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

law. He went up from General of Brigade
! to General of Division, then to Commander
of the National Guard, Marshal, Grand
Admiral, Prince of the Empire, Grand
Eagle of the Legion of Honor, Grand Duke
of Berg and Cleves, and was finally made
| King of Naples.
1.-THE Able Murat' had gone through
some changes since he was studying
| theology at Toulouse.
| COURAGE. SKILL AND GOODNESS.
It is not my design to enter in detail into
the history Of Murat, but having given the
steps by which he assembled to greatness,
| speak only of those acts which illustrate
| the great points of his character. In the
| campaign of 1805-at Wertingen, Vienna
| and Austerlitz, and other fields of fame-in
| 1867 at Jena, Lubbock, Eylau and Fried
| land-in 1903 overthrowing the Spanish
| Bourbons, and placing the crown in Ma
| poleons hands, he is the same victorious
leader and intrepid man.
His three distinguishing characteristics
were, high chivalric courage, great skill as
| q General, and almost unparalleled cool
| ness in the hour of peril. Added to all
this, Nature had lavished her gifts on the
mere. physical man. His form was tall
and finely proportioned-his tread like
that of a knights face striking and noble,
while his piercing glance Jew men could
bear This was Murat on foot, but place
him on horseback, and he was still more
imposing. He never mounted steed that
was not worthy of the bOldeSt knight OF
ancient days, and his Incompatible seat
made both horse and rider an object OF
universal admiration.
The English invariably condemn the
theatrical costume he always wore, as an
evidence of folly, but it was in perfect
keeping with his character. lie was not
man of deep thought and compact mind,
but resembled an oriental in his tastes,
and loved everything gorgeous and impos-
ing He usually wore a rich Polish dress,
with the collar ornamented with gold bro
cade, ample pantalOOnS, scarlet or purple,
and embroidered with gold; boots OF yellow
leather, while a straight diamond hilted
sword. like that worn by the ancient
Romans, hanging from girdle OF gold bro
cade, completed his daShing exterior.
He had heavy black whisIkers and long
black locks, which, streaming over his
shoulders contraSted SlnCuIarly with his
fiery blue eye. On his head he wore
three-cornered chapeau, from which rose a
magnificent white plume that bent under
its profusiOn of ostrich feathers, while be-
side it, and in the same gold band, lowered
away a splendid heron plume. Over all
this brilliant costume, he wore in cold
weather q pelisse of green velvet, lined
and fringed with the costilest sables.
Neither did he forget his horse in this
gorgeous apparelinG, but had him adorned
with the rich Turkish stirrup and bride,
and almost covered with aZure-coored
trappings. Had all this finery been piled
on diminutive man, or an Indifferent
rider like Bonapartc, it would have APP
peared ridiculous; but on the splendid
charger and still more majestic figure of
Murat, with his lofty bearing it seemed all
in place and keeping.
This dazzling exterior always made him
a mark for the enemy's bullets i'll battle,
and it is a wonder that SO conspicuous an
object was never shot down. Perhaps
there never was greater contrast between
two men, than between Murat and Ma
poleon, when they rode together along the
lines previous to battle. The square figure,
plain three-cornered hat, leather hreeches
brown surtout, and careless seat OF Ma
poleon were the direct counterpart of the
magnificent display and imposing attitude
OF his chivalric brother-in-law.
To see Murat decked out in this cxtrava-
CANT costume at a review might create a
smile, but whoever once saw that gaily
steed with its commanding
rider in the front Of battle, plunging like
through the broken ranks, or
the progress Of that towering
white plume as floating high over the tens
of thousands that struggled behind it-a
mark to the balls that whstled |
like hailstones around it--never felt like |
smiling again at hIm. Especially would |
he forget those gilded trappings when he
saw him return from charge, with his |
diamond hilted sword dripping with blood. |
his gay uniform riddled with balls and |
singed and blackened with powder while |
his strong war horse was Streaked with !
foam and blood, and reeking with sweat.
WHITE PLUME LED TO VICTORY.
That white plume was the banner to the |
host he led. and while it continued futter
ing over the field of the slain, hope was
never relinquishcd. Many time had Ma
Doleon seen it glancing like beam of light
% the charge, and watched its progress
ike the star of his destiny, as it struggled |
or awhile in the hottest OF the fight, and |
hen smiled in Joy as he beheld it burst
through the thick ranks of infantry, seat
ering them from his path like chaff before
he wind.
Napoleon once said that in battle he
vas probably the bravest man in the
world. There was something more than |
mere success to him in it. He invested it
If romance about it all, and doubtless
ought, frequently almost in an imaginary
world. The device on his sword so like
he knights OF oid-his very costume copied
rom those warriors who lived in more
;hivalric days, and his heroic manner and
as he led his troops into battle,
prove him to be wholly unlike all other
Generals of that time.
In his person, at least, ho restored the