The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-03-09


diligence, extended to a ~neophyte, was a
sure mark of genius! He enclosed to the
Able the first two chapters of his alleged
History of Corsica, " the geography only
being surpassed by the hcresy of the rhet-
oric and the massage of grammar
We half suspect that the bottom motive
in this business was not the hope of being
"A historian, but rather the distinction of
having correspondence with a great man.
However this may be, the Abbo INDUCED
Napoleon, wrote to him, advised him to
study further, and then to rewrite his
work. Not only did the historical ambi-
ton have the Lieutenant, but the romantic
also. He took somewhat to novels, M
for the first time falling in love, deter
mined to write u novel. At the house Of
Madame du COlombier, he made the ac-
quaintance OF her beautiful daughter, and
fell in love with HEREAFTER the manner of
all young lieutenants. The flame of this
passion presently went out, but traces of
it are seen in his correspondence until
what time-ceasing to love Madamoiselle
Colombier-he turned peSsimist, denounc-
ed love as a mockery, and in particular as
the drawback to human ambition!
In the midst of the iitful CLEANS of this
erratic life may be seen burning the Goals
Of that furnacG-heat which the years have
not yet ex~tinguished. The student Bona
parto became a pale, living reality. He
supplied himself with the work of the
leading authors of the age, and devoured
them with the rapaoity of one starving.
He made himself familiar with the writ
ings of Voltaire and Necker. The one he
followed through the mazcs of the new
French learning, and the other through
the intricacies of practical finance For
months together, in his lodgings and about
the barracks, he might be seen, with book
in hand, muttering as he read, penciling
the margins, approving n condemning
the doctrine, according to his Judgment or
whim. There never was a time in his life
when he swept within his grasp a greater
amount of intellectual products thar dur
ing the.after part of 1856 and the first hall
of the following year.
CoinCidcnt with the date of the Lyons
episode, came IA military order sending the
Regiment La Fere from Nalence to Douai,
in French Flanders, three hundred and
ninety miles distant. Here Napoleon
found himself exposed to northern blasts
and unfamiliar hardships. In his CORE
spondenco he complains bitterly of his
situation, He got a fever of both mind
body, II the effects Of it lasted for
several years. His u%nhappiness became
extreme, and he sought by every means in
his power to escape from the situation.
He would get away or kill himself! Nor
were very powerful reasons wanting why
he should go elsewhere. The Bonaparte
family in Corsica had fallen by this time
into desperate straits. Joseph had under.
taken to build up a wine-trade with Italy
but had failed-as he did with most things
else. Lucien, a student at Brienne, was
doing his best to get a transfer to AK,
where he might substitute a priestly fol
a military education. Madame de Bona,
parte, now thirty-seven years of age, wa:
hoping against hope that the government
would pay her the petty stipend due fol
the care Of her mulberry orchards, but M
payment was made.
There came want into the household
Lieutenant B%onaparte, making the condi
ton of his family a plausible excuse
sought, and in February of 1888, obtained
leave of absence to visit Corsica. ThitheI
he went, in poor health and general NOR
bidity OF mind. By this time his arbitrary
character had begun to show itself in full
force. Once at home, he played the despot
He hectored all his kinsfolk, with the ex
ception of the mother, and she could hard
ly withstand his impetuosity, willfulnes:
and gloom. His old and equity great-uncl'
Lucien. from being the main stay of thu