The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-03-16

named science as might be squeezed from
the sponge of clerical dogmatism in the
eighteenth century.
Such was the disciplinary fare which
was offered to the boy Napoleon. He was
now far removed from friends and kins-
men. He made the acquaintance of his
schoOlnates; admired one of them-Bou-
rienne-and seemed to love another-Des
Mazis, but his character and manner were
rocks of otfensc to the rest of the hundre
and fifty. 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, naughty
expression, clOse-shut Italian mouth, sol
itary pride Of bearing, and questionable
insular suit, afforded to the throng of no.
bic, mocking effeminatcs among whom he
was washed up as from the sea.
On his entrance into the academy-which
was Il clean, welI-ordered place-Napoleon
brought from the Able Chardon %certifl-
Gates of moderate proficiency and the usuI-
al charactersketch of himself as a pupil.
But nothing protected him from the in
ane animosity of his fellows. They jcered
at him in a mannec that would have driven
n less resolute spirit to despair. Had he
been complaisant, he might easily rave
WI D''SNj II III p'puialitS' u HE tC-
fiant air seemed to challenge the attacks
of the contemptuous crowd.
Deep dawn in the situation lay the prov
o~cation of poverty. The boy perceived
the ~disparagement to which he was sub
jected on this sco1e; and it maddened him
not a little. His most troublesome char
actoristic was th's-that he would not
follow in anything. He would lead. He
would be first or ..othing Assumption of
leadership and the air of it brought on
him still greater contumely. The bitter
ness of tho situation sometimes came to
the verge of bloodshed. Once he got him
self arrested for challenging another to
light him on account of an insulting re-
mark about his father. The sullen boy
went mutteriDg to the guard house. Nor
was he restored to condition until Mar
bpuf had interceded in person with the
authorities.
Getting b.. liberty, Napoleon sought
his own company moro than ever. 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 concen; /
ton of mind, to those studies which he
preferred. Such was his willfulness that
he virtually pladc his own curriculum.
While becoming proficient in geography,
history and mathematics, he neglected
the languages, giving indeed to all the
pointer branches only such modlcum OF at
tention as was absolutely demanded.
ont OF TINS esoch come some ~well-known
stories OF u" student Bonaparto at Brl-
ehhe' IN conf' OF time, ms 1ellow-cadets,
understanding nm better, became first
! tAlnra, ND tIn, r;1Ir T..
tolerah', ana thch friendly. friendship
IN inc case OF thc proud ana arbitrary ca
det 1ncah1 SuhJectloh to his Will. While
nc conid not dc collpanlonablo III sports,
nc could n would Tho exist
encc OF the TRADITION about his dividing
MS lciioWs MO two armies, building a
lorC III winter out or snow tbulldlng 1t,
toc, according to the principles of good
el'g'heerlhgD hhaklng a siege, with snow
halls Tor bombs, and with all the serious
ne"s OF ''ehehlS hhan carrying the place
ny 'Ior1h, may well attest his disposition
and growing ascendency at the academy.
Inc young Napoleon remained at Bri-
enho from April OF 1919 to the year 1884.
me inspector kerallo, coming from Paris
70 'ie l~lilltary school, discerned IN the
sieliaer cauet from AJacclo the hints OF
promise. Inc method was III such cases to
sehd up students from the minor acad6-
mics 70 the Military school OF Iarls.
sometimes promotion was made directly
TO inc navy; ana TINS was considered n
great hohor' III appears thai the inspector
Woulu nave had Cadet Bonaparte sent to
tie ilect; but the officer died before his
WISH couid DC lulhlIed.
AccofolhslE' at the END OF Napoleon's
course NJ bflehhe, he was
iof promotion to the military school in
raris' Al inns tllne' namely, IN 1884,
Wheh Napoleon was IN ms sixteenth year,
ne was personally described by tho inspect
Oh III tne lolioWlhg terms: M. de Bona
patte tNapoleoh), porn Angus 10, 1863.
iiclS"t, 4 plcoS' ~ pouces, ~ lShe6 ii
n'etro'o 'cenIllle'res'
~ i1ches) Is III the fourth class; of good
constitution, excellent health, mild dis
posllloh mistake there, lnSpector!). Is
upflght' grateful, conduct very regular;
huS pceh always Tor ms APP
pilca'ion TO mathematics Is fairly ac-
9uaihteu WIN history ana geography; Is
WonN III al accomplishment tNery true,
'ho,'Sie"r oe herallo!1 ana Latlh' lie VIII
i'ahe an eAceiieht sailor; deserves promo
ZION 10 the Military School In Tarls.