The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-03

{ DGt as sources OF inspiration to lads with
/ the gleam OF military glory in their brains
/ they were mere dullness and Obfuscation!
| The courses Of study were in mathematics
! geography. history, Latin, modern Ian
| suages, philosophy, and such poor mis-
named science as might be squeezed from
/ the sponge OF clerical dogmatism in the
/ eighteenth century.
such was the disciplinary fare which
l was offered TO the boy Napoleon. He was
now far removed from friends and kins-
men. - made the acquaintance Of his
! schOolmates; admired one of them-BOu-
rlenne-and seemed to love another-Des
/ Mazis; but his character and manner We're
/ rocks OF offense to the rest of the hundred
I ana nifty. Nothing more striking has been
/ presented in personal annals than the con-
! trast which the poor Corsican lad. with his
solemn face, long, stiff, black hair, aug ty
! expression, close-shut Italian mouth. soil
/ tary pride of bearing, and questionable
/ insular suit, afforded to the throng Of
/ noble, hooking effeminates among whom
/ he was washed up as from the sea.
on his entrance into the academy-which
was clean, well ordered place-Napoleon
/ brought from the Able Chardon certif-
Gates of moderate proficiency and the us
| ual character sketch of himself as a pupil.
But nothing protected him from the in
/ ane luminosity of his fellows. They jeered
| at him in a manner that would have driven
Z a ltoS AGSGAult spirit 70 despair. I1dQ ne
| been complaisant, he might easily have
won peace, if not popularity; but his de-
/ nant air seemed to challenge the attacks
/ of the contemptuous crowd.
/ Deep down in the situation lay the pro
vocation of poverty. The boy perceived
! the disparagement to which he was sub
! Jected on this score; and it maddened
/ him not a little. His most troublesome
| characteristic was this-that he would not
| follow in anything. He would lead He
/ would be first or nothing. Assumption of
| leadership and the air of it brought on
/ him still greater contumely. The bitter
ness of the situation sometimes came to
| the verge of bloodshed. once he got him
| self arrested for challenging another to
/ fight him on account Of an insulting re-
| mark about his father. The sullen boy
| went mutterlng to the guard house. Nor
/ was restored to condition until Marboeuf
! had interceded in person with the authori-
| ties.
! Getting his liberty, Napoleon sought
/ his own company more than never. For
| exercise he cultivated a small piece of
ground as a garden. There was a hedge
| round about, and here he could be alone
| in his keep. All the while he applied him
/ self, with great diligence and concentra-
tion Of mind, to those studies which he
| preferred. Such was his willfulness that
! he virtually made his own curriculum.
/ w ultd becoming DIOHcaGnL III geography,
| history and mathematics, he neglected
the languages, giving indeed to all the
/ potter branches only such modicum Of at
/ tention as was absolutely demanded.
| out of this epoch come some well-known
| stories of the student Bonaparte at Bri-
! enne. In course of time his fellow-cadets,
! understanding him better, became first
/ tolerant, and then friendly. Friendship
| in the case of the proud and arbitrary
| cadet meant subsection to his will While
| he could not be companionable in sports
| he could and would command. The exist
! ence of the tradition about his dividing
| his fellows into two armies, building a
fort in winter out of snow building it,
too, according to the principles of good
engineeringD, making seige, with snow
balls for bombs and with all the serious
ness of Genghis Khan carrying the place
by storm, may well attest his disposition
and growing ascendancy at the academy.
The young Napoleon remained at Bri-
enne from April of 1779 to the year 1884.
The inspector Keralio, coming from Paris
to the military school, discerned in the
slender cadet from Ajaccio the hints of
promise. The method was in such cases to
send up students from the minor acade-
mics to the military school of Paris.
Sometimes promotion was made directly
to the navy; and this was considered a
great honor. 1t appears that the inspec-
tor would have had Cadet Bonaparte
sent to the fleet; but the officer died be-
fore his wish could be fulfilled.
Accordingly, at the end of Napoleon's
course OF Brienne, he was recommended
for promotion to the military school in
Paris. At this time, namely, in 1884,
when Napoleon was in his sixteenth year,
he was personally described by the in
spector in the following terms: IN. de
Bonaparte (Napoleon) born August Is,
! 1863. Height, pieds, 10 pouces, 10 lignes
{ metre, 81 centimeters, 3 millimeters-
feet, 81 inches), is in the fourth class;
of good constitution, excellent health,
mild disposition (mistake there, Inspect
ORD Is upright grateful; conduct very
regular; has always been distinguished
for his application TO mathematics: is fair
ly acquainted with history and geography;
is weak in all accomplishments very true,
Monsieur de KeralioD and Latin. He
will make an excellent sailor; deserves
promotion to the military school in Paris"
The character of the young Napoleon al
this period of his career reveals in one
thing a depth and far-off sight that might
well have belonged to the forceful years
of his maturity. The thing related to
Joseph, his brother. From his childhood
he had discerned his own natural superb
GRITTY Usually the elder subordinates the
younger. AS early as the coming to Au-
tun Napoleon excogitated the scheme to
lodge his brother on the safe ledge of the
priesthood. Thus would he have him out of
his wayi Given military career for both,
and Joseph must be. by seniority, before
him. But nothing shall be before him.
Arguments fit for Richelieu are found why
Joseph shall enter the church, rise to dis
tinction, be a Monseigneur, and by that
way defend, support and advance the pros
poets of the family of Buonaparte. AS for
me, will accept the hardships of the mill
tary life, and may be something
beyond There are on record several sub
tie communications written by the young
casuist strongly urging the priestly Office
as the one thing suitable and advantage
eous for Joseph. Our future king of Ma
pies or Spain or BOTH willingly obedient to
the imperial scepter, shall testify to our
prescience and brotherly wisdom,
John Clark Ridpath.
-, :, MT, - a.. q - rr~ado