Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-06-08
AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
A Sketch In the Franco-Prus-
sian War.
BY ANDRE THURIET.

nance. 80 20 speak. which reveals the
Common ancestry. Haute- Marne's char
acteristic IL Its high perchcd, grim. sui
len { WINS. among which L. Is unde-
ninbly that which emphasizes the IA
miliar features with the greatest orig
inality.
Built on the summit Of q rocky hill.
II is protected on the south by a citadel
with eight bastions. while ON the north
stand forth It's towers. hospice. the
stern prohled cathedral aud the dark
walls OF the ancient ramparts which
stretch away from n Romano Gallo tri-
umphal arch.
Within are the seminary and bar
racks. The old streets are constantly
swept by the fierce bise.
The smaller homes lie at the back Of
q damp and solemn court. protected
from curious eyes by a high wall and
a Dramatically 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
ut homes" uncommunlcative. not par
ticularly pleasing. which. however.
does not hinder their being n good ma
tured lot at heart and high spirited on
occasion to the point Of a~bsurdity.
My old cousin Melasippe Housselot
had lived In L. since time lmmemO-
rial He practiced medicine and was a
complete resume OF the virtues and fol-
bles Of his compatrIots. Tail. thin.
stern and rugged as n native rock. pref
indeed and lmpassioned In his tastes
and ideas. he had withal the gentle
madness Of the collector. the most he
roic chImeras and n tendency to make
mysterious the future. With n high
temper and the ierceness Of n wild
boar. he was often brave to the point
OF foolhardiness. He boosted. indeed.
OF having known fear only once. and
under these circumstances:
The province OF Haute- Marine was
invaded by the Germans In the August
OF 1870. They had already occupied
the principal points; but. despite Is
being an important town. they had neg
lected to lay siege to II. doubtless
thinking II useless to waste time and
men In investing II. while they COM
manded the situation on both sides.
So up to the beginning Of January.
1871. not a helmet had been seen or a
cannon shot exchanged. Nevertheless
the invasion continued. and communal
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
Of being besleged. each one put him
self on a short allowance.
Suddenly 1t was discovered that a
fresh supply OF drugs would be needed
for the ambulances. Ten miles away
At Rccy-sur-O urce was q 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 qulnlne 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 n Prusslan on the h%orizon--and he
arrived without trouble at his destlna-
tion. After stufing the box OF his We
hlcle with a whole pharmacy he went
TO the principal Inn aud resolved TO or
der a fine dinner. III | am going TO
pull In my belt these next few weeks"
be- reflected. III Is only right 10 console
myself beforehand with n little dissl-
patlOn!'
In the hotel dining room he found a
large and merry gathering OF officers.
delegates OF the province. surgeons. all
eplcures and the owners OF good appe-
tites. 80 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
thu road open from L. to Recy.
"Ah. you come from L.. doctorf'
interrupted one VI the delegates.
when do you retLrnT'
Tomorrow morning"
"In that case I am going TO charge
you with a dispatch for the sous-pre-
fet. II Is urgent"
Melasippe lost nc time in putting
himself at the prefectural service. The
onicial wrote his dispatch. sealed II In
an official envelope. gave II 10 my cous-
IN. adding gravely:
81 commend this 10 you. II Is Inn
poTtant business and ! shall thank you
for delivering II Into the hands Of the
sous-prefei himself"
The next morning. afier taking q 1ne
roast and some burgundy on board for
BALLAST ead trusting the Official missivs
20 bis waistcoat pockOt. Mslasipps
mounted 70 fbe box and whipped bis
mare IptO q brisk frot. The air was
HeeS ~ "a Sas Pis see''s wipS At