The Bossier banner., 1886-04-01
HEROIC MEURTRIER.
The True History Of a Great
French Athlete.

/ was at one time employed in Gov
ernment Office. Every day from ten
until four o'clock became a voluntary
prisoner in depressing office, adorned
NTH yellow pasteboard boxes and filed
With the musty odor of old papers,
There breakfasted on italian cheese
md apples which l roasted at the CRATE;
! Tread the morning papers. even to the
advertisements; / ryhmed verses, and
attended to the affairs of state to the
extent of drawing, at the end of each
month, salary which barely kept me
nom starving.
recall to-day one of my companions
10 captivity at that epoch. He was
ezlled Achille Meurtrier, and certainly
Ills fierce look and his tall form seemed
b warrant that name. He was great
big fellow, about forty years old, with
but too much chest or shoulders, but
Who wore felt hats with wide brims,
short, but ample coats, large plaid
trousers, and red neckties under rolling
collars. He wore. a full beard, long
hair, and was very proud of his hairy
hands. The chief boast of Meurtrier,
! otherwise the best and most amiable of
compsnions, was to trife with an
sthletic constitution, to possess
tie biceps of prize fighter, and, MS he
said himself. not to know his own
strength. BE never made a gesture
even IN the exercise of his peaceable
profession that did not have for.jts OBJ
}cct to convince the spectators of his
! prodigious vigor. Did he have to take
from It's case an empty pasteboard box,
he advanced toward the shelf with the
heavy step of a street porter, grasped
the box solidly with a tight hand, and
y carried it with stiff arm as far as the
next table with a struggling of shoul-
5 Hers and frowning of brow worthy of
Miloof Cretona. He carried this man
ner 50 far that henever used less appar-
ent effort even to lift the lightest objects,
sndone day when he held in his right
hand q basket oil old papers, saw him
extend his left arm horizontally as If to
Z make co,lnterpoise to the tremendous
Weight.
oughtto say that this robust creature
inspired me- with a profound respect,
lor was then, even more than TODAY,
PHYSICALLY weak and delicate. and in
consequence filed with admiration for
That energetic physique which / lacked.
Inc conversations of Meurtrier were
L not OF nature to diminish the admira-
uon with which he inspired me. Above
alis ~ the summer, on Monday morn
# Mgss when he had returned to the Office
81 alter cur Sunday holiday, he had an in
exhaustible fund of stories concerning
~ adventures and feats of strength.
Alter having taken off his felt hat, his
eoat and bis vest, and having wiped the
respiration from his forehead with the
s'eege Of bis shirt to indicate his san.
Salne an ardent temperament, he would
sefasf his hands deepin the pockets of
as trousers, and, standing near me in
Y attltude of perpendicular solidity,
blows: e' 90
hat Sunday, my boy! Pos
q 'eis q: 40 fatigue can lay me up. Think
!. 8. Yesterday was the regatta at
IS ss'aesl liie le-P -Pont--at six o clock in the
.Aznlng the rendezvous at Bercy for
sss efeW Of the Marsouin- the sun is up
e Jump into our rowing suits and
ssa1e tne oar and give way--one-two.
slet -as far as Joinville ;then over
3 a.a ior swim before breakfast; strip
slmnlng drawers, a jump ovor-
49, and look out for squalls. After
sasn have the appetite of tiger.
% ssn seize the boat by one hand and
"a 4 ont Charpentier, pass me small
ihree motions in one time and /
~ anlshed it to the bone. Charpen-
.,} ~ pass me the brandy flask. Three
~ 1ne description would continue
ing Homeric.
.ne hour for the recatta-noon, the
i Il ast overhead. The boats draw up
iii III % the river, before a tent gaudy
6ss ss1e eamers On the bank the
sva, with his scarf of Office, gend-
s4 ~ yellow shoulder belts. and 4
s.. 2 q summer dresses. omen para
Ia e. aa s straw hats Bang! The sig
r.2ssa 81 y nred, the Marsouin shoots
III ~. e her competitors and gains
& fS.ss j'Iize, and no fatigue. We dine
IN s How cool the evening in the
is aIpors pipes glow in the dark
Il f ~ : moths singe their wings
k5.sMs M nanc of the emelette al
s5Tsss At the end Of dessert
bs's !. ea decorated plates. we hear
d 9 khe ball rs,,,,, IL - = -, iiosA