The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-15
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/: He WAS Q little drummer In the native
eharpshooters. His name was Kadour; he
came from the tribe Of Djendel. Wa one Of that
handful Of Turcos who entered Paris In the
train Of the army Of vinoy. From Wissem.
bour9 n Chnmpigny he had taken part in the
whole campaign. crossing the fields Of battle
like storm bird. with his steel clappers and
his deroouka ARABIAN drum, 20 quick. 90 rest.
less that tho balls did not know where TO and
him. But whom the winter came. this little
bronze African. REDEEMED with the fre Of the
grape shot could not endure the nights Of
grand guard. standing motionless In the snow.
and one January morning he was picked MP on
the bank Of the Marne distorted with the cold
and both his feet frozen. He was long time
In tho hospital. It was there that I saw him
for tho nrst time.
Sad and patient a. sick dog. the Turco look
Cd about him with big gentle eyes. Whom any
one spoke 70 him. he smiled and showed his
teeth. It was all that he could do. for he did
not know our language. and could scarcely
speak the sabir. an Algerian dialect Of mixed
Provencal. italian. and Arabian. o medley Of
words picked up like sheiis along all the Latin
seas.
To amuss him Kadour had nothing but his
derboukd. From time to time. when he was
weary OF lying still. they brought It to him on
his bed. and allowed him to play on II. but not
too loud. on account Of the other patients.
Then his poor black face 80 dull. extinguished.
- 1t were. BY the yellow daylight and the
gloomy winter landscape which appeared
through the window. grew animated. grinned.
aud followed all tho movements OF the rhythm.
Sometimes he beat o charge. and the lightning
Of his white teeth passed into . fcrocious
laugh: or his eyes grew moist at some Mussul-
man air. his nostrils swelled. and through tho
sickly odor Of the hospital. In the midst OF
phials and congresses. he saw once more the
woods OF Blidah laden with oranges. and the
little Moors. robed In white and periumed with
verbenA.
Two months passed thus. In these two months
Paris had done many things. but Kadour
knew nothing Of them. Under his window he
had heard pass the weary and disarmed troops
returning to the city; later the cannons went
rolling BY from morning to night. then the too
sin. the cannonade OF all this he understood
nothing except that they were always at war.
and that he would soon be able 10 fight. because
his legs were cured. Soon he left. his drum ON
his back. In search OF his company. He did
not seek long. The Federaiists who were
passing. took him to headquarters. After .
long examination, as they could got nothing
from him but Bono bezef. macache bono" the
General Of the day ended BY giving him ten
francs and an omnibus horse and attaching
him to his staff
In these stats Of the Commune there was Q
little Of everythine-red llveries. Polish cloaks.
Hungarian jackets. sailors blouses. and gold.
velvet, tinsel. and lace trimmings. In his blue
waistcoat. embroidered with yellow. his turban.
y IL L. khA
auerade. Delighted to find himself In such
pleasant company. intoxicated with the sun
light tho cannonade. tho movement In the
streets. the confusion Of arms and uniforms.
convinced. besides. that this was continue
tlon Of the war against Prussia. but with some
1ncomprehensible addition OF animation. Of
freedom. the unconscious deserter mingled In
the great Partisan Bacchanalia. and was one Of
the celebrities OF the moment Everywhere no
went the Federalists hurrahed at him. well
coined him. Tho Commune was 20 proud OF
possessing him that It placed him on exhibi-
ton. showed him Oh. wore him like decora-
tion. Twenty times day the Headquarters
sent him to the War Oface. the War ONCE to the
Hotel dc Vile. For they had been told 90 many
umes that their sailors were counterfeit sailors.
their artillerymcn counterfeit artillerymsn. At
loast this was . true Turoo To be convinced
OF it was only necessary to look at the excited
morkey-like face and the barbaric look OF the
little body throwing itself about on the big
horse In all the Wild contortions Of Arabian
horsemen.
Nevertheless. there was something wanting
70 tho happiness Of Kadour. He would have
liked to fight. to make the powder talk. I'm.
fortunately. under the Commune. as under the
Empire. the staf officers were not often under
nre. Without reviews and without parades.
the DOOR Turco passed his time on the Place
Vendome. or In the courtyard OF the Minister
Of War. In the midst OF those unruly camps.
full OF barrels OF brandy always on tap. hogs
heads Of bacon with the head knocked out.
feasts where tho starvation Of the siege was
still felt. Too good Mussulman to take part
in these orgies. Kadour kept apart sober and
quiet. made his additions in corner. prepared
his kousskouss with q handful Of grits. then.
after little mir on his drum. he rolled himself
In his burnous. and fell asleep on some flight
Of steps by the bivouac fire.
Ono morning In the month Of May the Turco
was wakened by terrible firing Tho Head
quarters were In confusion; every ono was
moving. fleeing. Mechanically he did as the
others did. lcaped on his horse and followed
the stan. Tho streets were full OF bewildered
trumpets. OF struggling battalIons. People
were tearing up paving stones. building barri-
sades. Near the quay tho fusillade was more
distinct. the tumult greater. On the bridge
Of La Concorde Ksdour lost tho stan. A
little further on they took his horse from
him. It was for an eight-braided soldier.
In o great hurry to see what was going on at
the Hotel de Vile. Furious. the Turco began to
run In the direction OF the battle. As he ran
no loaded his chassepot and said: "Nacach
bono. Drission:" for TO his mind It was the
Prussians who had forced an entrance. Al
ready tho balls whistled around the obslisaue.
In the foliage OF the Tuileries. At the barri.
eade Of tho Rue do Rivoli the avengers OF Flou.
rens called TO him. "Heyi Turcoi Turcop
There were not more than dozen OF them. but
Kadouf alone was worth whole army.
Standing on the barricade erect and con-
spiouous as . nag. he fought leapins and
shouting. under hail Of shot. At one moment
the curtain OF smoke which covered the earth
dispersed q littlo between two cannonades. and