The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-22
Selfrf Stusy.
THE OLD COAT.

fce OF Minister of War, one Of my col
Leagues and friends was Jean Vidal, al
old SUBJ officer, who, though he had los
his left arm during the italian campaign
still possessed his right hand, with which
be executed marvellous "caligraphics'' il
round, angular and Gothic styles ant
could with one stroke OF his pen draw q
little bird in the initials of his signature
A worthy man was Vidsl--the type
Of the old soldier, upright aud true.-
Although barely forty and only few
gray hairs we're to be seen in the Zou.
ave's light beard, every one in the Office
called him Father Vidal, but with less
familiarity than respect, for we knew OF
his life OF love and devotion 10 the chesp
little rooms yonder, at the lower end OF
Grenelle, where be had made home for
his sister, widow with numerous chill
dreu, and supported them all upon bis
slender income, which consisted of q
email sum from his medal, his pension
and salary. Three thousand francs a
year for Eve persons! Moth withstand
ing this, however, Father VidaPs coat,
with one empty sleeve fastened to his
third button, was always brushed as II
ready for inspection, and the good man
thought 80 much Of bis red ribbon, al
ways bright one, that be drew it from
his button-hole whenever he carried
package in the street; apair of boots
from Latour's, rue Montorgueil, or
pair OF trousers bought that morning as
La Belle Jardiniere
As was then living In the suburbs
south Of Paris, Father Vidal was often
my companion In the walk home, and
| amused myself by making him talk of
his companions, while passing through
that quarter L'Ecole Militaire, where
one met st each step-it was.during the
latter years of the Empire-the hand
some uniforms Of the Imperial Guard,
fuglemen 10 green, white Lancers, and
those somber oat magnificent artillery,
officers in black and gold.
Sometimes, on warm summer even.
ings would treat my companion to
glass of sbsinthe. q luxury OF which
poor Vidsl deprived himself for econo
my's sake, and we would rest for an
hour in the officers restaurant on the
avenue de la Mothe-Piquet On such
the old soldier, who was the /
'teadiest OF paterfsmilias and but little |
Inclined to talk freely, used to rise from
he table with head so muddled hy the
,randy, that l vas very sure of hearing
Turing the remainder of the walk some |
Interesting tale Of the war.
>
One evening-God forgive me, for / |
,elieve Father Vidal had taken two
,lasses OF absinthe-while passing
through the horrible Boulevard de
srenelle. be stopped suddenly before
he door OF q secondhand. military |
lothes merchant. This, like many others
D that quarter, was a dirty, gloomy
hop, in whose window was displayed
usty pisto's, bowls filed with buttons,
arnisbed epauIettes, and in front of
rhich hung, among other filthy rags. q
ew old coats once worn by officers, and
ow rotting under the rain and sunshine,
ut. which, preserving their original
hapes shout the waist and shoulders,
ad still almost q human aspect II
Seizing nv arm with bis only remain
ng hand, and looking at me with ewes
omewhat bleared. Vidal raised his
lump and pointed to one of the old gar
,ents--an African officers coat, with
lated skirt, and the three goli stripes
up the sleeve and forming q
cure eight, Ia Housarde. /,
"L'ok," said he, '.that is the uniform /
{ my old corps--a Captains coat" II
And upon close examination be read
,e aumber engraved-upon the buttons, |
nd continued excitedlv:
at is my regiment-tbe First Zou.
yes" {
But suddenly Father vidal's hand, I
hich had already. grssped the coat, fell I
'otionless, his face saddened. his lips q
and casting down bis eyes, he t
urmured 10 startled tones: q
."My God Can 1t be his ?" He then q
uickly turned the coat around, when III
w, in the middle of the back, small
'und hole in the cloth, as though made q
ith g. bullet and enciroled By a dark c
ain which was doubtless blood. This s
Mister. suspicious-looking hole excited e
most as much horror as real wound. a
"Ahf said / to Father Vidal, Who,
stsntly dropping the garment, had o
.ssed on with quickened step and Il
coping bead. that js an ugly markw v
Expecting story, and to induce my b
lend to relate it. I added: v
Ordinarily it is not in. the back that b
Captain Of 2 'uaves is shot." v
But apparensly he did not hear me, o