Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-18

- mar Odd 11arinef Amer Who1 -
rreush WarsAfp Il Named.
One Of the French warships which took
mart in the Columbian naval review at New
York wss named the Jean Bart. As the
shin was one Of the first class. and attract
I'd consequently great deal of attention.
no little curiosity was aroused BY its name,
which to most people seemed strange
one. In books Of reference people were
told that Jean Bart was French admiral
Who fiourished at the close Of the seven
tenth century. and who, beginning life as
. fisherman, rose to high rank and became
a popular hero, but none of the current
biographies contains any of the curious and
amusing anecdotes about him which have
come down from the time when he lived
One of these stories will serve to show
what sort Of man Jean Bart was. When he
had made q brilliant record as Kind OF
buccaneer and shown that he was much
abler sea warrior than any Of the ofncers OF
noble birth who commanded the navy,
King Louis XIV made him first lieuten-
ant and then the captain of frigate. m
which position he greatly distinguished
himself.
One day, while several elegant courtiers
were waiting in the great monarch ante
chamber for an interview with the KING. a
rather rough looking sailor came in. The
courtiers and attendants were greatly
shocked, but the sailor announced that ne
was Jean Bart, and that he had come TO
see the king. One of his men, keyser, mad
been condemned to death for killing man
in a duel. and he was going to ask the KING
to pardon him.
but, NJ. lie Capitaine," said the attend
ant, have you royal invitation ehti'iins
ycu to an audience,"
"A royal invitation" exclaimed the cap
tain. ..What do want of THAR The king
and are good friends No need of all that
nonsense between usl You just tell him
that Jean Bart wants to talk to him, and
that'll be enoughr'
But can't announce any one who
hasn't an invitation" said the attendant.
"All right" said Jean Bart. III an
nounce myselfr'
He bounded toward the door OF the kings
APARTMENT, very much as if he were start
ing to run up a mainmast The attendant,
with pale face, placed himself before him,
exclaiming:
But the kings ordersi Don't you obey
the king orders?"
.Oh. WELL" said the sailor, IF it comes
to that, I'll wait. won't go against the
kings orders
He sat down among the astonished court
iers, took out pipe and some tobacco,
struck a light with his flint and finder and
began to smoke. The attendant protested
that no one smoked in the kings ante
chamber, but Jean Bart insisted that when
he was waiting he always smoked.
Put him out," some one whispered, but
no one ventured to do more than whisper
it. Soon the king learned what was going
on and ordered Jean Bart ushered in as
soon as he should have finished his pipe.
The interview, in which Jean Bart con-
Quoted himself with all due respect to the
king, ended in the granting OF keysers
par,ion. and Jean Bart came back into the
courters' presence triumphant.
They all crowded about the bluff captain,
very obsequious to him now, and completely
blocking his exit. He was i'll great haste to
carry the pardon to keyser.
"Oh. tell us, NJ Jean Bart, F." the courtiers
began to exclain, tell us how you got out
of the barbor of Dunkirk when you were
blockaded there by the English tieet!''
You want to know, eh?n asked the cap
tain. pausing.
"Certainlyr' they exclaimed, crowding
still more closely about him.
"All right. I'll show you just how twas
done. Look here. I'm Jean Bart, amt II
Well, this room is the harbor of Dunkirk.
and you fellows are the English feet block
aiding me. And now
Whack! bangl whack, Jean Bart laid
about him, now administering a cuff, now
a kick, and very forcibly clearing way to-
ward the door. AS he reached it he eX
claimed:
And that's the way, gentlemen, that I
got out of Dunkirl harbor when | was
blockaded there by the English tleetl Good
by"
The warship that bears the name of this
redoubtable seahog should be II formidable
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Companion.