Evening star., 1898-07-16

that sentries froze at their posts and every
dawn broke on such scenes of suffering
among the ragged troops beyond the en-
ceinte that the newspa pers scarcely dared
record the details.
Combat after combat was delivered under
the walls of Paris. but 1t was not until
the end of the month that the great series
of battles began along the Marne culmin-
ating in the frightful slaughter at Cham
pigny-a victory for France perhaps, be-
cause the Germans had failed to hurl Du-
crots troops across the Marine and destroy
the bridges-but the victory was sterile
one, and the iaurels fell on heads too weak
with sickness and starvation to bear the
weight of even withered wreaths.
Then, on December 3. came the news
that Orleans had fallen and the army of
the Loire was destroyed-news sent by let
ter, under flag OF truce from Moltke-a
grim letter devilish in its courtesy:
Versailles, December 5, 1870.
1T might be useful to inform your ex-
cellency General TrochW that the army of
the Loire has been defeated near Orleans
and that that city has been reoccupied by
German troops.
'If, nevertheless, your excellency judges
1t advisable to convince yourself by one of
your officers. 1 will not fail to furnish him
with a safe conduct to go there and return.
Permit me, general, to express the high
consideration with which l have the honor
servant.
C'Signed)
1.-The Chief of the General Staff.
Count Won Moltke."
The new. stunned the people; at first no.
body credited it. The governor began os-
tentatious preparations for another sortie,
alas! against the very village he had
abandoned when it was in his own hands
LIE Bourget
But it was not until the end Of December
that he was ready to begin, and then the
cold became so frightful that 900 men froze
on single night in the trenches. and dur
ing the last ten days of the month 10000
soldiers were carried to the hospitals. The
attack on lie Bourget was abandoned.
The moral and material sufferings of the
miserable people of Paris were terrible be-
yond description. The mortality among
children reached a figure that seemed un-
believable-2,JO0 in a single week. There
was no milk for them, they could not swal-
low the black bread, the flesh of horses and
mules, 50 they died, some from fevers,
many from the cold, many from starvation.
In December. toward Christmas time, the
first signs of encouragement appeared
among the people. Deluged with false dis
patches, manufactured by the wholesale
and printed in the governments official
journal, the poor people at last became
aware of the bitter deceptions-the false
news of victory followed inevitably by
tardy avowals OF disaster. Their hopes,
each day reborn, each night dead, their
momentary joy and pride at the announce
ment of successes ruthlessly destroyed by
the lying government, led them more surely
and more swiftly toward despair than If
they had been told the truth, no matter
how sad.
Yet even then nobody spoke of surrender
always excepting NJ. Renan, who once
wrote life of Jesus Christ.
The month of December passed slowly
in the rue d. dYpres. Bourke often went into
the cellar to count the sticks Of wood re-
manning. They were easily counted. Pro-
visions might last for several weeks yet,
but the last candle had been burned and
the last drop of oil used up.
All day on December 81 he wandered
about the somber boulevards, which, IN
happier times OF peace, had swarmed with
holiday shoppers for the New Year. Now
nothing remained of the crowds the spien-
did stores all a-glitter with lights, the rush
of gorgeous carriages, the fiutter OF siiken
gowns. Under the Grand Hotel sick man
sold little cakes at exorbitant prices; lew
old women peddled wooden toys; that Is ALL
He found In a shabby store one or two
little gifts for Yolette and Hide. For Red
Riding Hood he bought tiny box of bon
bons and a pair Of shoes. 1t was all he
could afford.
So they celebrated the New Year togeth-
or, trying to be cheerful, forcing them
selves to talk, until the thunder of the
forts, eliminating In series Of terrific
crashes, drowned their faint voices and left
them silent, each to dream the same
pray little, too. for their comrade.
wherever he might be on that first sad
day OF the new year. AS for Red Riding
Hood, she always had something to pray
for, and late that night she crept into
Hides room and said her prayers for
France and for the repose of her fathers
soul, who had died as soldiers desc she