New-York tribune., 1899-07-02


him that hardly knows where to begin. I
will, however. confine myself to those which
the least known. everybody. it is to be pre-
sumed. having knowledge OF his bold feat in
leaping his horse over the parapet Of the Bridge
des Invaldes into the Seine for the sake Of
wager, while riding behind the carriage Of Ma
poleon III as a subaltern officer of the mounted
escort and the story is likewise familiar Of how
at Pueba in Mexico, having had his stomach
ripped open by the bursting IF a shell, he was
left for dead on the field of battle but appeared
during the course of the night in camp, literally
carrying his entras in his kept recovering by
a miracle from his terrible injuries OF which
trace remains except a silver plate which
he is compelled to wear the wound, and
which forces him. so he says. to take a more
than ordinary interest in the rise and fan Of the
price Of silver.
WHY HE DECLINED THE LEGION OF HONOR.
De Gallifet is described in the dispatches as
a Royast Yet nothing is further from being
the case. Like Waldeck Rousseau. he was
close and intimate friend Of Gambetta, at whose
table / often used to meet him. and he is like
wise on terms of great cOrdiaty with many
other Republican statesmen such as Ranc
COChGry and Clemenceau who krOw how cor
daily he supported Gambetta in the latter's
ultimately successful efforts to secure decree
Of amnesty in favor Of those condemned To
penal servtude and to exile for their particpa-
ton in the Commune insurrection of ISL The
general public however. are not aware Of his
action in this respect. and the newspapers
French and foreign. which describe him as
eXecrated by the Parisans for the ruthless
severity with which he suppressed the rebellion
are evidently ignorant Of the fact that when
President Theirs tend ered him the Cross Of
Commander Of the Legion Of Honor in recon-
pcnse for his services in the matter ne declined
TO accept it. declaring that, a Frenchman, he
could never bring himself to wear decoration
awarded for the shedding Of French blood in a
civil war. | may incidentally mention that this
cross Of commander which he chivalrously
declined was 4 few days later offered to ana
accepted by another less scrupulous officer.
namely. Colonel subsequently General Bou-
LANCER.
CHEERED BY THE INSURGENTS OF 1911
Another episode little known. which may yet
serve 20 make up this pen sketch Of De Galifet,
occurred during this same civil war. The Cen
eral riding one day in the neighhorhood OF the
beleagured capital on reconnoitrlng eXpedl-
tion. with merely a squadron of cavalry as an
escort suddenly found himself outianked and
almost surrounded by an entire brigade of Com
munist troops Realizing that nothing save
sheer audacity could save his men and himself
from capture ne ordered them to charge. The
men refused ~ obey. Or TO bulge. and it must
be remembere that at the time considerable
doubt existed with regard TO the loyalty Of the
troops at Versailles TO the republic. cases Of de-
serton to the Commune being terribly frequent
Without losing his head his temper De Gal
fFot = Orde biS %
they were and rode forward alone with his
orderly officer Count Bernard dHarcourt. on
reaching the Communist lines the General
raised his hand and asked to speak TO the com
manding officer When the latter, a white
bearded old colonel. made his appearance, the
General exclaimed that he came, not as an
enemy. but for purposes Of parley, to see
whether he could not induce them to lay down
their arms and thus to abandon a fratricidal
and sanguinary struggle which was bound to
end in the defeat Of the Commune And as a
proof that he came not with hostile intent, but
merely for the sake Of delivering this appeal,
De Gallifet pointed - his small escort Of troop
ers in the distance
While the Communist commanders were dis
cussing among themselves the message thus
delivered by the General the Communist sol
diers caught sight Of the escort moving away.
and suspecting a rusc. began 20 assail the Cen
eral and his orderly with insulting epithets.
They were on the point Of proceeding to actual
| naltreatment when the old white-bearied colo
mel reappeared. informed the General that they
could not think OF laying down their arms be-
fore President Theirs had conceded their de-
mands and thereupon, addressing the lnsur-
gent soldiers. shouted My friends we are all
I h, tft.1 hat