The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-04-12
FOR BOYS TO REMEMBER.

When you read the life of Napoleon,
boys, and grow enthusiastic over his
wonderful heroism and military genius,
and wish in your very hearts that you
might have been with the conqueror as
he scaled the Alps and besieged great
cities. and overcame every obstacle in
his way, did you ever query what it was
that gave him su h wonderful control
over his soldiers, so that they would dare
any hing for their leader? Did you
suppose that he was admired by them
as sort of god. aud. living in an at
mosphere far above the French soldiery,
ruled them as Jupiter did the world in
ancient times, hurting his thunder-bolts
among them il they dared disobey his
commando Did youthink that because,
for years he was acknowledged the
greatest man in Europe. if not in the
world, that he controlled men and ma
tons through fearP
If you did, you are greatly mistaken.
Napoleon was Napoleon when but
boy. He had when very Young the
stuff in him that makes men. makes
heroes, and the discipline and hard
work to which he sub eeted himself
when boy was one of the greatest
reasons of his later su cess. for it
helped him to enter into sympathy with
his soldiers. and so control them. He
was General who said: "Come, fol-
low me.' instead Of $50, and III
follow" to those under his command.
want 10 relate to you an incident in
his history which occurred when he was
but fifteen years of age, and was
prophecy of future greatness. He was
sent at that time to military school at
Paris, which was luxuriously furnished
for the children of the. aristocracv 1t
had been founded for them, and as they
had been accustomed to every indulg-
ence at their homes, here they were 10
be as care 'ully looked after A writer
tells us that each of the three hundred
young men asse bled in this school had
n servant to groom his horse, to brush
his boots, and TO perform all other nee
essary mental services. The cadet re-
posed on a luxurious bed, and was fed
with sumptuous viands. There were
few lads of fifteen who would not have
been delighted with the dignity, the
ease. the independence of that style of
living. Napoleon. howe er. Immediate
ly saw that this was by no means the
training requisite to prepare officers for
the tolls and hardships of war. Although
so young. he addressed an energetic
memorial to the Governor, urg ne the
Punishment Of this efem macy and vo-
righteousness from the military school.
BE argued that the students should
learn to groom their own horses, to
clean their own armor, and to perform
all those services, and to jnure them
selves to those privations which would
prepare them for the exposure and tolls
of actual service" The historian adds
that no incident in the childhood or in
the life of Napoleon shows more deci-
sively than this his energetic, self
reliant, commanding character. The
wisdom, the bravery and the foresight
which usually come with mature years,
were exhibited here.
And the military school which MANY
years after NAPOLEON established at
Fontainebleau, and which obtained s1ch
worldwide celebrity, was founded upon
the model of this youthful memorial.
There is no doubt that one distinguish
ing cause of the traordinary populari-
ty which Napoleon forwards secured
was to be found in the fact that through
life he called upc no one to encounter
perils or endure hardships which he was
not perfectly ready himself to encounter
or to endure.
1t would be well if our boys would re-
member this incident in the life of one
who is doubtless hero to them, and,
although tLey may not aspire TO become
Napoleons, and we should hope would
not be success uI if they did, under
stand that to acquire any commanding
position in life. to be successful in any
department of work in the world great
industries, the heroic and military spirit
of Napoleon is necessary. You must
have high aspirations, real courage,
determination to understand practically
even the mental departments OF work,
and willingness 20 labor energet:cally
yourselves. If you ever expect to get to-
ward the top OF the ladder, and control
other men and achieve success in life.
You will find it true that nearly, If not
all. our great merchants began their ca
reer working herd for small wages, but