The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-11
JEAN BART.
Incident I'm the Life OF the Famous Old
prenchman.


Grenchman.
One OF the French war-ships which
took part in the Columbia naval re-
view at New York was named the
Jean Bart. AS the ship was one o.
the first class, and attracted conse-
quently great deal OF attention, no
little curiosity was aroused by its
name, which 70 most people seemed
a strange one. In books OF reference
people were told that Jean Bart was
"A French Admiral who iiOurished AZ
the close Of the seventeenth century
and who. beginning life IL Usher
man, rose tC high rank, and became
a popular hero: but none OF the cur
rent biographies contain any Of the
curious and amusing anecdotes about
him which nave come down from the
time when he lived.
One or these stories will serve 10
show what sort OF man Jean Bart
was When he had made brilliant
record as "a kind of buccancer, and
shown that he was much ADLER sea-
warrior than any OF the officers OF
noble birth who commanded the navy,
King Louis made him first lieuten-
ant and then the captain OF frigate,
in which position he greatly distin-
guished himself.
One day, while several elegant
courtiers were waiting in the great
mOnarch's antechamber for an inter
view with the King, rather rough
looking sailor came in. The cOurticrs
and attendants were greatly shocked
but the sailor announced that he was
Jean Bart, and that he had come TO
see the King. One OF his men,
Keyser had been condemned TO death
for killing man in duel, and he
was going 10 ask the King TO pardon
him.
'But, Monsieur lc Capitaine," said
the attendant, have you royal in
vitation emitting you TO an au-
dience?"
"A royal invitation?" exclaimed
the Captain. What do | want Of
that? The King and | are good
friends. No need Of all that nonsense
between us. You just tell him that
Jean Bart wants TO talk TO him, and
JhdJ III De enOuEH
"But / can't announce any one
who hasn't an invitation" said the
attendant"
."All right, said Jean Bart; "l'll
announce myself"
He bounded toward the door OF the
Kings apartment, very much as If
he were starting 20 run up a main
nj
face, placed himself before him, eX-
claiming:
But the Kings orders. Don't you
obey the Kings orders?"
"Oh well" said the sailor, 'ff il
comes to that, I'll wait. won't 20
against the Kings orders"
lie sat down among the astonished
courticrs, took out pipe and some
tobacco struck light with his flint
and tinder, and began 20 smoke. The
attendant protested that no one
smoked in the Kings antechamber:
but Jean Bart insisted that when he
was waiting he always smoked.
"Put him out!" some one whis-
pered; but no one ventured TO do more
than whisper 1t. Soon the King
learned what was going on, and
ordered Jean Bart 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 keyser's pardon, and Jean Bart
came back into the Courtiers' pres
ence triumphant.
They all crowded about the bluff
Captain, very obSequiOus to him now,
and completely blocking his exit. He
was in great haste TO carry the pardon
to keyser.
"Oh, tell us, Monsieur Jean Bart, "
the courtiers began 10 eXclaim, tell
us how you got out OF the harbor OF
Dunkirk, when you were blockaded
there by the English fleet"
"You want TO know, eh?" asked
the Captain, pausing.
crowding still more closely about
him.
"All right, I'll show You just how
twas done. Look here; I'm Jean
Bart, amt /: Well, this room is the
harbor OF Dunkirk, aud YOU fellows
are the English fleet blockading me:
and now"
Whack. bang. whack. Jean Bart
laid about him, now administering Il
cuff, now kick, and very forcibly
clearing a way toward the door As
he reached il. he exclaimed:
"And that's the way, gentlemen,
that got out OF DunkIrk harbor
when was blockaded there 10y the
English fleet, Good by,'
The war-ship that bears the name
OF tn redoubtable sea.dog should be
formidable antagonist