The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-20
CAREER N DER)|lEN.
Now a Blatherskite But Once
a Gallant Patriot
AND A, MAN OF LETTERS
What Adventures BefeIl Him
in the Franco-German War.

go .
ago when Paul Deriuleds was one Of the
most popular men in France. He now
waivers between prison and the platform of
a cheap lecture-haIL Once distinguished
as a soldier and a man of letters, ne has
become notorious as q disruroer of the
peace and a breeder of discomfort. Dur
ing the first quarter Of a century of his
episodes which Alexander Dumas could
have made use of in his most romantic
novels. Born of good stock, he inherited
shrewdness and decision from his father,
who was a clever lawyer, and a literary
disposition from his mother, who was the
sister of Emile Angler, the distinguished
author and playwright.
Like all ambitious young Frenehmen, he
soon found the provinces limited and mon
otonous. and started early from his coun-
try home for the Latin quarter of Paris.
He was here in 1870, studying law, when
the call to arms reached his ears ana first
reused In him the sense of patriotism
which he now makes the text Of his emo
tional discourses.- He enlisted at once in
the "Garde mobile de BelIeville," but,
charmed, no doubt, by the romantic and
brilliant history of the Zouaves. he almost
Immediately obtained transfer to one of
their regiments, and set on Tor the from
tier.
One day when about an eight hours
march from Reims, the Third regiment OF
Zouaves was resting in a potato field, worn
out and hungry, when Paul, hearig some
one call his name, looked up from the
kettle of soup he was watching, and saw
his mother AMI his young brother Andre
standing near by. He rushed into their
arms, and, half laughing and half crying,
begged an explanation of this sudden and
unexpected appearance. Andre began to
tell at once how eager he had been to fol-
low Pauls example, how his mother had
at first opposed him, feeling II sorrow
enough to part with one son, but how at
last, seing his determination to serve his
country, the mother had declared that she
him and not leave him until they had
found Paul and obtained his promise of
protection for the younger boy who was
only seventeen.
The first journey was from Paris to Rel
mus whence. they learned, MacMahon and
his army, and Paul among them. had
marched the previous day. Half sick with
excitement and fatigue, Nine. Deroulede,
showing only courage to her boy rented
a post-chase, and together they set out,
with no guide but the information given
them by the peasants on the roadside, as
to which way the Third Zouaves had
passed. They were about despairing when
Andre perceived his brother.
The three found thei rway to an inn near
by, and when Andre had finished relating
his story, the two sons, leaning on their
mothers knees, fell asdleep there. they
were children, after a sham battle with
toy fowling pieces. The mother only
watched, for the anxiety OF the hour and
the dread Of what would result to her boys
kept away sleep. She left Paul and his
brother the following day, calling to them
as she drove away, Courage my sonsT
the echo of their Courage, mother" and
waving until she was out of sight her
''panache." a handkerchief in reality,
though the symbol to them of q noble
bravery peculiar to mothers.
Three days later the Third Zouaves were
lighting before Sedan, Andre being shot
through the chest in his first battle. Paul
was among the $4,000 Frenchmen carried
prisoners across the Rhine by the Geramns
during the war as living trophies Of their
victories. The suffering of these prisoners
has been described by many Frenchmen. It
Is possible that they have exaggerated fits
horror. but the following account OF it
exists in Geramn newspaper, Trierische
Zeftung, of 1S70-'71: "rhe peasants who
came today to the market from the neigh
borhood of Bitburg say that there are men
lying all along the road, French prisoners,
who had fallen behind the last detach- |
ment. Many were grooming and muftering |
like dying men, and others were stretched |
out motionless. Dead bodies mark the |
route followed by the unfortunates in |
crossing the region of Eiffel. Every thirty |
il forty feet one stumbles against dead |
or dying man, and often they are found |
fallen In heap ,one upon the other. The |
peasants and authorities do what they can |
to asst these poor. miserable creatures, |
but their needs are Overwhelming"
Night and day these poor wretches had |
to march, march, march. In vain they |
begged for grace. "Vorwarts!' was the |
answer. When fainting With hunger and |
thirst they approached fountain and sew
eral Of the French prisoners ran toward |
it eagerly, they were Frustrated 1t is said. |
by blows from the sabres, guns and swords |
of the German officers and soldiers. The |
jugs OF water which the peasant women |
offered chem from the wayside were dash |
ed to the ground before their eyes, and |
the halts, notwithstanding this, became |
less-Snd les frequent, the marches more |
and more rapid. The night watches were |
lamentable. i'll exhausted land |
weakened by wounds and fever, and not |
even there were allowed TO rest.
Somtimes, after six. eight or ten days |
march the prisoners came to a railroad. |
Here they were packed into open cars Ike |
so many oxen, and carried into the far |
corners OF Germany, where they were
again transferred to mischable prison
camp. or 10 the easements of some fortress
Fed upon black bred full OF straw. and a
few potatoes, destitute of clothes under
clothes. or shoes; lodged in damp. IN
healthy holes. beset both by cold and YER
min, countless numbers OF them persisted.
Paul Deroalede was a witness 90 these
scenes OF misery and horror. He was i'm
prisone1 at Bresula. His correspondence
was intercepted. and he was found 20 have
referred in some sighting way OF the
chairman hard sSnd for fhfs nfPay1Sa uaa