The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-08

hesitation should mark his course. amid
the complicated affairs he was compell cd
TO move, no vacillation of that iron vii
be seen, when everything else shook
about him, IS indeed marvel The energy
OF single soul, poised on its own great
center, gathering around it, as by sym
pathy, the mightiest spirits of the are
and crushing under ii obstacle s that be-
fore seemed insurmounta bl e. has had no
such exhibitions since the time of Cesar.
IMPETUoUs AND IMPATIENT.
But with ali Napol cons cool Judgment
and self-confidence there was not a
Marshal in the army of so impetuOus and
impatient q temper as he He settled
every plan in his own mind, with the pre-
cIsion OF a mathematical probl en-, and if
any unforeseen obstacle interposed.
threatening to change the result, he be-
came perfectly furious with excitement
acting and talking as i he thought it TO
be violation Of reason and Justice. He
planned with so much skill and calcu-
lated results with SO much precision that
IL he did not succeed he felt there mus st
be blame, shameful neglect, somewhere.
From his youth up he never could brook
contradiction, and drove with such head
long speed towards the object he was
after that he frequently secured il through
the surprise and conSternation OCCASION
ed by the desperation that marked his
progress. In the Cabinet and in the field
he exhibited the same restless fever of
mind, and seemed really TO suffer from
the strong restraints his despOtic judg-
ment placed over his actions. 1t was i'm
possible for him TO keep still, and the
most headlong speed IN travelling did not
see IN rapid enough for his eager spirit.
Bad rider as he was, he delighted in
squirting over fences and chasms where
his boldest riders had gone down; but even
when sweeping over field on a tearing
gallOp, he could not be quiet, but CON
stantly ierked the reins, which he always
held in his right hand. When delayed in
writing dispatches, behind the time ap-
pointed for his departure for the army, the
moment he had finished the cry "to horse, -
acted like an electric shock on his at
PENDANTS, and in a moment every man
was at the top Of his speed and the next
moment the entire suite were driving like
whirlwind along the road.
ON THE ROAD.
In this way he would 90 all day with
out stopping, and if dispatches met him
on the way he would read them as he
rode throwing envelopes and unimportant
window with rapidity that showed how
quickly he devoured the contents of each.
He usually opened these dispatches him
self, but il his secretary did il for him he
would SIT ana Work at the window
with his fingers, SO necessary was some
outlet to the fierce action of his mind
| He would drive through the army at the
same furious rate, and when the outrders
| called out room for the Emperor /" every
one felt he could not be too quick in obey
| ing, and before the utter confusion of
| clearing the way had passed the cortege
| was seen flying like a cloud across the
plain, beyond hearing, and almost out of
sight. But through the Guards he always
| moved with becoming pomp and solemnity,
saluting the officers as he passed.
Maps were his invariable companions in
campaign, and he always had one
spread out at night in his apartment, or a
tent which was always pitched amid the
squares OF the Old Guards, surrounded
with candles, so that he might rise at any
moment and consult il, and when on the
road or in the field he wanted one, so inn
patient was he known to be that the two
officers who carried them rode down every
thing between them and his horse or car
Tiage.
On such occasions he would freouenfly
| order the map he desired 10 be unrolled or,
the ground, and stretching himself full
length upon it, in a moment be lost to
everything but the campaign before him.
But perhaps there is not a more striking
instance of the impetuousity of his feel