his cloak, and was about to retire to rest,
when one OF his officers entered, to sub.
NIT to the Marshars consideration case
demanding prompt attention.
"The German 'capaille' must, he said,
''be taught manners. Ten soldiers OF a
certain company of the Fourth Infantry,
quartered in the village of Waldorf, have
been turned out by the inhabitants, and
some OF them badly wounded"
Davoust's cold eye lighted up, as he
curtly replied: "Send off lieutenant
with twenty men, and orders to choose
ten of these ruffians at Waldorf and shoot
them down" And the Marshal without
troubling himself more about the matter
went to sleep.
Next morning, at sunrise, Lieutenant
Lamotte, at the head OF twenty men, set
out to seek the village of Waldorf. Hav.
ing gained height commanding view
of two or three different valleys, the
leader asked his guide whereabouts the
village OF Waldorf might be?
There" replied the man, indicating
place to the left, there is Upper
Waldorf"
''En svant ~ cried Lamotte; and, half
an hour later, the execution party entered
the village, and halted on nm open space
near the church, where the inhabitants
were desired to assemble. The soldiers
compelled the men to form line, while
the woman and children stood near,
dreading the worst.
At this crisis, the son of the parish
clergyman confronted the invaders. He
was q young man Of about twenty years
of age, student of theology, and,
happily, was not without some knowl-
edge Of French. When he realized the
perilous situation, he begged Lieutenant
Lsmotte for an explanation of his pro-
ceeding.
"I've orders to punish this village, u
replied the officer, "for the bad usage
which our soldiers experienced here yes.
terday. The Marshal commands ten OF
you to be shot. All can do is to permit
you to draw lots, or give up the
offenders"
But, sir" returned the youth, "your
commander is mlsinformed. You are the
first French soldier to enter our village.
There are two other places of the name OF
Waldorf, and it would be quite easy to
convince yourself that we are guiltless Of
all provocation. l entreat you to spare
the innocent.
81 have no time for investigation. Ny
orders are TO act against Waldorf, and
this, am told, is the place. / shall wait
till you have agreed among yourselves
which ten of you are to fall, and can dc
no more"
Meanwhile the villagers had been in
formed Of the impending doom. The
women wept and entreated while the men
stood pale and speechless. Even the
officer and his soldiers, used to the stern
code Of war, loathed the task assigned
them; while the pastors son, in the firm
persuasion that his representations would
be availing, pleaded his cause with fer
vor and address that did not fail to make
an impression.
Lieut.. Lamotte now hesitated between
military duty and human compassion
while the youthful spokesman appealed
to conscience and the demands Of au
thority higher than Marshall Davoust's
At last, the officer consented to wait till {
sergeant, dispatched under the guidanc,
of rustic, should have brought further
instructions from headquarters.
In little while, the sergeant and hi
guide re-appeared on the scene. Tn,
former handed the lieutenant dispatcl
which was hastily opened, and ran thus
Lose no time in talk. 1t is all ont