The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-08-11
ACHILLE MUERTRIER.

/ was in the. government employ at
the time. Every day, from 10 to A, I
was imprisoned in a gloomy Office
whose walls were covered with yell
low prints and whose atmosphere was
ever impregnated with the odor of old
paper. l breakfasted there off Italian
cheese, and apples which I roasted
before the stove. read the newspaper
even to the advertisements; I strung
together lot of verses which have
never seen the light; I even attended
to state business, in order that at the
end of the month I might receive
sum which would just keep me from
starving to death. @E. .....,
The hero of my story is one of the
companions of my captivity at this
period. His name is Achille Muer-
trier, and assuredly his great stature
and his forbidding looks were in keep
ing with his name. Achille was about
40 years old. He was enormously tall,
but not very well developed in the
matter of shoulders and chest. The
dress which he affected, however, was
calculated to give an impression OF
tremendous bulk-overcoats with wide
fur border, loose short Jackets, enor-
nous check trousers, and blood-red
ties. Again, he always wore long
beard, while his locks were brushed
up; and he was particularly proud Of
having hair on his hands.
Muertrier, VINO was the gentlest and
kindest Of companions, had one sin
gle pretension-to be an athlete, to
have the biceps Of Hercules, and, as
he would say himself, not to know his
strength. Not a gesture did he make,
even in the exercise of his peaceful
profession, without seeking to con-
vince the lookers-on of his extraordi
nary prowess. When he had to fetch
an almost empty box of documents, he
approached it with the heavy, SLOUGH
ing stride of a stevedore, grasped it
firmly in his hand, and carried it, with
a heaving of the shoulders and frown-
ing of the brows worthy of Milo of
Croton. He even carried this mania so
far that to all appearance he exerted
himself as much in lifting the lightest
objects; and one day, when he was
holding the wastepaper basket in his
right hand, I saw him stretch out his
left arm horizontally, as though as a
counterpoise to this formidable bur-
den.
I must say that this robust being in
.spired me with profound respect; for
at that time I was delicate and sickly,
even more so than I am today, and
consequently peculiarly enthusiastic in
my admiration Of that physical energy
which I lacked myself.
Nor was Muertriers conversation of
a character to diminish that admira-
ton.
In the summer, particularly Monday
morning when we met again in our
office after the Sundays holiday, he
never wearied of telling of his deeds
of strength and prowess. Having taken
off his fur overcOat, his jacket, and
his waistcoat, and wiped his forehead
with his shirt-sleeve-the latter action
to prove his sanguine and warm tenn
perament-he would plunge his hands
into his trousers pockets, and, standing
in front of me solidly on both feet, be-
gin his monologue. what Sunday!
BY Jove! there's no exertion that can
knock me out. Just think. Yesterday,
at the regatta at Joinville-le-Pont-
meeting place, Bercy-6 o'clock in the
sun even then-took a glass of white
wine, then stripped to the waist,
gripped my oar, and one, two, three
all the way to Joinville. Then cold
bath and breakfast. Then strip and
away again. AS for me, when I had
done my turn-devil of an Appetite
WAITER, I call, pass me the ham
i'm three mouunfuls it's gone; 'Wauer,
pass me the whisky bottle-tWo
draughts and it's empty, and then I
hape a couple of glasses more for my
digestion" And so the Description
went on in the same dazzling and
Homeric strain. 1T was the hour of
the regatta-12 o'clock and a burning
sun. The boats were lined up on the
river, all sparkling in the sunlight, and
on pont was the tent decorated with
bright ribbons. On the barge were the
mayor and his staff, the police with
their yellow scarfs, and a dazzling ar
ray of summer toilets, open parasols,
and stray hats. Bang, the pistol!
Marsouin shot off like rocket, ar
rived first, and won the prize AS fresh
as larks! Round by Marine and back
to dinner at Cretil. It was pretty
fresh in the evening under the balcony,
sparkling with lighted pipes, the moths
flying into the flames of the omelette
au Kirsch. After dessert, served in
picture plates, we heard the cornet an
nouncing the beginning of the bal
Willis-got in in time for the square
dance; but our rivals had been before
us. We had beaten them in the morn
ing, but now they had taken posses
sion Of the pretty shop-girls. A fight!
broken heads, black eyes, punches in
the stomach-a regular carnival OF
fisticuffs, a pugilistic orgy, roaring
time, to say nothing of the return
home in the crowded cars, girls an6
lads all jumbled together, friends sepa.
rated and shouting for one another
and horns on the imperial
And the evenings Of my amazing
friend were as we'll filled as the Sun