The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-12


cuet of "la tempete," "the tempest"
A third class is composed of the few men
left of a chivalric age. They have an in
nate love of glory from their youth, and
live more by imagination in the days
of knighthood, than amid the practical
scenes that surround them. Longing for
the field where great deeds are to be done,
they cannot be forced into the severe and
steady mental labor necessary to success
in ordinary times. To them life is worth
less. destitute of brilliant achievements,
and there is nothing brilliant that is not
outwardly so. In peace such men simply
do nothing and dream away hall their
life, while the other half is made up of
blunders, and good and bad impulses.
But in turbulent scenes they are your
decided characters. The doubts and OPP
posing reasons that distract others have
no influence over them. Following their
impulses, they move TO a higher feeling
than the mere calculator OF good and evil.
At the head OF this class stands, as
patriot, Patrick Henry, and as a warrior,
the chivalric Murat. The latter, however
was an active, rather than a passive,
dreamer-pursuing, rather than contem-
plating, fancied good, and he acquired
the name OF the ''prieux chevalier."
Joachim Murat was born March Is, 1867,
in BaStide a little village, Il miles from
Cahors. His father was the landlord Of a
little tavern in the place. He was honest
and industrious, with a large family of
children, none of which exhibited any
striking qualities, with the exception of
Joachim, who was regarded the most reck-
less, daring boy in the village. He rode a
horse like young BedouIn, and 1t was
around his fathers stable he first acquired
that firm and easy seat in the saddle that
afterwards made him the most remarkable
herseman of his time.
NOT FITTED FOR THE CLERGY.
i'll nd airit of t., hos
marked him out, at an early age, as a child
of promise, and he became the BENJAMIN
of his parents. The father had once been
a steward in the Talleyrand family, and
through its influence young Murat was
received when nine years old into the Col
lege of Cahors. and entered on course of
studies preparatory TO the Church.
, Young Murat was destined by his parents
to the priestly office, for which he was
about as much fitted by nature as Talley-
rand himself. But nothing could make a
scholar of him. Neglecting his studies
and engaged in every frolic, he was dis
liked by his instructors and beloved by
his companions The Able Murat," as
he was iocularly termed, did nothing that
correspondent TO his title, but on the con-
trary everything opposed TO it. His
teachers pTophesied evil of him and de-
clared him, at length, fit for nothing but
soldier, and they, for once were right.
Leaving Cahors, he entered the college at
Toulouse no wiser than when he com
naenced his ecclesiastical education.
Many adventures are told Of him while ut
the latter place. which. whether apocryphal
or not, were all worthy Of the reckless
young libertine. At length, falling in love
with pretty girl Of the city, he fought for
her and carried off his prize. This put an
end TO his clerical hopes, and throwing off
his professional garb, he enlisted, in fit
Of desperation, into a regiment of chas-
la npHVlH AT b3f Tina To he.
passing through the city.
Becoming tired of the restraint Of the
camp, he wrote TO his brother To obtain
his disnlission, which was promised on
condition he would resume his theological
studies. The promise was given. and he
returned TO his books, but the ennui Of
such a life was greater than that OF camp,
and he soon left school and went To his
fathers house, and again employed him
self in the stables. Disguised with the
business of an ostler, he again entered the
army.
The second time he became sick Of his
employment, and asked for his dismissal.
IL was about this time he cheated an old
mlser out OF 100 francs, by passing of a
gilded snuff box for a gold one But
money Was not the motive that prompted
him TO this trick. young friend had en-
listed in the army, and had no way of es-
cape except by raising a certain sum Of
money, which was out OF his power TO do
1t was to obtain this for his friend, Murat
cheated the old man.
But the revolution beginning now to
agitate Paris, Murat's spirit took fire, and
having obtained a situation in the con-
stituiional guard OF Louis XVI, he hasted
with young Bessieres, born in the same
department 10 the Capital, and there laid
the foundation of his after career which
made HIM the most distinguished OF Napo-
Icons Marshals.
An ultraTepublican, his sentiments. of
which he made no secret, often brought
him into difficulty, so that il is said he
fought six duels in a single month. At
this time he was % years of age. tall,
handsome, and almost perfectly formed.
and with gait and bearing that made him
the admiration Of every beholder
Durng the reign OF terror he was a
violent republican, and advanced through
sne grades OF Lieutenant and Captain 70