The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-21
DOWNFALL OF q HERO
PAUL DEROULEDE WAS ONCE ONE OF
THE POPULAR MEN IN FRANCE.
Over a Score of Years Ago He Dis
tinguished Himself as a Brave
and Gallant Soldier.

Paris Dispatch in New York Evening Post.
There was a time, years ago, when Paul
Deroulede, who was arrested last Satur-
day, was one of the most popular men
in France. Once distinguished as a soldier
and a man of letters, he has become noto-
rious as a disturber Of the peace and a
breeder OF discomfort. During the first quar-
ter Of a century of his life he figured as the
hero in a series OF episodes which Alexander
Dumas could nave made use of in his most
romantic novels. Born of good stock. he In
herited ~shrewdness and decision from his
father, who was a clever lawyer, and a lit
erary disposition from his mother. who was
the sister of Emile Angler. the distinguished
author and playwright.
Like all ambitious young Frenchmen, he
soon found the provinces limited and mo-
n%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 and first
reused in him that sense of patriotism
which he now makes the text of his emo
tional discourses. He enlisted at once In
the "Garde mobile de Belleville," but,
charmed. no doubt, by the romantic and
brilliant history of the Zouaves. he almost
Immediately obtained a transfer to one OF
their regiments and set of for the frontier.
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, hearing some
one call his name. looked up from the ket-
tie of soup he was watching, and saw his
mother and his young brother Andre stand
ing near by. He rushed into their arms.
and half fonuhino onl hole orxyfn~ hn~oaI
an explanation of this sudden and unexpect-
ed appearance. Andre began to tell at once
how eager he had been to follow Paul's ex-
ample, how his mother had at first opposed
him, feeling 1t sorrow enough to part with
one son. but how, at last. seeing his deter
mination to serve his country, the mother
had declared that she would
him and not leave him until they had found
Paul and obtained his promise of protection
for the younger boy, who was only seven
teen.
Their first journey was from Paris to
Reims. whence, they learned, MacMahon
a marc ms army Inn or ana n Eau. aS am9ng t s,cR w naS
excitement and fatigue, Nine. Deroulede.
showing only courage to her boy, rented a
no guide but the Information given then by
the peasants on the roadside, as to which
way the Third Zouaves had passed. They
were about despairing when Andre per-
ceived his brother.
The three found their way to an inn near
by and when Andre had finished relating
mothers knees, fell asleep there as they
had done countless times when they were
children, after a sham battle with toy fowl
ing 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 sons!" the echo Of
their Courage. mother!" and waving until
handkerchief in reality, though the symbol
mothers.
Three days later the Third zouayes were
fighting before Sedan, Andre being shot
through the chest In his first battle. Paul
was among the $4,000 Frenchmen carried
mans during the war as living trophies of
their victories. The suffering Of these pris-
oners has been described by many French
men. 1t Is possible that they have exagge-
Paul Deroulede was a witness to these
scenes OF misery and horror; He was i'm,
was intercepted and he was found to have
referred in some sighting way to the Ger
into a dungeon upon a bed of wet straw.
| Not overcome by this situation, Deroulede,
winning the confidence and affection of the
tailer's daughter, obtained from her a dis
| guise and the means of escape from his cell.
After many trying adventures, always in
disguise as a Polish Jew. he succeeded In
I TSoes 70 p To, way ,b or h Nienna; rt Turin II a tha
Defense Rationale.
The very day of his arrival there he was
presented to Gambetta, who recognized a
former Latin quarter comrade. II Have come
to risk my life a second time for my coun-
try" said Paul: Send me to Paris; My
but / guarantee to reach them" Gambetta
refused him this. but promoted him to the
rark in e fWeatn b IhsEeaft se,n ne t o%lx brave once
wounded. At Montbeliard he was decorated
for his audacious courage and he counts
among his many trophies the congratula-
conduct upon the battlefield.
Since those days Paul Deroulede has pub
verse and has been counted among the poets
of France. The two volumes which entitle
him to this rank were written while the
du Soldat," dedicated In 1872 ito those who
er, to my mother" and "Nouveaux Chants
de Soldat," dedicated In 1878 Ito my soldier
comrades" Most of his prose writings are
commonplace and insignificant. but his war
poems have genuine sentiment and describe
wildly the touching and dramatic scenes
of which he was a witness. Two of the most
famous are "Clairon" and Bon Cite
Clarion is the brave bugler who falls in ev-
cry war, and is celebrated by poets Of all
nationalities. Stanching the blood of his
fatal wound with one hand he delays death
until with the other he has raised the bugle
charge:
Alors de Clarion Sarrete,
Sa derniere tache est fate,
ii achieve de MOURN.
Bon Cite is the good peasant woman who
overwhelms the passing soldier with unex-
pected care. food, fire. a tablecloth, bed and
even sheets. at which luxuries he remon-
strates, and the good peasant, smiling
through her tears. explains, MY sons a
soldier, like yourself"
1t was only while the sound Of cannon was
in his ears that Paul Deroulede was seem
ingly in full possession of his senses. To
his friends X is a matter of regret and dis
appointment that he should not have re-
mained a soldier to complete well a career
which was of such brilliant promise at its
start.