The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-17
NAPOLEON At BRlENNE.
He Had Great Dimculty In LearniaE -
Speak French. t.E,

On New Years day, 1779, the B0-
1apartes arrived at Autun. For three
saenths the young Napoleon was train.
"a in the use of French. Prodigy as he
was, the difficulties Of that elegant and
polished tongue were scarcely reached.
4 It was with most imperfect howl-
edge az their language and sadly de-
fsctive pronunciation that he made his
appearance among his future school
Rates at Brienne. There were 100 Of
hem, although the arrangement and
Theory Of the institution had oCatem-
plated only 100, Of whom half were t.
10 commissioners. The instructors were
Ninim priests, and the life was as go
yero as il could be made with such .
caiemtage under half educated and in
experienced monks In spite Of all ef-
fo9ts to the contrary, however, the place
I ad N air Of elegance There was 8 ceS-s.
tain srhoolboy display proportionate to
~ pocket money Of the young mobiles
S5anad ) very keen limitation among
themselves 6 70 rank. social quality
md relative Importance. Those familiar
with the ruthlessness Of boys in their
treatment Of one another can easily con-:
ceiye what was the reception Of the
nowcomer, whose nobility was unknown
and unrecognized in France, and whose
xlleans were Of the scantiest.
It appears that the journey from Cor
dos through Florence and Marsoilles
had already wrought marvellous change
IN the boy. Napoleon's teacher at Autun
described his pupil az having brought
with him sober, thoughtful character.
10 played with no one and took hih
walks alone But he was apt and vain
a his aptitude. In three months he
leaEned the rudiments Of French. to use
common phrases with some fiuency. and
/ % write easy exercises.
The boys Of Autun, says Able Chardon,
q ono occasion brought the sweeping
oharge Of oowardice against all inhabit-
ants Of Corsica in order to exasperate
him. eff they had been but four to
one, 2 was the calm, phlegmatic answer
sof the 1O-year-old boy. they would
never have taken Corsica, but when they
were 10 to r. But you had q fine
general -Paoli, !" interrupted the mar
raAor. Yes, sire, = was the reply, Mt
tered with All air Of discomfort and in
tho very embodiment Of ambition. ~
would much like to emulate him. Is Tho
description Of the unframed faun as
] 10 then appeared is not flattering his
scomplexion sallow, his hair sti6. his
figure alight, his expression lusterlesA
hi manner insignificant. Moreover, he
spoke broken.F French with an italian ac-
cent. "A | ~
During his son s preparatory studies at
Autun the father had been busy at Yer
sailles with further .'supplications, = q
among them one for 3 supplement- from
sthercyal purse to his scanty pay as dele
Rats, che other for the speedy settlement
\ e His now notorious claim. The former
ecl the two was granted mot merely to
\ y. de Bonaparte, but to his two coll
loaguea in view Of the ''axcellent be-
shavior' Otherwise suhseryiency Of
the Cmsican delegation 8 Versailles.
when II addition the certificate OF Ma
poleon's appointment finally arrived.
and tho father set ont to placs his son
with 5 proper outfit in his new school.
Is had no difficulty il securing suf-
6cient money to meet his immediate
md pressing necessities, but more Wa
Snoe & uEtthcoming. Professor Sloane's
~ ife Of Napoleon in Century.