Evening journal., 1888-07-18

bhameiuilY lnsulDed Nj. FloQneb duel
shortly followed. and Boulanger received a
wound while his opponsnt was practically
unhurt
Boulanger's first appearance was as fop-
pishly theatrical military student, his fel-
lows laughed at him till he went to the oppo-
site extreme, and IS a second lieutenant he
affected, as far a. allowed, the dress and
style Of a common soldier. The war in Italy
$3.50 gave him a chance His bravery
brought him wounds and glory, for he was
shot clean through the body and gained the
Sandman cross. Of st. Maurice and Lazare
and the rank OF first lieutenank Two years
later he led battalion Of Algerian trail
leurs against the Annamites in Cochin China,
and cooperating with the Spaniards won a
brilliant victory. He was again terribly
wounded, receiving a lance thrust IN the left
side, just below the heart. He here gained
the cross Of Isabella the Catholic. He was
made captain and came back to Paris
hero even among old generals.
lie reverted to his early style, and became
SO foppish that respect for his bravery
even could not restrain the laughter of
satirists His wounds distorted his body 50
that De had lateral movement ii walking,
the left side being advanced. Over his heart
he wore the cross Of the Legion 81 Honor,
with its red ribbon; next came tie red and
white Of the 80 campaign; the green Italian
cross came next, contrasting with the yellow
Of the Spanish decoration. This tunic had q
horizontal cutting, which silk strings ens-
bled him to tighten or slaclen at will This,
his friends said, was done from the necessity
of letting air IN upon his wounds and pre-
venting too great a compression by his
clothes His enemies said il was done to
complete the mise-en-scene
He became captain OF the military school,
and he systematically began studying the
future officers Of the army and perfecting
the plans by which his ambition was to be
realized. His rule was rigorous, but there
was not man in the school who would not
have followed him to death. When 1870
came he was made major at the age Of 81
The siege Of Paris helped him in four months
to four Of tho highest. steps Of the military
system and the Legion Of Honor. He was
successfully made lieutenant colonel, colonel
and finally commander OF the Legion Of
Honor. Even when the revision Of rank
was instituted his record saved him, and at
39he became a general
Then the politician appeared, and he used
his knowledge OF his compatriots to put each
in the position whore he would best serve the
purposes OF Boulanger.
AS minister Of war he carried out his pet
scheme Of a mobilization Of the army He
astonished Europe by his success. In fact,
he bad the department troops Gn America we
should call them mihtia) in such a perfect
state Of preparedness that at the click
Of the telegraph they could have
donned uniforms, taken up arms, seized
tho farm horses and carts, and been
at the central stations in few hours,
ready TO pc hurried by railway to any desired
point. Then strange and contradictory ru-
mors began to agitate tho French.
One was that he desired 70 initiate Monk.
who restored the Stuart kings after Crom-
well; another that no was organizing a great
European war in which be was to enact tho
role of Eonaparte; ana still another, to which
his free expressions OF contempt for tho old
families gave strength, tant be thought the
time had come to set up new dynasty in
France, and that a successful soldier in the
pr mo Of life, a Boulanger in fact, was the
man 70 start it. And while they wondered
President jules Grevy and all his cabinet fell
with a great ruin, carrying Boulanger with
them.
NJ. Wilson, Grevy's son-in-law, had been
selling decorations and military honors: he
and several others were disgraced. ana
President Grevy was driven from Office for
attempting to shield them. The final out
come was the choice as president Of NJ. Sadi-
Carnot, rather neutral character. who
these who voted for him were very snre
would not Interfere with their various