Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-02-24

parte? The sentiments of that place are among tho most potent and enduring forces of Iifa The child nature imbibes uneonsciously the prevailing principles of the hour; and the character is form ing while the first hesitant words are conned from tho primer. The boy Napo- leon had around his sehoolroom-as around his. cradle-an agitated atnos- phere. It was banked with the reeeding clouds of revolution. There was light ming on the rim, and blood on the fringes.
 The majority of the Corsicans had ao- cepted the French nominations. Some still remembered Genoa with affeotion and many sighed for independence. Among the latter were the Buouapartes. The feeling of regret for the lost cause began to wane about the time that Ma poleon was sent to school; but there was still in his heart drop of inherited bit 1 terness on account of tho French cou- 1 quest. He looked back angrily at the terrible conditions surrounding him in his childhood As late as his twentieth year he broke out in passion. I was born, !" said he, while my country was dying Thirty thousand French, vomited on our shores drowning tho throne of liberty in waves of blood-snch was the l horrid sight which first met my view. The cries of the dying, the groans of the oppressed, tears of despair, surrounded my cradle at my birth ' The utterance shows how hardly tho future emperor of the French himself in youth became q Frenohman.
 When, from tho sixth to the ninth year of his age, tho boy Bonaparte at tended school in his native town three lines radiated before his feet One of these was dim and clouded, but glorified with patches of extreme light. It WAS the way into the kingdom of that New 1 Philosophy which was just then reveal ing itself with such brilIianey ill France A second and well trod way led straight ly to the Church Rome was great and honorable. Her rewards of diligent ann bition were rich and certain. The young aspirant who entered the colleges might well expect emolument and reputation. The third path led dangerously to the military life. None might at that time discern the coming upheayal of society, with its eoncomitant reign of the sword. But the agitations of the epoch were sufficient to encourage war, and to offer a measure of induoement to follow ill the path of military glory.
 The taciturn sohoolboy of Ajaceio had these three open ways before him. From the first, he was preoluded by the dis positions of his family, intensified in himself He never had the scholastic trait. His abilities as a pupil. and after wards as a military cadet, showed noth- ing of the philosopbe. Indeed he con eeiyed-hoW early in boyhood we know not-a prejudice against philosophy and the philosophers as well. As for the 1 Church, he had an inbred admiration for Rome; but the kind of life offered in the priesthood was without attractions 1 for him personally. He was willing that Joseph and other of his friends should become priests and bishops; but not him self. Neither the scholar gown nor the l priests surpliee offered the slightest at traction to his imagination.
 The condition of the Buonaparte fam fly about the years 1776.78 was critical. Carlo the father, had given an interest cd adhesion to the French He had his hopes from the annexation. He would keep his titles and recover the proper ties formerly belonging to the family. l The Buonaparte estates ill Corsica had been mostly lost, Some had been confis- eated by the Genoese party and convert ed into Jesuit schools. The recent revo- lution had reduced Carlo means almost to naught He was himself of no repu- tation as an economist. His family had rapidly multiplied. Two children died ill infancy between the birth of Napo- leon and that of Lucien, in 1775. Tho family was brought almost to penury.
 Carlo de Buonaparte could not get back his properties. The privilege of writing his name with de did not com pensate for his losses. He struggled with diversity, and sought the aid of infuen- tial friends. Among these the most available was General Marboeuf The latter i'll l776 appealed on behalf of his Corsican friends to the authorities in Paris for the privilege of educating the Buonapartt boys in Franco at the ex- pense of tho royal treasury This thing might be done-provided the applicants should be under ten years of age, and be able to show four strains of noble blood in their veins In tho case of the boys Buonaparte, this could not be proved; and affairs in the homestead went from bad to worse.
 At this juncture history, rather than man, came to the rescue. Franco was on the verge of bankruptcy. Ono finance minister after another was appointed, and one financial scheme after another exploded in the hands of the inventors. It became necessary to call together, at Versailles, a council of the nobles. Carlo de Buonaparte was chosen a representa- tive from Corsica. In going to perform his duty at the French capital, he took with him, to be distributed en route, his two sons, Joseph and Napoleon; also, the boys half uncle, Joseph Fesch; also, l .FT