The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-09
Lafayette and Napoleon

Lafayette and Napoleon
Whatever infatuated friend, or i.y,o.
critical enemies may say. Lafayctrc j., ID.
purest character of the French revola-io.
and next to Napoleon he is IL mos.
popular hero. Napoleon and l.a:ase.,s
are the two names that now blo..o~
fairest in France. Their fame no Go.i,
is of diverse kind; the one fought Nor.
for peace than for conquest tn o,ae.
fought for laurel, rather than f.. M.
oaken wreath 1t would certainly l.
ridiculous did we seek 10 measure Tie
greatness of the two heroes by tn sam.
standard or TO place the one on the pe.le..
tai made for the other. 1t would haat.
surd to set the statue of Lafayette ou III.
Nendomc Column, that column east o,, -
cannon, the booty OF so MANY battle
fields. On this bronze pillar place N4al.
leon, the man of bronze, there. ., in ..4
supported hy his cannon clory. in avn.
isolation, towering to the cloud, - hat
every ambitious soldier, as he loon, No. =,
him-him, the unattainablc mar :.c b..
heart humbled and cured Of his vain dir,
for glory. In this way the co,g..,.
metal pillar serves a lightning conductor
for conquest. seeking heroism, and j, o.
the greatest value for the peace OF Eufor,
Lafayette reared for himself better
monument than that of the Ncnions
Place, and better statue than one u
metal or Of marble. Where conlE le
found marble pure as that heart, or m,ia.
strong n the constancy OF the old Iaia1.
cite! True, he was man OF bias. int ),
was the bias OF the magnetic necdic.pout.
ing ever to the north. and moi sometime,
to the south or the east hy WAY OF chang.
For forty wears Lafayette has dahl rs.
pcated the same thing. and constantly
pointed TO North America. 1t was Dr. who
inauguratcd the revolution by the aoc.ar.
alton of the rights of man. TO THIS hour
he has remained faithful to thi, iccai..
ton. without which no political salvation
is to be expectcd-he, the invaritlle uaa.
with his invariable cardinal point ~ ILL.,
erty Verify, he is no genius. a. Naio.
leon was, in whose brain the eagles o, in.
Spiration built their evries whilst iu h.
bosom writhed the scrpents Of calculation.
But the eagles had no terror Tor LAFAYETTE.
and the serpcnts no power to scdpce j,
youth he had the wisdom OF age o. 40
old man, he preserved the fire oi Youth
y protector Of the people asain,i tie
cunning of the great, a protector OF the
great against the tnry of the people ~sm-
pathizing and combating, never prc>umr.
tuous and never dcs pondcnt. harmonious
Is strong and gentle. Lafayette remained
always the same, and thus. with thi, par
TALLY, he has stood on the same spot from
the days Of Marie Antoinctte 10 the Plies.
cnt hour: 4 true Elkhardt OF freedom he
still stands, ever leaning on his sword aa.
in warning attitude, beside the cntraace
10 the Tuilcries, the enchanted MoUi',il
Of Venus whence come magical cnticia.
strains, and out of whose seductive ,o.
the poor captive, once enthralled can nc,es
free himself.
1t is certainly the case that the dead
Napoleon is more loved by the French
people than the living Lafayette PIX.
haps lie is so just because he is iest
which, as far rs am concerned is what
like best about Napoleon; for We're b. 81.
alive ] should have to aid in his c'e'-
throw. The name "Napoleon" is for tie
French magical spell that clectriiics am.
stuns them. The voices of tLou,aaj
cannon sleep in that name, as in the co..
umn of the Nendome Place, and the la-
lerics will trcmbe when one day the voice
of these cannon shall awake. As the les.
uttered not lightly the name of their ,ioi.
so here the name OF Napoleon is seldom.
heard; he is always 1.-The man '-l'homme.
But his likeness is everywhere. III cn-ra'.
ing and in plaster, in metal and in aoo4.
and in all situations. On ever houl,.Aa.
and on every street corner, are 10 ie
found orators who praise him-"the niaa
and ballad singers who chant hi. deeds
On M way home last evening n na.
passing through little obscure street
saw child OF scarce three years staining
beside Il tallow candle fixed in the gro4a.
!ispIng song i'll praise OF the great ha-
pcror. AS was in the act of throwing
heard something glide close up 10 ms
which likewise begged for so". II 81
an old soldier, who assuredly coulG 49,
sing Il lay about the fame OF the -se4:
Emperor, tor this fame had cost hlm to'-
legs The poor, manned fellow begged ~
q sou, not in the name OF God. hu, "i-
the most confident icryor implorei i !3'
the sake OF Napoleon-"du nom n N1F.'
teon donne--m0i un son" His name -r''-,
the people as an exorcsm. Napoleon =
their God, their worship, their religion
religion which, like every other. "i. g
come hackneyed at last. Lafayette. 90 i-'
other hand, is revcrcd rather a. 4 !s.tf.
as guardian angel. He also i've 90. ,..'
lures and songs. but less heroicall sai
speak frankly, the effect upon ae 49,
rather ludicrous than otherwise. ~Evn '-
the !sth of July last heard the -aa-.
"LotGyette en- cherout jla"cs, .a us
Porsienne, whilst bcheld the man a.a'
self wearing brown wig and siaa-a'
near me. This was on the Ba,tilic !"tt.
The man was Oh the right spot. Ana Jet
could not but inwardly smile. !Ha'.'
such an admixture OF the laughai. q i.''!.-'
him home more closely to our ha"'-
hearts. His boniiomir is appreciated e's-
by children. and they understand H. -f'..
deur better than do grown peoY.c We
him TOO | can relate little bcg.ar aae-
dote, which also serves TO diSt!neulsA US
character OF his fame from that oi NA.
Icon. AS ! was standing the othe' 'A!! J.
4 street corner in view OF the Fa"tH''-
and, rs usual with me when contemplate
this beautiful building, lost in medH t..-''
II little Auyernat came up 10 me ana re-
ged II sou. To be quickly sid OF MAJ
gave him ten-sou piece. But he o"',
approached with greater iami!iaFit, -
inquired; do you know Genera i'''i
ette?" rs! &c que roas co"'d''',
General Latdyettes" When | had 'e3'-
in the affirmative to this strange Iat'"''
look OF proud satisfaction over ''''
the dirty naive countenance OF tie A''-
some boy, and with the queeresL eAFN's..