Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-14
HEART OF NAPOLEON.
n WIS SYMPATHETIC AND GUIDED
a POETIC NATURE.

DC was hfnd and Considrrate as IJe Va.
Brave-Recent Testimony For This Side
of the Great Soldiers Character. vI,,o,,
Has Not Aiwrys Been Recognized
Speaking o' Napoloons boyhood ono
who knows whereof he speaks saws.
"In his school days the grand hom,,,o,
gave many indications of the very quail
itios which procured for him the splen.
did success which has brought him ev.
erlasting fame His love of discipline
order and power was shown bv tbe
manner in which he controlled hie
kchoolmates and constituted bimself
their leader, teaching them the art of
war in mimic battles, constructing forts
and battlements of snow in the nlav.
ground in which many fierce engage.
ment was fought and won, with snow.
lis for cannon balls and ice pellots
for shot, 1t is recorded that he under.
took to reform the laxity of the college
rules and regulations by addressing
letter to the Junior master, indicating
system that would do away with the
abuses, and that he applied these same
rules atterward to the schools of Fon.
tainebleau, Saint Cyr and Saint Ger.
main. According to recent writer. Oh
one occasion be was directing perform
ance of the tragedy of Caesars death
when the wife Of the college porter en-
deavored to force her way into the as
sembly on the strength of her position
but Napoleon made short work of her
fhiu l.
brings into our midst the license of
the camp" an order instantly obeved
by his colleagues, much, it may be SUD-
posed, to the discontinue Of the good
womnn.
That Napoleon was at heart great
poet there can be no doubt. Nine Re-
musat relates that he was lover of
Ossian, was fond Of the twilight and
melancholy music. The murmur of the
wind enraptured him, and he would di-
late enthusiastically OH 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
lOOlliJ w tOillhS VI llDlbllllR W RuOSb
stories while the candles were shaded
and the singers present executed music
of low, sweet, weird description to
the accompaniment of stringed instru-
ments Doubtless this gift of subtle
imagination led Napoleon to suspect
where it was unnecessary and look for
motive i'll every action Of those around |
him 10 hpliayoA III lime bol
proved them otherwise. He used to re- |
late the story with great gusto that
when he was a child one of his uncles |
predicted of him that he would govern |
the world, because he was an habitual |
liar. OF M. de Metternich he once said,
"He approaches to being statesman, he
lies so wellW
Napoleon's life is an unending source
of inspiration to the painter. David,
Vernet, Scheffer, Steube and host of
others of his time have bequeathed TO
us fome 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
moans of the wounded. Suddenly dog
crept forward from a dead body over
which he was keeping watch; the poor
animal retreated 10 his lifeless master,
and then again, as though reluctant to
abandon his efforts Of reYiYing him,
yet desirous Of aYenging his death.
Napoleon was deeply touched by the
faithful friendship Of the animal, who
would not forgake his master like his
human friends "What a lesson for
mani" Dried Napoleon as he gazed on
the pathetic spectacle So strong was
the impression made ON his mind by
that midnight episode Of the battlefield
that after 20 years be related II when
banished 10 the rock Of st. Helena
Another instance Of his real tender
ness for the suffering and oppressed was
during his Egyptian campaign A poor
fellah bad been murdered by tribe oi
Arabs who had entered with an armed |
band into village aud driven on the
herds Napoleon Immediately command
ed that o company Of dromedaries aud
horsenlep should go IN pursuit of the
guilty party one of the shelks, suI
prised at tho indignation Of the emper
or, observed that u would not be Wise
Tor him 10 embroil bimself WliA tAe
Arabs, dangerous people for lhe sake
Of q miserable fallah. "Waa he Dion,
thy oousinp Qnerind tho sheik More
than that," cried Aapoleop, Win Ye
hemoneo, ''all those whom ! command
arc ny ohildTenW
Again, az tho plague u Jana Aspo
leon visited the hospital apd epaesYeled
% eous0la tho paor dying soldiers Hles
has attempted ~ convey ei Idea " ills
soene m his great painting " 'lA'
Plague ~ Jana wherein he fepieasl'*
Napoleon i0p0hinR iho WHWlon ~ =
foldior anioled With ihe elsease ap y"
po doubt prompted BY hls aeslls % ~
fpila nQulage lp lAoie nNl hihln'ta ~
Npll as ~ eYinop his 3mpalN1 NllA
iha ssnWlngs N hls pQol soldiers ~