The record-union., 1897-01-24
THE Siege OF BERLIN.

1uu U1uuu VI Uullul1Ns
(Translated from the French for the Rec
ord-Union' by Henriette NJ. Montfort)
We We're sauntering along the Avenue
deS Champs ElySeeS with Doctor V,
gazing at the shattered walls, the bullet
marked pavements-mute signs of the
history of beseiged Paris-when just as
we arrived at the rond point de fEtoile,
the Doctor stopped and pointing to one
of the corner houses grouped around
de Fare de Triomphe, he said:
Do you see those closed windows
opening onto a balcony? During the
early part of the month of August, that
terrible August of the year 1870, SO full
of storms and disasters, | was called
there to attend a case of apoplexy The
patient was Colonel Jouve, a cuirassier
of the First Empire, an old enthusiast
of glory and patriotism, who since the
beginning of the war had rented an
apartment with a balcony at Champs
Elysees. Do you understand why? To
view the triumphal entry of our troops.
Poor old gentleman, The news of the
defeat of WiSSenbourg arrived as he was
leaving the table. Upon reading Ma
poleons name at the end of the bulletin
he fell senseless. 1 found the old CUR
assier lying on the floor of his room, his
face purple, his form rigid, appearing as
if he had received a blow on the head.
Standing he was very tall; lying down
he was immense of stature. Possessing
clear cut features, fine teeth, an abund-
ance of snow white hair, you would
have taken him for 60 instead of so.
Kneeling by his side, weeping, was his
grand daughter. She resembled him.
Seeing them, side by side, made me
think of two Greek medals of the same
stamp; one antique, dim and battered on
the edges, and the other, respondent,
clear and bright from the new coinage.
The grief of the young granddaughter
and grand daughter of a soldier-af-
fected me. The figure of the old soldier
recalled memories of her father who
served as staff officer under MacMahon.
l treasured her as well as / could, but
1 had little hope, for it was case Of
hemiplegia and at his advanced age.
50, one seldom RECEIVERS. For three days
the invalid remained in the same state
of stupor While this was going on the
news of the battle Of Reischoffen was re-
ceived at Paris and you may remember
in what strange manner. Until even
ing we believed in having a great vic
tory, twenty thousand PrussianS killed,
the Price a royal prisoner. BY some
miracle or magnetic current an echo of
the national joy penetrated the para
lytic frame of the old gentleman, for
that evening, upon approaching his bed,
1 noticed a great change; his eye was
more clear, his tongue less thick and he
had the strength to smile at me and
stammer: Victory? Victory"
Yes, Colonel, a grand victory" While
giving him the details of MacMahon's
success, noticed his features relax and
the expression brighten. When I left
the room the young girl accompanied
me to the door, sobbing.
why, he is saved I exclaimed
pressing her hands. The poor girl had
scarcely courage to reply. The real
facts Of the battle of Reischoffen had
Just arrived. MacMa.hon in retreat and
our army scattered. We looked at each
other in CONSERVATION. She was in de-
SPAR about her father and / trembled,
thinking of the Colonel. How We're We
to aid him to resist the second blow?
How keep up the joys, the illusions
which had revived his strength? 1--WE
may have to deceive him about it."
Very well, then; l will deceive him,
spoke the brave girl, and quickly drying
her tears, joyfully returned to his room.
1t was a hard task for her to under
take. The old mans brain was weak,
and at first ii was easy to deceive him,
but with the return of health his ideas
became clearer, and we had to arrange
methodically the military bulletins and
explain the movements of the armies.
1t was pitiful to see that beautiful girl,
night and day, bending over a map of
Germany. marking it with tiny flags,
striving to plan glorious campaign
Bazaine marching on Berlin, FroiSsard
in Bavaria, MacMahon on the Baltic. At
times she asked for my advice, and
aided her as well as I could, but it was
the grandfather who gave the most as
sistance in this imaginary invasion. He
had conquered the Germans so many
times during the First Empire, He
knew all the moves in advance; there
do" and the realization of his predic-
tons filled him with pride. Although
taking cities and gaining battles in
rapid succession, We could not move
quick enough for him. He was insatia-
BILE. that old soldier. Each day called
/ was informed of a new exploit
Doctor. we have taken Mayence," the
young girl said, naively smiling as she
came to meet me. and / heard in the
doorway cheerful voice calling: Good
newsi Good news In eight days we
will enter Berlin"
AT that moment the Prussians were
only eight days from Paris. We wished
to take him to the country, but once
outdoors he would have learned the con-
dition of affairs, and he was too feeble
to be told the truth. We decided to re-
main in the city. The first day of the
invasion I went up to their room. / re-
member well the day. Deeply affected
with that pang of the heart which all
felt on seeing the gates of Paris closed,
battles under the walls and the suburbs
becoming military frontiers, I found the
old gentleman jubilant