The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01
,lans and endless projects that asked

plans and endless projects that aske,
and received his attention.
In the Cabinet tf astonished every on
by his striking thoughts and indefatigabl
industry. The forms and ceremonies o
court could keep his mind hardly for al
hour from the lahQr which he seemed t.
covet. He allowed himself usually bu
four or five hours rest, and during hi!
campaigns exhibited the same almos
miraculous activity Of mind. He woult
dictate to one set of secretaries all day
and after he had tired them out call for
second, and keep them on the stretch al
night, snatching bat brief repose durin,
| the whole time. E#a
His common practice was to rise at twt
| in the morning and dictate to his secre
taries for two hours, then devote twt
hours more to thought alone, when hi
would take a warm bath and dress for thu
day. But in a pressure OF business this
division of labor and rest was scattered t.
the winds, and he would work all night
With his nightgown wrapped around him
and a silk handkerchief tied about his
head he would walk backwards and for
wards in his apartment from dark till day
lightdictating to Caulincourt, or Duroc, Oh
D'Albe, his Chief Secretary, in his inn
petuouS manner, which required the high
est exertion to keep pace with, while
Russian, his faithful Mameluke, which he
brought from Egypt, was up also, bringing
him, from time to time, a strong cup Of
coffee to refresh him.
Sometimes at midnight, when all was
still, this restless spirit would call out
Call D'Albe; let every one arise" and
then commence working, allowing him
self no intermiSSion or repOSe till sunrise.
He has been known to dictate to three
secretaries at the same time, so rapid
were the movements of his mind, and yet
so perfectly under his control He never
deferred business for an hour, but did on
the spot what then claimed his attention.
WILL AND CONSTITUTION.
Nothing but the most iron-like consti-
tuition could have. withstood these ire
mendouS strains upon it, And az If
Nature had determined that nothing
should be wanting to the full development
of this wonderful man, as well as no re-
sources withheld from his gigantic plans,
she had endowed him with power Of en-
durance seldom equalled. 1t was not till
after the most intense and protracted
mental and physical effort ombined that
ne gave limitations of being sensible to
fatigue.
In his first campaign in Italy, though
slender and apparently weak, he rode five
horses to death in few days, and for six
days and nights never took off his boots,
or retired to his couch. He toiled over
the burning sands of Egypt and through
the snow drifts OF Russia with equal i'm
punity, squirting his painting Steed through
the scorching SunbeamS of Africa, and
forcing his way on foot, with a birchen
stick in his hand, over the icy path, as he
fled from Moscow, with the same firm
presence.
He would sleep in the palace of the
Tuilleries or on the shore of the swollen
Danube, with nought but his cloak about
him, while the groans of the dying loaded
the midnight air, with equal soundness.
He was often on horseback Is hours day,
and yet wrought up to the intensest men
tai excitement all the while Marching
till midnight, he would array his troops
by moonlight, and fighting all day be
hailed victor at night, and then. without
rest, travel all the following night and
day, and the next morning fight another
battle, and be second lime victorious.
He is often spoken Of as a mere child of
fortune, but whoever in this world viii
possess such powersnof mind and use
them with such skillland industry, and
has d frame that will stand it, will always
be a child of fo-tufle.i lie allowed nothing
10 escape his Ubiquitous spirit and
whether two or five campaigns were going
IN in different Kingdoms at the same time
hey were equally under his control, and
heir result calculated with wonderful
precision. frJriI
ITO be eentSr,ued)