St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-17
SILBERT OF AUSTERLITZ.

Figaro.
The Park of st. Cloud has not always
been as it is today, like an English gar
den with its formal walks and alleys.
At the beginning of the century it was
like green forest. A little distance
from the road there stood at the village
of Bellevue two tumble-down novels,
formerly used as storehouses. One
faced the heights of Bellevue, one the
road to Sevres. When Consul Bona
parte chose st. Cloud as state resi-
dence, the war department used the
two buildings for an infantry guard,
which, as it was in muSket shot of the
Sevres factory. was called 1.-The factory
post" 1t was furnished each day by
tho soldiers at st. Cloud, commonly tif-
teen men commanded by sergeant
and a corporal, with a drummer, when
the emperor was in residence, as the
post was then one of Importance, on &C.
count of the park, where Napoleon
loved to wander with all aid-de-camp.
On Sept. l5. 1901, the little post was
commanded by a griZzled sergeant of
The line named Bonnet. On tnat day,
on account Of some changes at st. Cloud.
the post had not been relieved by 2
O'Clock, though II was the usual hour,
and Sergeant Bonnet had scarcely taken
possession, when the voice Of the Senti-
mel rang out the well known cry, "To
arms! The Emperorn and every SOL
dier leaped to grasp his gun and adjust
his equipments.
"ro the right, face. Carry arms.
Present armS!" commanded the old
sergeant, who placed himself behind his
Of hn W. tba a
mounted, and accompanied by Duroc
Only the little drummer-tapin, as the
tinieSt ones were called under the en-
pire-could not put on his drum and
strike up. Napoleon signed to him to
remain at rest, and, when he dismount-
ed to chat with the men, he asked:
Where is the commanding Officer?"
There has never been one" said
Bonnet, advancing. ut is always
sergeant who commands, and l am in
charge"
Casting glance at the little drum
mer, the emperor demanded: 'And
why do you laugh under arms, NJ.
Snail?''
81 laugh for joy at seeing you," the
boy replied.
'Since you are so happy. let US talk
little. 1t seems to me that you are
young to carry drum. You should be
a tifer. How old are you?"
Ten years at Candlemas, my en-
peror."
-Four or five years more and you
shall make a campaign. Now you
ought to stay at the depot II your regl-
ment goes to war"
'At the depot? Never! 1 would
rather ride on a pilliOn behind one of
your guards"
You argue well. But tell me your
name"
Jean Silbert, born at the bivouac of
Roer army OF the Lambre and Meuse."
"And what does your father dO"'
Dead, my emperor Killed at the
crossing of the Rhine in 1888" and
big tear rolled down the drummer rosy
cheeks.
And your mother?'
''She is cantinere. my emperor.
You know her we'll. She is the little
Mere Moulin, so called from the affair
at Valmy. She is with the Twentieth,
with my brother Francois, drummer
like me-"
"Ah, you have brother?'
eyes, little older than me-"
And 50 you'd like to take part in
the next campaign? But if your mother
Is WIFI Tue lNSlilleIu reg lIucHtr-Nly
are you with the Ninth ~
Sergeant Bonnet is my godfather, and
he has made me wish for badge of
honor. if the chance of campaign
favors me. [ know all the batteries as
we'll as Rigodon. and the manual as
we'll as grenadier."
Queer little fellow" said the en-
peror What say You to that, Ser
geaut Is that your advice %
Yes. sire. The child is right. When
he isn't able to keep up he will mount
on my shoulders. 1t won't be the first
time. Wen follow together wherever
you lead u.s."
"Dnroc, take note of the names. and
remind me of them upon OCCASION"
Then, mounting lightly upon his
horse, the emperor galloDed away to-
ward Sevre5.
Long live the emperor!" cried the
men. and the little drummer ratified
away with the deXterity of drum ma
jor.