The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-30
NAPOLEON.
He Had Grest DinacuIty In Learning 70
SPepk Preach.

He Had Crest Difncuty In Lsnrnins 70
sPesk froash.
On Nvw Years day, l779, the Bo-
napaptss arrived at Autun. For three
months ne young Eapolson wns train
I'd in tho uss u froneh. Prodigy as he
was, tue dixaouities Of that elegant and
polishsa topgse were scarcely reached
10 was with O most imperfect knowl-
cage Of their lspguage and q sadly de-
fectivo yrUuunciation that he made hrs
nppcarsnce among his future school
mates ct Dr1apne There were $50 OF
thcm, axhcush the arrangement and
theory of the institution had contain
plated ssa1y le0, Of whom half were to
be evuadafionsrs. The Instructors were
Mirztn pricsts and the life was as So
vvre a ID oop1d be made with such
csicntaGs unAsr half educated and in
erpexiczoeA monks. In spite of all ef-
forts % % oantrary, however, the place
had sn cir Of elegance. There was GER
tain sohoolboy display proportionate to
tho pocket money Of the young mobiles
ana very keen discrimination among
themselves ~ 30 rank, social quality
and relative Importance. Those familiar
with the ruthleesness Of boys in their
treatment of one another can easily con-
ceiye whas was the reception of the
newccmsr, whose nobility was unknown
ana uurecogniscd in France, and whose
means were Of the scantiest.
II appears that the journey from Cor
sica through Florence and Marseilles
had alrssdy wrought marvellous change
In tho boy. Mspoleon's teacher at Autun
Described Ids pupil as having brought
with him Q sober. thoughtful character
Iie played with no one and took his
walks alona. But he was apt and vain
Of his aptitude In three months he
learned The rydiments Of French, to use
common phrases with come fuency, and
to writs sssy exercises.
The boys a Autun, says Abbe Chardon,
on ono ocoaslon brought the sweeping
ohar9o cf oowaxdioe against all inhabit-
ants Of Cosgtsa In order 20 oxasperate
him sTf they had been but four TO
ono wss tbs calm, phlegInatio answer
Of tho Io-yoar~old boy, 'they would
never have taken Corsica, but when they
were 10 to - "But you had q fine
eenersi--Fsoli" interrupted the mar
raeor. "Yes, girs," was the reply, ut-
tered with an air Of discomfort and in
the very essbodiment Of ambition. Il
would usuoh LIKE 10 emulate him." The
description ef tho untamed faun as
he then appeared is rot hattering-his
complexion salie~, his hair stiff, his
figure slisbt his expression lusterless,
his manner insignificant Moreover. he
spoke broken.Tron with an Italian &C.
cent
During his sons preparatory studies at
Autun the father had been busy at Ver-
sailles with further "supplications, !"
among them one for supplement- from
the royal purse TO bis so&nty psy as delo-
gate, the otaer for the speedy settlement
Of his now notorious olain. The former
of tho two was granted not merely TO
NJ dc Bonnparto, but to his two col
leagues, In view Of the excellent be-
haviof''-otherwise sabseryiency - OF
tho Corsican delegetton at Versailles.
When in addition the certificate Of Ma
poleon's appointment finally arrived,
and the father set, out 10 place his son
with a proper enttt in his Dsw school,
be had no difficulty in securing suf-
flcient meney 20 meet bis immediate
and pressing necessities but more was
not forthcorsinp. ~ Professor Sloane's
"Life Of Napoleon" in Century.