The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-08-29


tears, and all radiant, she went back inte
her grandfather's room, - ~
"It was a hard task which she had
taken upon herself. For few days all
went well. The old man was feeble, and
he let himself be mlsled like a child.
But with returning health his ideas be-
came clearer. 1t was necessary to keep
him informed Of the movement of the
armies, to prepare military bulletins for
him. 1t was really pitiful to see this
beautiful girl bent night and day over
her map of Germany, pricking out little
flags, forcing herself to combine a whole
glorious campaign. Bazaine directed
upon Berlin, Frossard in Bavaria, Mac
Mahon on the Baltic. For all this she
asked my advice, and / aided her as
much as [ could, but it was the grand
father after all who helped us mostin
this imaginary invasion. He had con-
quered Germany so many times under
the first empire? He knew in advance
all the moves. Now, there's where
they're going. That's what they'll do
And his predictions were always real
ized, which gave him 40 little pride.
"Unfortunatelyit was in vain that we
took cities, gained battles--we never
went fast enough for him. That old
man was Unsuitable Each day when
arrived l learned of new feat of arms.
"'Doctor, we have taken Mayence,
the young girl would say, approaching
me with a heartbroken smile, and l
heard through the door joyous voice
which cried out to me: We're getting
on! We're getting on In eight days we
shall enter Berinr At that moment the
Prussians were not more than eight days
from Paris. We questioned at first
whether it would not be better to re-
move him to the country; but once out
OF doors, the state of France would have
revealed all to him, and / deemed him
still too feeble to be bewildered by his
great shock, to permit him to know the
truth. 1t was decided to remain.
''The first day of the investment of
the city went up'to their apartment, l
recollect, very much moved with that
anguish of heart which was brought to
us all by the closed gates of Paris; the
battle under the walls, our suburbs be-
came frontiers. | found the good man
iubllant and proud.
"'Eh bien,' he said to me, the siege
has commenced, then.
Il looked at him stupefied.
What, colonel, you lnow?"
His granddaughter turned toward
me:
"Ah! Yes, doctor, it is the great
news. The siege OF Berlin has com,
menced.'
"She said that plying her needle with
such a tranquil little air. How could he
suspect anythingP He could not heal
the cannon of the forts. This unfor
tunate Paris, desolate and uptuncd, h,
could not see! What he did see from
his bed was a panel of the Arc dc Tri
omphe, and in his room, about him, ;
| complete bric-a-brac of the first empire
well calculated to maintain his illusions
| Portraits of marshals, cngravings o
battles, the king of Rome in baby dress
then the great stiff side-tables orna
mented with copper trophies, loadeC
with imperial relies, with medallionS
bronzes, a fragment of the rock of st
Helena under glass, various miniature
of the same lady, all bccurled in bal
costume, with a yellow robe, mutton
leg sleeves and clear eyes; and all thi
the side-tables, the king of Rome, tn,
morshals, the yellow ladies with th
high shoulders and short waists, of tha
awkward stiffness which was the grac
of lSO6-it was this atmosphere of vic
tories and conquests, even more than al
that We could say to him, that made tn
brave colonel believe so naively in tn
siege of Berlin.
"From this time we found our mill
tary operations much simplifled. Takin!
Berlin was now onlya matterof patience
From time to time when the old MAJ
worried too much letter from his sol
would be read to him--an imaginary let
ter, Of course, as nothing now entere,
Paris, and as since Sedan the aides-de
camp OF MacMahon had been sent TO
fortress in Germany. You can imagin
the despair of that poor child, withou
news of her father, knowing him TO be
prisoner, deprived of everything, sicl
perhaps, and herself obliged TO max
him speak in joyous letters,a a little short
as a soldier on the field would write, al
ways advancing into the conqucrc,
country. Sometimes strength failed her
weeks would pass witbout news. Blu
the old man grew restless and no longc
slept Then there quickly arrived a let
ter from Germany, which She came AM
read to him gayly by his bedside, repres
sing her tears. The colonel listened re
ligiously, smiled significantly, approved
criticised, explained to US the confused
passages. But finest of all were the an
swers he sent to his son, Never forge
that you are French, he would say t,
him. BE generous with the poor peo
pie. Do not make the invasion too bur
densome. And there were interminabl,
recommendations, admirable preaching
on respect for the proprieties, the polite
ness due TO ladies-a regular code o
military honor for the use of conquer
ors. There were also general considera
tions on politics, the conditions Of peac,
to be imposed on the vanquished. Or
this point / am bound to say he was no