St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-03-11
A STORY OF MONTE CARLO.


ings can suffer in this world. Doubt
and apprehension had succeeded to
enthusiasm and to illusion. Then came
the sinister news of treason and defeat,
then cold, then hunger, then the bonn
bardment, until our bodies, racked and
wasted with misery, had nothing left
but hope to sustain them.
Such a condition of things could not
continue indefinitely, and a final and
desperate effort had become inevita-
BILE. The whole population clamored
for decisive battle the National
Guards, who were composed of fathers
of families, many of them gray beard =
ed, claimed the honor to march upon
the enemy. The governor realized that
the hour for supreme action had ar
rived, and resolved to fight the great
battle of MontretOut.
Throughout the whole day and night
troops from the forts cross Paris,
marching toward Mont Valerien. The
poor soldiers are terribly 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 mea-
gre ration of black bread and mOrsel
of horsefiesh. Nevertheless, they march
proudly with that calm demeanOr
which accompanies il quiet conscience.
On the boulevards, as the regiments
file past, the crowd applaud, and from
time to time women rush forward to
embrace, perhaps for the last time, a
son or husband marching to the
front.
But now appears regiment which
calls forth in an especial manner the
applause of the crowd. From one end
to the other of the boulevards the hur-
rahs ring out, while from the windows
the women wave their handkerchiefs.
1t is the regiment of the "Friends OF
France" which, like its predecessors,
is going to the front. In this regiment
there are NO Frenchmen-Onlyf foreign
ers, friends of France, who by their
devotion have wished to testify their
love to a 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. ask who he is,
and learn that his name is John Bur-
ter, and that he is an American who
manded u merchant vessel, of which
he is also the owner. One day while
on voyage with his wife and child
he was overtaken by violent tempest
when just about to enter Havre. In
vain the captain battled with all his
power against the elements; his YES
sci was disabled and went aground.
John Burter gave up all hope of saving
her, for ut any moment his ship might
founder, when he saw in the distance
a little life-boat manned by four gal
liant pilots, who were making strenu-
Gus efforts to reach the distressed YES
sci. Suddenly Il huge wave carried
away one of these brave sailors, but
his comrades were not discouraged. A
second wave swept away second sail
or, but the life boat still struggled on
ward. John Buffers vessel was on
the verge of laundering, and he had
clasped his wife and his son to his
breast, when IL tOw-rOpe thrown by
the men in the life-b boat fell at his
feet. His vessel was saved, and saved
through the splendid devotion of four
French pilots.
This devotion had inspired John Bur-
ter with warm sympathy for France.
Thus, when misfortune befell her, John
Burter was one of the first to enlist in
the regiment of the "Friends of France. :"
Frenchmen had saved his life, that of
his wife, and that of his son. In his
turn he would sacrifice himself, if nee
essary, for France. Throughout the
day on which the battle of MOntretOut
took place John Burter fought like
lion, and when i'll the evening the bu-
gle sounded the retreat, the brave cap
tain lay in the midst of IA heap of the
enemy's cOrpses, terribly wounded, but
still breathing. His gallantry had been
told to the general commanding, and
when the latter passed the wounded
man, he took off the cross of honor
which he wore on his tunic, and clasp
ing it on John Buffers breast, said to
him: Captain, accept this cross ; it is
the highest reward that France can be-
stow on brave men. In the name of
my country | bestow it on you" On
the following day John Burter died in
the field hospital, but before closing
his 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 always keep him in the path of
honor and duty. If ever an evil thought
cross, let him think of his father, and
l feel sure that he will Immediately re-
turn to the sentiments which alone are
worthy of an honorable man."
Long after the events recorded had
taken place, chance led me to the
shores of the Mediterranean. For many
days staid ut Monaco, not to gamble,
for, thank heaven, l have never felt
the passion of play, but to settle some
family business. Morning after morn
ing | had travelled along the coast,
and had admired the truly admirable
picture which nature offers to the trav-
eller who goes from Nice to Genoa by
the COrnice road, when one day the
fancy seized me to enter the Monte
Carlo Casino. The impression | re-
ceived was strange, and | must frankly
confess that the sight which met my
eyes contrasted disagreeably with the |
beauties which nature has lavished |
upon this country. If the view from
the top of the terrace of Monte Carlo |
dazzles the eyes, Gains the mind, and
fills the soul with an infinite charm,
the scene which the gaming saloon /
presents troubles the sight, saddens
the heart, and fills one with feeling
of weariuess and depression.
Picture to yourself a splendid saloon
brilliantly lighted by numerous chan
deliers; the walls are magniicently
decorated, but the sole furniture of the
room consists of tables and chairs. On
each table may be seen a roulette
wheel, miniature rakes, and locked
box. Gradually the crowd enters, and
the gaming saloon is filled. Visitors
of the most varied types take their
places round the tables, the crOupiers
come in omen tho hoy fiji III with hank