The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04

with regard to his nationality or antece-
dents. The authorities usually take it for
granted that they are of a questionable
character, and treat the men as such.
The fact is that out of the 1000 men who
compose the foreign legion of France at
least 1000 have come to a heavy cropper
in life before they took service with the
legion. They are made up of every class
Of society, every profession; possess every
degree of instruction, and are the fiotsam
and jetsam of high as well as Of low life;
adventurers, Yagabonds, ex-convicts, de-
serters, Russian princes, Italian dukes,
German counts, officers who have held
the position Of aid-de-camp to reigning
monarchs. English colonels and eX-caval-
ry officers, each one of them the victim
Of some drama or tragedy, either of his
own making or that of others, who has
been driven by despair to seek in the
ranks of the legion oblivion, and above
all adventures sufficient to dull memory.
On one occasion, after terrible engage
ment In Tonquin, when all the medical
officers of the regiment had been killed,
the colonel rode along the line, and, adj
dressing his men, exclaimed: Amy doc
tors or surgeons among your Immedi-
ately eleven men left the ranks, each of
whom had taken his degree in some IA
nous European university and every one
of them set there and then about his
work, dressing wounds and amputating
limbs without a word of further explana-
ton.
On another occasion, at a review of the
legion, the general in command-all the
officers, of course, are French-suddenly
stopped his horse before magnificent
stalwart soldier whose face seemed
strangely familiar to him.
"AsSuredly l have met with you some
where?" he said. The man simply shook
his head in token of dissent.
II feel perfectly certain that it was at
Moscow" persisted the general.
you are mistaken, general" replied the
man.
The general. like a man of the world,
took no for an answer that time. But three
months later, after a severe engagement,
he found the man lying on an ambulance
severely wounded and, although he did
not breach the subject, his face betrayed
his endeavors to trace their former con-
nection.
you are right, mon general" says the
wounded soldier. I'VE have met before.
1t was in Moscow, in days gone by-bet-
ter days. l was one of the officers who
had the honor to entertain you during your
visit"
"Prince X" says the general remember
ing all at once.
prince X mods the soldier. IT had
the misfortune in a moment of madness to
aspire to the love of a woman. My pas
sion was not hopeless, and a divorce would
have freed her from the cruel, imbeciie
dotard to whom she was married. But we
were betrayed; the emperor deprived me
of my regiment and struck me off the army
list. And then l came here to die in the
service of the nation love best after my
own. 1t would have been all over with
me but for her portrait, which is here.
The bullet glanced off. 1 trust I'll have
better luck next time. feel sure, l shall,
for l am going to send the portrait back -
Nine times out of ten when a well-behav-
ed legionary is killed. a lock of woman s
hair or faded portrait is found nearest to
his heart