Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-24
FRENCH SPIES.

The police system of Russia, intolerable as
it is, is not whit more dangerous to the
liberties of the people than the French system
under the last Napoleon was. In the last
years of his reign he brought the spy corps
to perfection. Outside of the criminal police
the emperor had thousands of political spies
in his pay. No work was too degrading for
these men. They had the contempt of the
regular police and the hatred of all honest
men, but Napoleon increased their number
and encouraged them in their high handed
measures. He feared investigation, revolu-
ton, assassination; he believed, or pretended
to believe, that he lived over slumbering
volcano French sentiment was drifting to-
ward liberty and he aimed to kill it. The
Russian masses are fifty years behind the
French. When the time comes they will do
just as the French did, and the car and his
spies and police will be helpless. Napoleon
smothered liberty by threats, insults, impris-
onments, confscation and other bulldozing
methods, but when the alarm came he was
helpless. In one single hour his power and
greatness fed away, his nunberless spies
turned traitor or hid themselves, and the
people threw off the yoke forever.
In the early days of the war I was selected
by our government to perform a certain mis-
country, could speak French like a native,
and President Lincoln honored me enough to
believe in my wisdom and discretion. This
mission was connected with the attitude Of
France toward this republic. If Napoleon
was not personally hostile to the United
States, and had not plans to further no
boundless ambition, he was at least causing
great anxiety in W ashington by his hesitancy
and half-heartedness.
When l landed in Havre was surrounded
with all the safeguards one could ask for I
had my certificate of American citizenship, a
passport, letter to the American minister,
and my movements were to be controlled
from his headquarters Ny departure from
Washington was known to less than half a
dozen officials. We had no ocean telegraph
in those days. There were Frenchmen among
my fellow passengers, but I had been very
discreet, | may have been over cautious. 1t
may have been for this very reason that I
was spotted" as soon as l walked down the
gang plank, for spotted I was. I had been
engaged in detective and secret service work
long enough to pick up good many point
ers l had Swallowed men, and knew how
to detect shadow on my own trail As l
walked from the plank to a hack felt that
was an object of solicitude to some one in the
crowd. I could not pick him out but knew
he was there.
did not purpose going to Paris for several
days. drove to hotel, registered plainly
and correctly, and went to my room. Al
most Immediately descended again, to find
spy and the clerk with their heads together
over the book, and heard my name men
toned. The spy was a slim, spare man of 30,
well dressed, black hair and eyes, and carried
a cane. l knew from his ways that he was
not detective connected with the regular
police, and if so he must be a political spy.
returned to my room without being seen, and
half an hour later had call from the man.
II beg thousand pardons, monsieur, but
you just arrived by steamers" he asked.
81 did"
Il had friends, relatives, two sisters, who
were to sail by her from New York. They
have not arrived. I am very anxious Per-
haps you met them?'
"What is the nameg'
sDubois, monsieur"
sAh, yes Well, have sad news for you.
They were swept overheard and drowned on
tho third day out"
He threw up his hands, uttered sort CT
shrek and fled down the corridor He had
simply come to make sure that I was an
American, and to get a closer look at me.
His sisters" were myths, and gave him the
guy because I knew that such was the case.
We landed before noon. After dinner
took walk about, and I hadn't gone four
squares before I tumbled to the fact that
was Swallowed. My spy had changed his ha5
and coat and donned red wig, but I knew
him by his build and gait. Men can dis
guise their faces and bodies and draw on
gloves to hide scars on the hands, but no man
living can long disguise his gait He may
limp, toe out, toe in, or make any other
change, but he will unconsciously relapse
into his old gait after few minutes. gave
the fellow no attention, and after little he
grew bold enough to almost walk beside me.
was out for couple Of hours, and he
Swallowed me back to the hotel That even
ing went to the theatre, and he had q seat
not far away.
After breakfast next morning I received
visit from the spy's superior. If I remem-
Der right, he said he was chief Of some di-
vision acting under orders from Paris. He
politely asked for my passport, and not
only gave him that but some letters which
seemed to open his eyes very wide
"Oh, yes-certainly -excuse-excusel" he
FASTENED to say. monsieur is a prominent
American, of course. am very sorry, and
hope you have not been Inconvenience"
He went away seemingly satisfied, but when
/ went but for drive the spy took up my
trail again. When went out after dinner it
was on foot, and the man had now become
very bold. He must have argued that I
could not remember his voice nor penetrate
his disguise, for, as I sauntered down toward
the quays, he overlook me and said in French:
"Well, julius, what brings you here?"
~ think you have made mistake,"I re-
piled, in English.
"Ahl so have; thousand pardons!" he
exclaimed as he lifted his hat and bowed
"You closely resemble valued friend of
mine, and was so sure of his identity, you
know You are English monsieur, one from
Englandp
s'Weuw
81 like the English. My mother was an
English woman. Are you seeing the sights?"
eyes, trying to-"
''They are not grand, monsieur but it is a
pleasant place. Has monsieur been long from
Londons'
"Only few days"
"Ahl And monsieur can only speak Eng
ish. 1t is too bad"
"Yes, SO it is"
understood that his object was to lind out
something about me, and that it did him lots
of good to have me tacitly admit that / was
an Englishman when he knew better. I could
speak French and be knew it, but he encour.
aged me to deny it. In this way he could
make me out suspicious character. He was
With me for two hours, and we seemed to
part with regret. That evening as walked
,ut he followed me in new disguise. He lost
light of me only as l slept until I took the
rain for Paris. At Rouen we had a delay of
aalf an hour owing to accident, and second
py took me in charge. He YVES got up as a
ihopkeeper on his way to Paris On business.
and he addressed me in French and answered
lim promptly enough. l felt sure of his
IDENTITY, and as we rode together he exhibited
she despicable side of character for which the
political spies were notorious. He had dis
covered that l was an American travelling
Tor pleasure
"Ah! how glorious to live in republic
where the masses reignl" he exclaimed. "The
Americans are right to detest monarchy.
Monarchy is corruption and oppression"
"Y our people don't SEEM to think So"