River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-07-19
A MELOMANIAC.

A MEL0MANiAC.
How Capt. Tavernier Was Trans
ferred to the Thirteenth"
The pupils of the Polytechnic School
of France have a queer wayo of express
ing the fact that one Of their number
has become deranged. They say of
the afflicted man that he is Trans
ferred to the Thirteenth'-for it is
statistically true that every thirteenth
man succumbs 10 the severe mental
STRAIN required for a successful com
pletion Of the prescribed course.
Rene Taveruier graduated at the
head of his Glass. and was consequent
" free to embrace the civil career. To
every ones surprise. he preferred to
enter the artillery. In all scientific
requirements he ranked preeminent.
but his records for military tactics and
horsemanship were deplorable. as was
also his want Of neatness and disci-
pIine. lie would appear on parade
without collar or minus his buttons.
which usually only chung To him by
thread lie would answer roll-call
long after the dram had ceased beat
ing. and the. wonder why his appear
ance should create such disturbance.
in his opinion the captain had
queer way of Insti ucting the men.
MIR Tavernier. you y i'll report for
two days under arrest. Return t. the
line You do lot know your lesson "
Permit me ~ remark. captain. that
this is hardly the way to teach it TO
me-
'sYou mat take four days more
Delighted. captain. TO see that you
appreciate the Justice of nv remark.
Why this singular fellow had chosen
a military career was mystery To his
companions. who even then considered
him slightly off.
Once assigned TO regiment. matters
were infinitely worse Arrests rained
upon his Indifferent head. for he
-whiled away his hours of captivity by
solving intricate problems destined for
publication. works which gained for
,hia complimentary letters from the
sessiing mathematical lights of Paris
When I met Tavernier. he was with
the Eighth artillery, stationed at Metz
lie seemed placid enough. but his wide
open eyeS had a somewhat restless
glance. and his ecceutricities had al
ready become proverbial in the regi-
ment-
lie occupied an apartment consist ng
of small bedroom and an enormous
par'1r. scantily furnished with grand
piano placed between two windows
and I round table in one corner. This
arrangement Of things removed all
useless obstacles which Tavernier
might have encountered in his endless
walk up and down ON the table were
invariably placed bottle of absinthe
one Of strip. a decanter of water.
glasses. and plates capped with sweets
and cakes Ills orderly had instruc-
tiOns to repleuish these provisions
every morning. for each afternoon they
were consumed BY bevy Of pretty
actresses. chorus girls. and ballerinas.
whom the crazy captain" as they
called him, invited to five o.cloc.s.
These ladies, in more or less start
ling gowns. seemed to emily these
gatherings. where they dissected their
neighbors' regulations. chartered. nib
bled cakes. and imbibed sweet wines.
while their host. hands clasped behind
his back. walked through the long ex-
tent of the room
In summer he wore a long coat of
light. figured material. in winter. a
wadded silk kimono. Turkish shoes
curved up at the toes. and a smoking
cap. jauntily poised upon the back of
his head. completed his singular attire.
Passing by each group he had
word for each fair friend Dear lady.
why did You not come yesterday? ]
was 80 uneasy about YOU My dear.
you are positively bewitehing in that
hat Couldn't persuade my charm
ing friend To nibble just one more lit
tie casc?" etc. Then. relapsing into
his habitual silence. ne would continue
his walk. completely absorbed in
thought
Nothing ever occurred at these some
what equivocal gatherings that would
not have been considered perfectly cor
rect in the best society. Only once the
usual calm was disturbed by little
variety actress. who, in a spirit of fun,
had brought a Turkish fez with her.
As the captain passed her. she whipped
off his cap. and. substituting the fez.
exclaimed. Behold the pasha.''
general laugh greeted this sally.
Tavernier. at first surprised at this
lack Of respect. tore of the offending
headdress tie grew pale; such a ter
rible expression crept into his eyes.
that the light-hearted culprit trembied
in fear. and her companions no longer
laughed
Al length. pointing to the door.
Tavernier Numbered forth these three
words, which sounded like an anathe-
ma from heaven:
Leave my presence"
At the stroke of five. Tavernier
brnsquely stopped in his walk.
s.Ny dears.- said he. 1T breaks my
heart 10 interrupt your conversation.
but I am forced 10 leg for i've minutes
silence"
lie opened the window sat down be-
fore the piano. played for two or three
minutes. then leaned forwG ii. anxious
IL listening TO the sounds without
Evidently satisfied. he returned 10
the instrument. aud again executed
several bars. then closed the window.
and rapidly wrote something in his
notebook
Now. my dears. pray continue your
charming chatter"
Ills feminine friends had not failed
e. comment upon the apparent cold
ness Of their host. whose friendship
they would have been willing enough
tomeet more than half way. lie. how
ever. was evidently satisfied with their
multitudinouS presence. and haa never
evilced an individual preference
In fact he was desperately in love
Opposite his house lived NJ lie Nei mon.
whose young wife was the OBJECT of
Tavernier's alteration. Strange 10 say.
he he'd never spoken 10 her ard had
barely seen her. One evening her
pretty silhouette had appeared out
lined ,gainst thu curtains that WAS
all
Hut the sounds of her piano / ad
often reached his ear and >oothed his
poor sick brain. lie was satisfied with
that ideal language which She AID rs
alone might understand tie never