The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1895-01-02
a SOLDER or FRANCE.
How They We're Made at the Military
school mt st. Cyr.

How They We're Made at the Military
school mt st. Cyr.
In "A Boy Of the First Empire FL
bridge S. Brooks story Of Napoleon in
st. Nicholas. is told how the youthful
hero was made into "a soldier Of
France"
So 1t was soon over, for all the world
like some wonderful fairy tale, and
Philip Desnonettes, son Of the emigre,
bound boy of the washerwomen's
quarter, protege OF the emperor,
turned his back upon the mar
row and dirty street he had once
called his home, and, riding away
from the past, was entered as o
pupil in the military school Of st. Cyr
From the day when, as new boy, no
was introduced into the new school OF
st. Cyr, and was gradually transformed
from an unconth street-boy to little
machine, to the day when, four years
later, he left Il FOR other scenes,
Philip Dcsnouettes' life was one of con.
i tlnnous training. He got up by the
drum, he ate his meals by the drum, he
went TO bed by the drum. He learned
to drill, to ride, and TO build fortifica-
tions; he received instruction In Ian
guagcs, literature, history and mathe-
matics; he toughened without fires,
developed by austere discipline, lived
by rule. played pranks and took his
1 punishment as he did his medicine.
without grumbling, grew, strength
ened, broadened In mind and body,
learned to be a French schoolboy, o
French soldier, French gentleman.
Then came 1910. Great things had
been happening while Philip was q
schoolboy at st. Cyr. The map OF
Europe had been changed again and
again, and Napoleon was the map
maker There had been wars and
rumors of war; there had been mighty
marches. bloody battles and terrible
triumphs; and with march and battle
and triumph the fame Of Napoleon, EN-
peror of the French, had grown to
mighty proportions. In isi0 France
and Napoleon were the greatest names
in all the world. And Philip had met
Corporal peyrolles.
Peyrolles, the wooden-legged, had
left his good leg Of flesh on the bloody
field Of Austerlitz, and, penkioned by
the emperor. had been made one Of the
drill seTgeants in st. Cyr school.
To Pcyrnlics the emperor was not
man. he was 1.-THE emperor" and Pey.
ROLES worshiPed him even rs did the
Romans of old worship their highest
and bravest--as something more than
mortal. And yet the boys at St. cyr
declared that but for Peyrolles the
emperor would never have been; for II
was PeyruIIes' delight TO recount for
the boys Of st. Cyr how Il and the
emperor" conquered the worldl
Bat Il was largely by Peyrolles'
friendly promptings, plus the instruc-
ton of the 81. Cyr school, that Philip
became proficient In drill and ambi.
tious Of glory. And when, even before
the allotted term of training. the sum
mons came 70 ''the cadet Desnouettes"
tn attend upon the emperor, the boy
felt that both fame and glory lay well
within his grasp.
But PeyrOlles said: "See what II Is 10
have Corporal Peyrolles for your friend,
cadet. Do you think II is because your
sharp ears served the emperor, when
you were but boy Of the streets, that
he now calls you to his side, even be-
fore your military schooling Is done2
Not so. II Is because Of me. II Is be-
cause Peyrolles has had you in hand
The emperor has heard Of II. lie bids
you come to him that you may show
! others in his service what Il Ii 10 be
tutored In arms by the man who helped
the emperor 10 win the day at Arcola
and Lodi, al Castiglione and the Pyra-
mids, at Marengo and Ulm and Auster-
Iitz. Long live the emperor, and long
live Peyrolles, his right handl Do not
disgrace my teaching. You are but IN
infant yet. cadet. But 20 were we all
once. and even o child can be brave.
Listen, you cadet: rush not rashly In
to danger, but, once In, donot back out.
Strike not until you can strike swift
, and sure. Obey, and you shall 10
obeycd: follow, and you shall be fol.
lowed; seek glory, aud glory shall seek
you. De q soldier Of France, and
France shall be proud Of her soldier.
and shall say 70 the world: Behold,
this cadet was q pupil of peyrollcs Of
st. Cyr, grenadier and helper Of the
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