Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-11-29
NAPOLEON AT sRIspNe.
He Had Great DimcuIty In Learning TO
Speak French.

On New Years day, 1879, the Bo-
napartes arrived at Autun. For three
months the young Napoleon was train
ed in the use of French. Prodigy as he
was, the difficulties Of that elegant and
polished tongue were scarcely reached.
1t was with most imperfect knowl-
edge Of their language and a sadly de-
fective pronunciation that he made his
appearance among his future school
mates at Brienne. There were 100 of
them, although the arrangement and
theory of the institution had contem-
plated only 120, of whom half were to
be foundationers. The instructors were
Minim priests, and the life was as Sc
we're as it could be made with such q
olientage under half educated and in
experienced monks. In spite of all ef-
forts to the contrary, however, the place
had an air Of elegance. There was GER
tain schoolboy display proportionate to
the pocket money of the young mobiles
and very keen discrimination among
themselves as to rank, social quality
and relative importance. Those familiar
with the ruthlessness of boys in their
treatment of one another can easily con-
ceive what was the reception of the
newcomer, whose nobility was unknown
and unrecognized in France, and whose
means were Of the scantiest.
1t appears that the journey from Cor
sica through Florence and Marseilles
had already wrought marvellous change
in the boy. Napoleon's teacher at Autun
described his pupil as having brought
with him sober, thoughtful character.
He played with no one and took his
walks alone. But he was apt and vain
of his aptitude. In three months he
learned the rudiments of French, to use
common phrases with some fuency, and
to write easy exercises.
The boys of Autun, says Able Chardon,
on one occasion brought the sweeping
charge of cowardice against all inhabit-
ants Of Corsica in order to exasperate
him. eff they had been but four to
one," was the calm, phlegmatic answer
of the 10-year-old boy, ''they would
never have taken Corsica, but when they
were 10 to ~ "But you had fine
general-Paoli, interrupted the mar
rator. "Yes, sire," was the reply, ut
tered with an air Of discomfort and in
the very embodiment of ambition. ST
would much like to emulate him." The
description Of the untamed faun as
he then appeared is not flattering-his
complexion sallow, his hair stiff, his
figure slight, his expression lusterless,
his manner insignificant. Moreover, he
spoke broken. French with an Italian ac-
cent.
During his sons preparatory studies at
Autun the father had been busy at Yer
sailles with further "supplications, "
among. them one for supplement from
the royal purse to his scanty pay as dele
gate, the other for the speedy settlement
of his now notorious claim. The former
of the two was granted not merely to
M. de Bonaparte, but to his two col
leagues, in view Of the excellent be-
avior"-otherwis subserviency - of
the Corsican delegation at Versailles
When in addition the certificate of Ma
poleon's appointment finally arrived,
and the father set out to place his son
with proper outfit in his new school.
he had no difficulty in securing suf-
ficient money to meet his immediate
and pressing necessities, but more was
not Forthcoming. Professor Sloane's
Life of Napoleon" in Century.