The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1888-12-01
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.

was walking in the Champs Ely
sees with Dr. -, speaking of the siege
of Paris, when the doctor suddenly
stopped, and, pointing to one Of the
imposing houses grouped about the
Arc de Iriomphe, said:
s'Do you see those four closed win
dows above that balcony2 In the
early days of the month of August,
that terrible month of August in 1870,
so heavily freighted with disasters I
was summoned there to attend very
bad case Of apoplexy. It was at the
house Of Col. Jouve, q culrassler OF
the l7ig't Empire, an old man infatu-
ated uiIh glory and full of patriot
ism. wtlo, 1T the beginning of the war
had cone to live in the Champs Ely
Sees in an apartment over that bal
cony-and for what purpose, do you
suppose? To take part in the celebra-
ton when our troops should return in
triumph
Poor old mani When the news of
the battle Of Wissembourg came he
was about to rise from dinner. On
reading the name of Napoleon at the
end of that bulletin of defeat he fell
as if struck down.
II found the old soldier lying at
full length on the carpet, his face pur-
pie with blood and the veins sluggish,
as if he had been stunned by a heavy
blow Oh the head. When standing he
seemed to be very large man; lying
down his stature seemed immense. He
had handsome features, superb teeth,
a fleece Of white curling hair and was
so years old, although he did not ap-
pear to be more than CO. Near him
was his granddaughter on her knees
and in tears. She resembled him.
Seeing them side by side made one
think of two beautiful Greek medal
lions from the same mold-the one,
however, being antique, With the con-
tours partially effaced, the other fresh
and clean cut.
The grief of the child touched me.
She Yves both the daughter and grand
daughter of a soldier. Her father was
a staff officer with MacMahon, and the
sight of that grand old man lying be-
fore her called up in her mind another
image rot less terrible. reassured
her as best could; but really had
little hope, for | knew that at his age
one could hardly recover from such
an illness. Tor three days the patient
lay in the same condition of immobil-
ity and ssupor.
''In the meantime news of the battle
of Reischolfen reached Paris You
remember in what a strange way it
came. Until evening we thought we
had gained a great victory, that 2O,-
900 Prussians hud been killed and the
crown prince Ilade q prisoner. |
know not by wh;st miracle or mag
netic current an echo of the national
joy reached that poor old man, lying
mute and helpless on his couch. On
visiting him that night, found him
altogether another man. His eye was
almost clear and his tongue less thick
He was able to smile at me and to
stammer Victory
/" Yes, colonel, answered, "a grand
victory
ssBy degrees, as related to him the
| details of MacMahon's success, could
see his features relax and his face
| brighten
'sWhen I was about to depart I
found the young girl awaiting me at
the door. She was pale and was sob
bing.
But he is safe, | said to her, TAX
ing her hand in mine
The poor child had scarcely the
courage to answer me. The truth IN
regard to the battle of Reischofen had
just been made known. MacMahon
was in retreat and his army was
crushed
I'VE looked at each other in CON
gternation. She was in an agony Of
doubt as to the fate of her father.
/ But | trembled for the life Of the old
man. | was sure that he would moi
be able to able TO survive this second
blow. But what was to be donel
Clearly we must not destroy the joy,
/ the illusion which had revived him.
But it would be necessary to lie.
+" oh, well, I will lie, said tlle
young girl, heroically, as she quickly
i brushed away her tears. Then, with
. bright face, she returned to the
I chamber Of her grandfather.
It was severe task which she hat
undertaken. At first, however, it wa!
not SO difficult, for the old man wa.
very feeble and allowed himself to b.
deceived, as if he were a child; but
with returning health his ideas be-
came more clear. It became necessary
4 to keep him informed Of the move
+ ments Of the armies, to write out mill.
tary bulletins for him. Il was indeed
pitiful to see the beautiful girl bend
ing night and day over map of Ger
many Ia her efforts to plan q glorious
campaign Bazaine was at Berlin,