The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-06-14
AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
A Sketch In the Franco-Prus-
sian War.
BY ANDRE THURIET.


provinces are like plants Of the same
family in having the cast of counte-
nance, so to speak, which reveals the
common ancestry. Haute-Marne's char.
acteristic is its high perched. grim, sui
len towns, among which l. is unde-
nAbly that which emphasizes the ia
miliar features with the greatest orig
inality.
Built on the summit Of a rocky hill.
1T is protected on the south by citadel
with eight bastions, while on the north
stand forth its towers, hospice, the
stern profiled cathedral and the dark
walls Of the ancient ramparts which
stretch away from a Roman Gallo tri-
umphal arch. ,
Within are the seminary and bar
racks. The old streets are constantly
swept by the fierce bise. ~, Eli.
The smaller homes lie at the back of
a damp and solemn court, protected
from curious eyes by high wall and
a Theoretically sealed carriage gate.
There are few windows on the street;
but, to make amends, many openings
overlook the inner gardens and the sur
rounding country. One gets the i'm
preston that the inhabitants rarely
venture out and so live after the Eng
lish motto, MY house is my castle"
The people Of L are in fact, "stay
at homes" uncommunicative, not par
ticularly pleasing, which. however,
does not hinder their being a good ma
tured lot at heart and high spirited on
occasion to the point of absurdity.
My old cousin Melasippe Rousselot
had lived in l. since time immemO--
rial. He practiced medicine and was
complete resume of the virtues and fol-
bles of his compatriots. Tall, thin,
stern and rugged as a native rock. pref
udiced and imprisoned in his tastes
and ideas, he had withal the gentle
madness of the collector. the most he
role chimeras and tendency to make
mysterious the future. With a high
temper and the ferceness of wild
boar, he was often brave to the point
of having known fear only once, and
under these circumstances:
The province of Haute-Marne was
invaded by the Germans in the August
of 1870. They had already occupied
the principal points; but, despite LIS
being an important town, they had neg
lected to lay siege to it, doubtless
thinking it useless to waste time and
men in investing it. while they COM
manded the situation on both sides.
So up to the beginning of January,
1871, not helmet had been seen or a
cannon shot exchanged. Nevertheless
the invasion continued, and communi-
cation with the outer world grew more
and more difficult, rations became
scarce and very dear. and, as they liv.
ed from day to day in the expectation
self on a short allowance.
Suddenly it was discovered that a
fresh supply Of drugs would be needed
for the ambulances. Ten miles away
at Recy-sur-O urce was n military phar-
macy protected by the French troops
that occupied the part of the province
of Cote dor which as yet had not
been invaded. To gain this little Ber-
gundian town, though, the risk must
be encountered Of falling into the
hands Of the Germans. My cousin Me-
lasippe was a member of the Red
Cross and offered boldly to go to Recy
for the necessary quinine and antisep-
tics. ......
! So one morning. wearing the Red
Cross badge. bundled up in his fur
greatcoat, he set out on his journey,
jogging along in an ancient cab drawn
by a brisk mare. The road was free
not Prussian on the horizon-and he
arrived without trouble at his destina-
ton. After stuffing the box Of his We
hicle with a whole pharmacy he<went
to the principal inn and resolved to or
der fine dinner. "If am going to
pull in my belt these next few weeks"
he reflected, ut is only right to console
myself beforehand with a little dissi-
pation!'
In the hotel dining room he found
large and merry gathering of officers.
delegates Of the province, surgeons, all
epicures and the owners of good appe-
tites, so that they did honor to the
menu. With the dessert they turned
to military affairs and the march of
the enemy. My cousin told Of his ex-
petition and said that he had found
the road open from L. to Recy.
'Ah, you come from Il, doctor"
interrupted one of the delegates.
when do you return?"
Tomorrow morning"
''In that case am going to charge
you with a dispatch for the sous-pre-
fet. 1t is urgent"
Melasippe lost no time In putting
himself at the prefectural service. The
official wrote his dispatch, sealed it in
an official envelope. gave it to my cous-
in, adding gravely:
81 commend this to you. 1t Is Inn
portant business, and shall thank you
for delivering it into the hands of the
sous-prefet himself"
The next morning, after taking a fine
roast and some burgundy on board for
ballast and trusting the official missive
t. his waistcoat pocket, Melasippe
mounted to the box and whipped his
mare into a brisk trot. The air was
clear and dry, and his hosts wine at