The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-26

A preliminary word should be said about tho
author, in order that we may measure his quail
~hcations and obtain his point OF view. Count
Philippe de Segur, General OF Division. Peer OF
France, and A~cademicisn, was born in 1880,
and died in 1873. His life lasted nearly a CEN
fury, and he attained a remarkable distinction
In war, politics. and literature. Entering the
army as n common soldier in 1900 at the age OF
20. he became a General In February, 1912, and
never stopped fighting until the end OF the i'm
perial epoch. He went through all the wars OF
the Empire, either in tho headquarters staff OF
Napoleon or at the head OF a picked corps.
Almost as much devoted to literature as TO
art. he occupied his leisure after the peace
in the composition of numerous works and pub
lished in 1924 his account OF the Russian cam
paign, which made n great noise all over Eu-
rope. We have already mentioned his princi-
pal work entitled History. Memoirs and Miscel-
lanies," which appeared Il in eight volumes. TWEEN
ty-one years ago. In even the briefest notice OF tho
author. we should net overlook his father, Count
de Segur. the famous ambassador at the Court
OF the Great Catherine H., who negotiated the
first treaty between France and Russia, and was
one of the first French combatants in our Revo-
lutionary War. Under Napoleon he became a
Councillor of State and Grand Master OF the
Ceremonies, an Academician. and ultimately a
peer Of France. He was himself the son OF the
MarechRl de S6gur. the hero OF Laufeld and of
Clostercampa and Minister OF War TO Louis XVI.
during the American war.
The author OF this volume was hut o years
old when the States-General assembled in 1850,
and much OF his youth was passed amid the
poverty and prescriptions which were the lot OF
the adherents OF the dneitn regime. Philippe
de Segur was the first Of the young men who min
gled with the remnant OF the old society which
in IS0D had haOun nnra mnra N frao,apt tha
Faubours II. GERMAN. TO take service under the
tricolor at the risk Of becoming a traitor and an
Outcast in the eyes Of his friends. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY the blood Of the old Marshal. his grand
father. who was still living, riddled with
wounds, that called the grandson 10 the battle
field. 1t seems that lac had been drawn by curl
osity TO the T~uilerles, at the very hour when Ma
pOleon, Obeying the luminous OF the Council OF
the Ancients, began the revolution of the
18th BruTasire by harAnRuing tho garrison
OF Paris. TO make sure OF il, against the Direc-
tory and the Council Of Five Hundred. AsSkgur
stood peering into the garden a gate opened,
and he saw a regiment Of dragons pour forth,
helmet on head and sabre In hand, and full OF
the martial exaltation that soldiers show when
they mean To win or die. Tho author tells US
that the sight OF them made the blood boil in his
veins, and from that moment lie was deter
mined 10 take service in the ranks. He hoped,
however, that the day or his enlistment would
be that Of his departure from Paris, for thus he
would leave behind bim, without hearing It, the
explosion Of disapproval that he dreaded. The
contrary, however, happened. An appeal dicta-
ted rather by political than military motives
had been made to young men OF good family
that they should arm and equip themselves at
their own expense. Gen. Dumas, a friend Of the
writer's father, had charge OF this organization.
Young Segur went TO him and secretly put his
name on the list. 1t was only on his return from
this hrst decisive step that he conhded his in
tention n his father. The latter approved the
act, and kept the secret as long as this was pOs-
sibls. but presently tho hour Of public enroll
nent at the Hotel dc Vile took place. Young
ssgur's subsegusnEreceptioR In the Faubourg 81.
GERMAN was worse even than he had expected,
one OF his nearest relatives declaring that he vas
dishORorel. The excess Of severity reyolted and
excited him. and he defended his acts 80 we'll that
several Of the young MOBILES came over 70 his side
and enlisted IA their turn. thus began tbs hrst
aami1ture Of the cd soeisty wiLh ths nsW. and
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