News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-03-18
STORY OF MONTE CARLO.

On January 10, 1871, the French army
besieged in Paris, fought its last battl
the battle of despair. For four wear,
months we suffered mentally and physi
cally all that human beings can suffer il
this world. Doubt and apprehension
had succeeded to enthusiasm and t.
illusion. Then came the sinister new
of treason and defeat, then cold, ther
hunger; then the bombardment, unit
our bodies, racked and wasted will
misery, had nothing left but hope t.
sustain them.
Such condition of things could mo-
continue indefinitely, and final and
desperate effort had become inevitable
The whole population clamored for {
decisive battle; the National Guards
who were composed of fathers of fami
lies, many of them gray-besrded, claim
ed the honor to march upon the enemy.
The Governor realized that the hour fol
supreme action had arrived, and resolv.
ed to fight the great battle of Montre-
tout.
Throughout the whole day and night
troops from the forts cross Paris, march
ing toward Mont Valerien. The poor
soldiers are tcrribly:exhausted, ,,and their
faces show the traces of their sufferings
Think for moment of the weary long
weeks during which they have slept in
the snow, while for some days they have
only subsisted upon a meagre ration of
black bread and morsel of horse-fesh.
Nevertheless, they march proudly with
that calm demeanor which accompanies
a quiet conscience.
a. 4 &c
file past, the crowd applaud, and from
time to time women rush forward to
embrace, perhaps for the last time, o
son or a husband marching to the front.
But now appears a regiment which
calls forth in an especial manner the
applause of the crowd. From one end
to the other of the boulevards the
hurrahs ring out, while from the win
dows the women wave their handler
chiefs. 1t is the regiment of the
'sFriends of France" which, like its
predecessors, is going to the front. In
this regiment there are no Frenchmen-
only foreigners, friends of France, who
by their devotion have wished to testify
their love to nation whose hospitality
they have SO long enjoyed. One soldier
in particular attracts my attention.
man of about forty, with bronzed
complexion, and an expression of great
energy on his face. I ask who he Is, and
learn that his name is John Burter, and
that he is an American who for more
than fifteen years has commanded a amer
chant vessel, of which he is also the
owner. One day while on q voyage with
his wife and child he was overtaken by
violent tempest when just about tc
enter Havre. In vain the captain battled
with all his power against the elements
his vessel was disabled and went
aground. John Burter gave up all hope
of saving her, for at any moment hi
ship m ght founder, when he saw in the
distance a little life-boat manned by foul
gallant pilots, who were making strenu
GUS efforts to reach the distressed vessel
Suddenly huge wave carried away one
of these brave sailors, but his comrade!
were not discouraged. A second wave
swept away second sailor, but the life
boat still struggled onward. John Bur
ter's vessel was on the verge of founder
ing, and he had clasped his wife and hi
son to his breast. when a tow-rop'
thrown by the men in the life boat fel
at his feet. His vessel was saved, anC
saved through the splendid devotion o
four French pilots.
The devotion had inspired Johl
Burter with warm sympathy for France
Thus when misfortune befell her, Johl
Burter vas one of the first to enlist il
the regiment of the "Friends o
France" Frenchmen had saved his life
l. =, -, r. ~ III r,
his turn he would sacrifice himself, If /
were necessary, for France. Throughout
the day on which the battle of Montre
tout took place John Burter fought lik'
lion, and when in the evening thu
bugle sounded the retreat, the Draw
captain lay in the midst of heap of th,
enemy's corpses, terribly wounded, bu
still breathing. His gallantry had beer
told to the general commanding, anC
when the latter passed the wounded
man, he took off the cross of homo
which he wore on his tunic, and clasp
ing it on John Buffers breast, said t.
him: Captain, accept this cross; it i
the highest reward that France can be
stow on brave men. In the name of m,
country | bestow it on you" On th
JOlu ulGu I'll
field hospital, but before closing hi
eyes forever he confided the cross to
friend, saying as he handed it to him
''You will give this cross to my son
that it may be talisman which may al
ways keep him in the path of honor ant
duty. If ever an evil thought crosses hi
mind, let him look at this cross, let hin
think of his father, and feel sure tha
he will Immediately return to the senti
ments which alone are worthy of a
honorable man."
Long after the events recorded ha
taken place, chance led me to the shore
of the Mediterranean. For many day
/ staid at Monaco, not to gamble, fol
thank Heaven, have never felt the pas
sion of play, but to settle some famil
business. Morning after morning | ha
travelled along the coast, and had &C
mired the truly admirable picture whic
nature offers to the traveller who goe
from Nice to Genoa by the Cornich
road, when one day the fancy seized IN
to enter the Monte Carlo Casino. Th
impression received was strange, and
must frankly confess that the sigl
which met my eyes contrasted disagree
| ably with the beauties which nature b;