Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-17
CHRISTMAS UNDER FRI.

UlNlaOlltlllU UlsULll llsL.
Karl said the officer, '.bring another
bottles; and rs he said it he rolled an
empty one beneath the table 1t was at
Montmorency, the beautiful suburban
town which, from it's crest of stately
hills, looks proudly down on the valleys
sweeping away toward Paris. where she
then lay cnshrouded in winter fog and
hcsieged by her adversaries.
We were sitting in the drawing room
of pretty villa from which a famous
painter had but lately fled, after having
written in chalk upon his door: Death
to the prussiansv'
His menace did not signify much. The
Prussians had no intention of dying so
long as they could get at the good red
wine with which the cellars of Mont
morency,s villas abounded; and as for
the shells which fell night and day at
intervals all around them, they feared
them less than Il child would fear Il
couple of bumblebces careerinS about his
head.
Il should feel lonesome if l did not
hear the Shells" said our host. stalwart
officer in that collection of giants, the
Fourth Prussian corps. ''When you see
so little company you must have some
diversion"
What Il man he was! l can see him
now. rising III the Pickering light thrown
by the wax tapers, and Strengthening
out his immense frame until it seemed
fairly probable that his head would so
through the ceiling. Six feet four in
height, his massive limbs and broad
chest well set off by his closely fitting
blue uniform. and his huge sword clang-
ing on the floor as he moved forward,
he was martial from head to heels.
And. like every son of Mars he was
fond of the bottle. He empticd thirteen
TASKS of wine while we sat with him tina
evening. and had just sent for the four
tccnth. because thirteen was an unlucky
number and because he wished to drink
Il parting cup with us.
so Mari, who was Il corporal. and
whose duties that evening had been those
of cup-hearcr @rd purveyor of music
continuation he played the piano divine
ly--iilIed the glasses with the cold but
rudy vintage which had come from
Bordeaux vineyards, and together we
drank to the success of our journey along
the tirelinc" and back to the royal head
quarters 1T Versailles.
We were 10 spend Christmas in one of
the underground burrows in the park Of
st. Cloud. For, among the besiegers
who for many weeks had now lived in
those bomb-proof cellars covered with
earth and fascinos and great trunks of
we claimed cordial friendship.
The first was 4 doctor, who could read
Sanscrit, discuss American politics or
perform an amputation under fire with
equal ease and efficiency.
The second was an officer. baron of
fortune and very good family. whose
name is we'll enough known on both sides
of the Atlantic
we called "Fritz.' We had never known
his other name. and had learned to prize
this chance acquaintance for his fearless
ness, his sound. common sense his gem
tie heart and most of all, for his sto-
iciSm.
Perhaps you think stocism was not
necessary during the seige of Paris?
Never were stress and strain of war
borne more heroically, with more light
ness of heart than by the hesieged, with
more uubcnding grimncss than by the be-
siegers But privation, bereavement.
deadly danger. were companions of the
day and night during those months when
the triple line of steel and fire held the
proud Gaul beyond the reach of succor.
And so we were leaving Montmorency,
where we had spent many happy Gays
Sketchin@ and taking notes. with our
boots frozen upon our feet. and only
bread and cheese for food. The bombs
kept us busily lodging when two or
three of the outlying French forts were
at work on us ut once.
BIT YOU get used to shells When they
fall in your neighborhood and send bits
of hot iron hurtlin" around you, a creep
inc feeling iuvades the whole being; the
eyes grow dim, the heart pumps: The
brain questions timidly: wv hat II TINS
were the moment OF the great can
What should lido? Should | know any
thing in the beyond:" Then you look up
and find Yourself alive and you say,
'.pshaw, Is that ALP
There is terrible fascination in
watching shells as they come III Your
direction. With what magnificent rapid
ity the little white puff of smoke iar IN
the distance becomes a silver eagle with
widely outstretched wings! See, now it
is. no longer an eagle. but a great c'oud,
which suddenly changes into black
elonnated mass! You hear lugubrious
nhistiin~ like that of Il closely reefed
shin when she dances before gate.
Then that shell has passed over Your
head and need interest you no more
You take kind of fearful pleasure In
standing thus unprotected before the IN,
seen enemy. who is trying his best to kill
von and very likely is singing merriiy ut
his toll Such are the. peculiar traits OF
we stood drinking the parting cup with
our gigantic friend OF the fourth corps
two shells fell with laundering ana Earring
sound in the street near us. Ihey Eade
snrh n clanwor on the frosty stones. and
s"nt such a shiver through the villa S
wills. and awakened such confused cries
snd wailings outside that we set cur
.nIasses Down. and stood looking at zach
other with vague apprehension written
s.,rhe devil must have pointed the can
non that time!" said the giant. III a
hoarse voice. and he opened the street
1onr cautiously. rs if he half feared That
Monb;sto himself might step in. saying.
y: Te inst dropped in on that last bomb"
IN I0 rushed the midnight damp and
mist na and with it the sound of lamenta-
t ton We rushed down the steep stone
steps into the marrow t ana h,s , saue
efth who had been struck in the side
nv II, H. Jagged piece of iron from one of the