The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-15

test woman with the worst temper and
least brain in all France. She convinced
her absurd husband that the only way to
save the empire and secure his dynasty was
to make war on Prussia. So, one bright
day, little Louis marched his armies toward
the German frontier.
The world, believing Prussia unprepared,
thought the little men in red breaches
would march unmolested to Berlin The
good priests at Metz. where the church has
large possessions. told ME of their amazement
and alarm, not to say disgust, on finding
that the hundred and twenty thousand
troops Napoleon brought with him to that
town were no better than mob. The dis
ciplIne for which the French armies were SO
famous lad all disappeared. Officers and
men mingled together, on a footing Of
equality, in drinking shops They sang the
Marsellaise and uttered aloud the most
alarming communistic sentiments.
There seemed to be poor supply of anmu-
milton, and worse provision for support.
Military agents hurried from shop to shop
at Metz, purchasing on promises to pay, all
the dealers had TO sell. The Jesuit fsthers
my informants, had long known that the
Imperial government was bankrupt, but for
the first time they learn d that the rot had
reached the army. The fatal delay at Metz
had its o. lgin in the frantic effort to supply
the army of invasion with the necessary
su, plies to enable it to move forward.
Louis Napoleon, while possessed Of what
we call moral courage. for want of better
name, had very little of that pluck which
we share, at long intervals with the bulldog
and the gamecock- He had strange preju-
dice against dying at all, but especially
violent death. He had incurred ths con.
tempt of his marshals and soldiers by a
show of the white feather in former wars,
and in view of this he had no intent TO go
further. at the head of his troops, than the
| frontier.
To keep up appearances, and preserve, il
possible. the little popularity left the empire,
purely French bit of dramatic effect was
projected in that absurd advance on Saar.
bruck, when the unfedged prince had his
baptism OF fire.
Various stories are toll on the spot, con-
| cerniny this baptism but one must remem-
| Der that they come from the enemy, not
| possessed OF much love or admiration of
the ''li tie LULU" as he was termed, in
derision. The stone is yet shown-or at least
part OF it, for enthusiastic Am9ric1ns aul
English have Clipped much of it OF to carry
| away as precious reics-on wh ca the hope ul
| heir to the Ce9sarian idea placed that part
| OF his imperial person where the legs en-
| and the body begins, Immediately after his
baptism OF fire.
| After the so-called battle AMI baptism,
| His Imperial Significance called thu general
command to the side OF his carriage, aul
| said in LOUD voice:
General, your heroic conduct and that
| of your gallant soldiers coltent ma. Go on
| as you have begun; carry the eagle of the
| empire ever to victory; AMI, in return for
| your service to-day, create you Marshal
| of France. with the proud title Of Duke of
| Saarbruck."
The little general threw himself upon his
knees, AMI beating his manly breast with
the fervor of French actor, cried:
''And l. sire, swear on the faith of a
| Christian and the honor of soldier, to be
the first to enter Berlin"
Poor little man, he disappeared theirs AMI
then rom public gaze, but tle beautiful sceno
he assisted to m: Ike enjoyal lie remains in his
tory as he last bit of opera 6oufe, called the
emp ire, that for twenty years had amused
| humanity ami ruine1 France.
His Imperial Ma jssty soon found that, in
stead OF inva ling, his country was being in
vaded, and the noise and confusion that ac-
companied frightful defeats 50 affected his
imperial health that he had to hurry forward
his original design of selecting general to
take his place. and return to Paris.
To this end he called together his head
officers, to select by ballot his successor in
command The choice fell upon Bazaine by
an unanimous vote. The emperor, patting
the newly selected com nander on the Shout
der in that paUroniZing manner peculiar to
emperors. asked his plan of operation. Ba-
zaine replied promptly, to withdraw from
before Metz form junction with the other
army corps, so as to cover Paris, and while
acting purely on the defensive, not only Op
| nose the Germans but hold Paris in subjec
ton. And here came the argument that
satisfied Louis Napoleon, if any were neces
sary, in Bazaine saying "If the news Of
these defeats reach Paris in the absence of the
army the turbulent masses will drive out
the empress and put an end, sire, to you
dynasty"
The cause Of Bazaine's subsequent depar
ture from the wise policy he had planned
can be accounted for only in the fact that il
was made in view of deep laid scheme Il
rid both army and empire of a ridiculou
and fatal incumbrance in the shape of Louis
and setting up the prince under a military
pro5ectorate. The scheme miscarried, ant
nothing was left to the conspirat rs but thu
treachery that lost the army and branded
Bazaine as a traitor 20 mis- country.
Bazaine further suggested that the em-
peror should accompany the army as it fel
back, each day selecting some house in ad
vance as headquarters on the line of march
Consenting to this, the residences Of a Madam
Enoch, in Longville, some two miles from
Metz, was chosen for the night, and to thi
humble abode Louis Napoleon betook him
self in a very quiet manner, leaving the lit
tie Lulu so lately bap lied by fire with Be
Elin,, at the marshars request.
vis4tsl the residence of Madam Enocl
a resi- ectable, hearty looking lady, on tn
shady side of forty. Har house stanls o
tue south side o: the street. hemmed in o
each side by taller buildings, and aimos
hid from view by high wall in front.
is a com or a6le little home, but quite r.
moved from the pa atial fringe work
which the shaky emperor had accustome
himself The best bed room was assigne
TO the imperial CUES, an he retired for tn