The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-13
people. Do not make the invasion too bur

people. Do not make the invasion too bur-
denSome for Them
And there were recommendations without
end, excellent sernonlzlng win respect to
dies. a yeritable code of military honor for
the conouerOrs, He would mingle with this
some general considerations of peace that
shOuld be imposed on the vanquished On
this point he was not dllncult to please.
"A war indemnity and nothing more.
What good to take their provinces? Is it
possible to make part OF France out of Ger
many?
He dictated that in a firm voice, and one
felt so much candor IN his words, such beau
tiful patriotic faith, that it was impossible to
listen to him without being moved.
During this time the siege went on with
out cessation. Alas not that of Berlin. 1t
was the period of the bombardment of in
tense cold, of epidemics and famine. But,
thanks to our care, to our efforts, and to the
never firing tenderness that was thrown
about him, the serenity of the old man was
not for an instant disturbed. Even to the
end, was able to have him supplied with
white bread and fresh meat. There was on
not imagine anything more touching than
these grandfatherly Tepasts, with their inn0-
cent egOtism, the old fellow on his bed, fresh
and radiant, with napkin under his chin,
his granddaughter, a little pale from her prl-
vations, near him, guiding his hands, making
hidden good things. Then, animated by the
meal, in the comfort of his warm chamber,
with the wintry wind outside and the snow
whirling in gusts at his windows, the old
cuirassier would recall his campaigns IN the
north, and relate to us, for the hundredtn
time, the story of that unlucky retreat from
Russia, when he had to live on frozen Dis
cult and horse flesh.
Do you comprehend that little one? We
had to eat horSes!'
She comprehended it, well believe for
two months she had not eaten anything else.
From day to day, however. according as the
patient approached convaleScence, our I'M
dertaking became more difficult. That tor
pidity Of all his senses, of all his limbs, that
had been of so much service to us until
then, began to disappear. Two or three
times already the terrible vollies at the Porte
Maillot had made him jump up, with his ears
erect-like a hunting dogs. We had to in
vent final victory of Bazaine before Berlin,
and salvos of artillery fired at the lnvalides
in its honor. Another day his couch had
been pushed near the window Dit was, |
think, the Thursday of Buzenval9 he saw
very distinctly the national guards that were
massed on the avenue de la Grande Armee.
who are those troops, pray? asked the
old gentleman, and we heard him muttering
between his teeth
That was all there was of it; but we COM
pretended that, henceforth, it would be nee
essary to take extraordinary precautions
Unfortunately, we did not take enough. One
evening, when l came, the child met me
much distressed.
They are going to enter tomorrow she
said to me-
The fact is, thinking of it afterward, [ rec
objected that his face had strange express
sion that evening. He probably heard us.
Only we spoke of the Prussians; and the old
gentleman thought of the French and of the
triumphal entry for which he had waited so
MahOn coming down the avenue
amid flowers and fanfares of trumphets, bis
own son at the marshaPS side, and he, the
veteran, on his balcony In grand tenue as at
Lutzen, saluting the tattered colors ana the
eagles black with powder.
Poor father Jouvei He had undoubtedly
imagined that he would be hindered from be-
ing present when the troops marched, for
fear of its causing him too much emotion.
no one: but the next day just at the time
when the Prussian battalions were entering
timidly the long thoroughfare that leads
from the Porte Maillot to the Tuilleries, the
window up there opened softly, and the col
onel appeared on the balcony with his
easoue. his long sword, with all the glorious
old finery of venerable cuirassier OF Mil.
baud. L asked myself yet what effort OF
will, what access of life had thus put him on
his feet and in harness. One thing was sure !;
he was there, standing behind the Daius-
trade. astonished to find the avenues so
broad, so silent, the blinds of the buildings
closed, Paris sombre, like great lazar-house,
everywhere banners, but strange ones, all
white, with red crosses, and no one to go to
meet our soldiers.
For a moment he believed that he was
mistaken.
But mol Down yonder behind the Arc
de Triomphe there was a confused noise, a
black line that advanced in the Frightening
day. Then, little by little, the spikes of the
helmets glittered, the little drums of jena
began to beat, and, under the Arc-de,l' Etolle
rhythmically with the heavy step of the sec
tions. with the clatter of sabres, the tri-
umphal march from Schubert burst upon the
air.
Then, amid the mournful silence OF the
place, cry was heard, a terrible cry =,
TO arms! To arms! The Prussians!
And the four Uhlans of the advance guard
could see up there on the balcony. a tall, old
man moving his arms, and totterlng, ana
| then falling stiff and rigid.
This time Colonel Jouve was dead, in
deed"