The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-11-22
HEART OF NAPOLEON.
IT WAS SYMPATHETIC AND GUIDED
A POETIC NATURE.

Ee was Kind and C~onsiderase M He Was
Brave-Recent Testimony FOR This Side
Of the Great Soldiers Character, which
Has Not Always Been Recognized.
Speaking of Napoleon boyhood, one
who knows whereof be speaks says:
"In his school days the grand hoinme'
gave many indications of the very quail.
tiles which procured for him the splen-
did success which Inns brpnght him ev-
~erlasting fame. His love of discipline,
order and power was shown by the
manner In which he controlled his
schoolmates and constituted himself
their leader. teaching them the art of
war In mimic battles, constructing forts
and battlements of snow In the plays
ground in which many a fierce engage
ment was fought and won, with snow
balls for cannon balls and Ice pellets
for shot. 1t is recorded that he under.
took to reform the laxity or the college
rules and regulations by addressing q
letter to the Junior master, indicating q
system that would do away with the
abuses, and that he applied these same
rules afterward tosthe schools of Fon-
~tainebleau, Saint Cyr and Saint Ger
main. According to q recent writer, on
one occasion he was directing q perform-
ance of the tragedy of C@sar's death
when the wife of the college porter On.
deavored to force her way into the as.
sembly on the strength of her position,
but Napoleon made short work of her.
Remove this woman he cried, "who
brings into our midst the license Of
the CAMP an order instantly obeyed
by his colleagues, much. it may be sup.
posed, to the discontinue OF the good
wom;.n. 49,
That Napoleon was at heart a great
poet there can be no doubt. Mime. Re.
musar relates that he was d lover OF
Ossian, was fond Of the twilight and
melancholy music. The murmur Of the
wind enfaptured him. and he would di-
late enthusiastically on the moaning Of
the sea and the wild beauty OF the
tempest. His powerful imagination
sought to grasp the unseen. He would
sometimes amuse himself, while passing
the evening in Josephine's drawing
room, by telling or listening to ghost
stories while the candles were shaded
and the singers present executed music
OF a low, sweet, weird description to
the accompaniment Of stringed instru-
ments. Doubtless this gift of q subtle
imagination led Napoleon to suspect
where it was unnecessary and look for
q motive in every action of those around
him. He believed all men liars until he
proved them otherwise. He used to re.
late the story with great gusto that
when he was q child one of his uncles
predicted Of him that he would govern
the world, because he was an habitual
liar. OF ID. de Metternich he once said,
"He approaches to being a statesman, h
lies SO well!''
Napoleon's life is an unending source
Of inspiration to the painter. David,
Vernet, Scheffer, Steube and a host of
others of his time have b~equeathed to
us some Of the great battles and Incl
dents of his career on undying canvas
To each picture is attached some inter.
esting story. During the Italian cam
paign Napoleon was one night survey
ing the battlefield of Bassano; the moon
illumined the sad scene Of carnage: no
sound disturbed the deep silence save
the feeble groans Of the dying and the
means Of the wounded. Suddenly q dog
cfept forward from q dead body over
which he was keeping watch; the poor
animal reiterated TO his lifeless master.
and then again. as though reluctant %
abandon his4efforts of reviving him.
yet DESTROYS Of avenging his death.
Napoleon was deeply touched by the
faithful friendship OF this animal, who