The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04
NAPOLEON .BONAPARTE.
In the Scool of Brenne His War Genius FOreshadOwedby
John Clark Ridpath

Gates of moderate proficiency and the usual
character sketch of himself as pupil but
nothing protected him from the name am
mostly of his fellows. They Jeered at tll mn.
ia q manner that would have driven tesS
resolute spirit to despair. HAD ne oesn
Complaisant he might easily nave Won
peace. if not popularity, but his denaht an
seemed to challenge the attacks or the con-
temptuOus crowd
Deep down in the situation lay the prov
ocation of poverty. The boy perceived me
Encouragement to which he was SUBJECTED
this score; and 1t maddened MIN not
little His most troublesome characteristic
this-that he would not follow in any
thing. He would lead. lie would be nfst
or nothing. Assumption of leadership ana
the air of it brought on him still greater
contumely. The bitterness Of the situation
sometimes came to the verge of bioodshed.
Once he gOt himself arrested for chalieng-
ing another to fight him on account Of an
insulting remark about his father. The
Suiien boy went mutterinS TO the guard
house. Nor was he restored TO condition
uuti Marboeuf had interceded in person
with the authorities.
Getting his liberty. Napoleon sought his
own company more than ever. For exercise
ne cultivated q 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 himself with
great diligence and concentration of mind,
TO those studies which he preferred. such
was his willfulness that he virtually MADE
his own curriculum. While becoming prom
Gent in geography history and mathe-
mathics, he neglected the languages, giving
indeed TO all the potter branches only
such mOdiCum OF attention as VAS aDsO-
luteiy demanded.
out of this epoch come some wel!-known
stories Of the student Bonapayte Bri-
enuc In course of time, mis- fellOW-cddetS,
understanding him better, became hrSt
tolerant, and then friendly. Friendship in
the case Of the proud and arbitrary cadet
meant subsection to his viii. While he
could not be compauiouahie I'm sports, he
could and would command. The existence
Of the tradition about his dividing his fe!-
lows into two armies, building IOIt N
winter out of snow building IL, too, accord
ing To the principles of good engineeringO
making a siege, with snOWbails Tor bombs,
and with an the seriousness OF Gensnis
Khan carrying the place by storm. may
We'll attest his disposition ana growing as
tendency at the academy.
The Young Napoleon remained az bTlenBe
from April of 1873. 90 the year 1881. The
Inspector Keralio. coming from Paris 70 the
u. .tlTy school, discerued In the GENDER
cadet from 4 iacCiO the hints OF promise
The method was in such cases 10 send ND
si1i,uts frtm the minor academies to the
military school Of Paris. Sometimes pro
motion was made directly 70 the navy; ana
this was considered great honor. 70 ap-
pears that the inspector would have had
Cadet Bonaparte sent 90 the fleet, but the
officer died before his wish could be .I'il-
Accordingly. at the end OF Napoleon's
course at Brie1ne, he was recommended
for promotion 10 the military sehoo! in
T,a~ie. Al yrie time. namely. iu 1874 when
Napcleou was ia his sixteenth year, he Has
personally described boy the inspector Ia. the
following terms, ''Ai de Eon4parte CNa-
poleonl born August H. 1869. Height.
picds. I'D pOuc"s. 10 ligncs equal 20 I me
ter. - ccntmetcrs, miliimetgrS; equal %
feet ~ iuchest is in the fourth class or
good constitution excellent health mild dis
position mistake there. iuSpectcrt. Is mp
Tilht. grateful. conduct very regular, mas
been always DISTINGUISHED Tor his apPi-
cation 10 mathematics; is fairly aelua'n.ee
with history and GEOGRAPHY; IS weak DID an
accomplishments tVeTy true, Monsieur do
kcraHOD and Latin. lie viii make an ~
celleut sailor; deserves promotion - enc
military school i'm Paris
The character OF young Napoleon at inns
period OF his career reveals m one thlne =
depth auG faT-0H sight tnat mlGnr Wtf-
have belonged To the fOrCeful years OF ulS
maturity The thing related 10 Joseph i.la
brother. From his childhood he ntu ais
the elder suburdiuates the XounEer- Is
early as the coming 30 AUtuu, Napoleon eN-
Cogitatcd the scheme 10 lodge hiS brutu,t
or the safe ledge OF the priesthood. ints
would he have him out of his Wavi Given
military career FOR both. and Jos fi
must De- hy seniority before him. hnJ
nothing SHAH be before him. Arguments
Sit for EiCHenCu are found why joseph
shall enter the church. rise % d}StI0cuo!l.
Toe d.. iulnsgiLneur and by that way. deten',
family Of t;ucnau3rte As Tor me. ! = I'D
accept the har.SHius OF tine military lte5
sul maybe someth hing beyond There are
ON record several subtle COMMUNICATING
written Uy the young oa~t-s. @trUaeiE ut--
iug the VIiastlE office MS tEc one thing Su' g.
.blc ana ADVANTAGEOUS Iur Joseph ouc it.-
tura king OF Naples or Spain on both, Nii-
IngIv obcdiaut % the imperial seepter. SHAH
testify 60 our VreSelyhee ane htnJneglE " ~
dom, JOHN CLARK EIBPATH.