Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-26


still steadily retreang: every day
brought him nearer Metz; where he
finally retired, abandoning his COM
munications with MdcAIahon and the
rest of France
Then came the rIlmor that Metz was
blockaded; BaZaine and his hundred
and eighty thousand men were bound
with bonds of iron. useless, helpless
MacMahon was encamped at ChalonS
re-creating his army. and tnither regi-
ment after regiment of undisciplined
youth was sent to him; and T;ndiSciplin-
ed youth made the country round ring
with the noise of its foilieS made
France blush for her sons. And still
the flood of invaSiOnS rolled on steadily
as the rising tide; week, Il fortnight
at most, and the Crown Prince with his
victorious army would debouch upon
the plain of GenevillierS. And now in
earnest this time, seeing the enemy so
near. Paris awakened to the possibility
of Il siege; but even yet fear was not
so serious rs SO stimulate the city 10
prompt and earnest action. The people
neutrality-suspicious. hopeful STILL some
thing would happen, something unfOrG
seen-a miracle, perhaps.
Something unforeseen did happen; but
the unforeseen wore the shape of
shame. defeat. humiliatiOn-an empire
oyerthrown in one bloody day; Emper-
or a state prisoner, Empress Il fugitive.
army prisoners of war.
First came the tidings that Mac
Mahon, instead of trying to block the
passage of the Germans, instead of
falling upon the capital to fight one Of
the worlds decisive battles under the
walls of Paris, was moving northward,
obviously intent upon joining and re-
leasing BlZaine.
What might not be hoped from a
coalition between two such generals
one who had risen with every defeat
the other as famous for indomitable
energy as for military skill? What
might not be hoped for from Bazaine's
hundred and eighty thousand men, the
flower Of the French army?
For two days, the first balmy days
Of September,a restless, feverish, over
excited populace lived upon the boule-
wards and in the streets; questions,
statements, counter statements flew
from lip to lip, while false reports and
mOnStrouS eXaggerations We're in the
very air men breathed. Then, on 4
Saturday night, came the news of Il
laI,,
been fought, was still being fought,
with tluctulting fortunes, in the en-
virons of Sedan. But the ultimate re-
suit? For this Paris waited with in
eXpressible agitation. The newsvend-
ors' Mosques We're besieged by tumultu-
Gus crowds; hands were stretched forth
tremulous with excitement, clutching
at the papers; men stood upon the
boulevard benches, reading the new,
aloud, above Il sea of of heads.
Nothing was certain in the news thus
devoured, nothing precise. The crowd,
deprived of official informal ton, was
consumed by a nervous irritability,
fever of hopes and fears. Men We're
impatient, captiOus, quarrelsome. At
the first word of doubt they were ready
to treat each other as PTussians or
traitors; for a mere nothing they would
have challenged each other to mortal
combat. Voices were sharp, strangers
glared at one another with angry eyes.
Lamps began to simmer in the sum-
mer twilight, cafes and wine-shops
shone out upon the night, and gradual
ly, imperceptibly, the knowledge of a
catastrophe spread and circulated on
every side. Details were wanting; but
France had suffered some terrible de-
feat. That was seen in every face.
No one in Paris slept that night. The
Corps Legislatif called midnight sit
ting; and the Empire sank through the
stage of this world to the realm of
chaos and night, evanescent as a scene
in a fairy play; and the curtain rose
upon the republic.
Go be Continued)