Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-08
HEART CT NAPOLEON.
IT WAS SYMPAI A.TlC AND GUIDED
A POETIC NATURE.

tie Was Kind and Considerate as He Was
Brave-Recent Testimony For This Side
of the Great Soldiers Character, Which
Has Not Always Dcen Recognized.
Speaking of Napoleon S boyhood, one
who knows whereof he speaks says
an his school days the grand homme
gave many indications of the very quail
tiles which procured for him the splen-
did success which has brought him ev-
erlasting fame. His love of discipline,
order and power was shown by the
manner in which he controlled his
schoolmates and constituted himself
their leader, teaching them the art of
war in mimic battles, constructing forts
and battlements of snow in the play
ground in which many fierce engage
ment was fought and won, with snow
calls for cannon balls and ice pellets
for shot 1t is recorded that he under
took to reform the laxity of the college
rules and regulations by addressing a
letter to the Junior master, indicating
system that would do away with the
abuses, and that he applied these same
rules afterward to the schools of Fon-
tainebleau, Saint Cyr and Saint Ger
main" According to recent writer, on
one occasion he was directing perform
ance of the tragedy of C8sar's death
when the wife of the college porter en-
deavored to force her way into the as
sembly on the strength of her position,
but Napoleon made short work of her
Remove this woman, he cried, "who
L.. =
the camp" an order instantly obeyed
by his colleagues, much, it may be sup
posed to the discontinue of the good
woman.
That Napoleon was at heart great
poet there can be no doubt. Nine. Re-
musat relates that he was lover of
Ossian, was fond of the twilight and
melancholy music The murmur of the
wind enraptured him. and he would di-
late enthusiastically on the moaning of
the sea and the wild beauty of the
tempest. His powerful imagination
sought to grasp the unseen. He would
sometimes amuse himself, while passing
/ the evening in Josephine's drawing
room, by telling or listening to ghost
stories while the candles were shaded
and the singers present executed music
of low, sweet, weird description to
the acCor, Naniment of stringed instru-
ments Doubtless this gift of q subtle
imagination led Napoleon to suspect
whoro il was unnecessary and look for
motive i'll every action Of those around
him. He believed all men liars until he
| proved them otherwise. He used to re-
late the story with great gusto that
when he was q child one of his uncles
predicted of him that he would govern
the world, because he was an habitual
| liar Of M. de Motternich he once said,
"He approaches to being statesman, he
| lies so wellP'
Napoleon's life is an unending source
of inspiration to the paintc,-Ar David,
| Vernet, Scheffer, Steube Mrly HSst of
others of his time have bequeathed to
us some of the great battles and Incl
dents of his career on undying canvas.
To each picture is attached some inter
esting story. During the Italian cam
paign Napoleon was one night survey
ing the battlefield Of Bassano; the moon
| illumined the sad scene of carnage; no
sound disturbed the deep silence save
the feeble groans of the dying and the
means of the wounded. Suddenly dog
crept forward from dead body over
which he was keeping watch; the poor
animal retreated to his lifeless MASTER
and then again, as though reluctant to
abandon his efforts of reviving him,
yet desirous of avenging his death.
Napoleon was deeply touched by the
faithful friendship Of the animal, who
would not forsake his master like his
human friends. "What lesson for
mani" cried Napoleon as he gazed on
the pathetic spectacle. So strong was
the impression made on his mind by
that midnight episode Of the battlefield
that after 20 years he related IL when
banished to the rock Of st. Helena
Another instance Of his real tender.
ness for the suffering and oppressed was
during his Egyptian campaign. A poor
fellah had been murdered by tribe Of
Arabs who had entered with an armed
band into a village and driven ofr tho
herds. Napoleon Immediately command
ed that q company Of dromedaries and
horsemen should go In pursuit OF the
guilty party. Ono Of tho sheiks, sur
prisod at the indignation of the empor-
or, observed that II would not be wise
for him to embroil himself with the
Arabs, a dangerous people, for the sake
Of miserable fellah, "Was he, then,
thy cousinT queriod the sheik. more
than that" Dried Napoleon, with ye'
hemonco, "all those whom | command
are my ohildTenW
Again, ~ tho plague OF Jaifa, Napo'
leon visited the hospital and endeayored
% console tho poor dying soldiers GTos
has attempted 10 convoy AL idea Of this
scene In his great painting of "fho
Plague of Jana, wherein lao represents
Napoleon touching the eruption ~
soldier afflicted with the disease, an act
no doubt prompted by his desire 10 la
spire courage Ia th0ss not afflicted as
we'll as 20 oyinoe his sympathy with
the suffoTings Of his poor soldiers -EK,