The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-05-17
NAPOLEON's WISDOM.
THE GREAT GENERAL UNDERSTOOD
The VALUE OF DISCUSSION.

Man exercises his muscles 70 improv
them. BE completes muscularly witt
hills fellows. and rivalry OF muscle end
In muscular Improvement all around.
What exercise does for the muscle
discussion does for the brain.
The Importance OF discussion Napc
leon appreciated thoroughly.
And when he DISCUSSED, he discussed
like a big man. selecting questions I
exhaust the mind aud lead far ava,
into fields of conjecture and widcs
speculation.
His wns no dreamer's brain, giylnl
to speculation the time needed for do
ing. First came the real work OF tn
day or hour-the planning and finish
ing OF details. from the dlsposng Of ar
my corps to the smallest final arrange
mcnts.
Then. free from actual work. seeking
relief from concentrated application
his brain sought rest in talk worth
while.
on his voyage to Egypt, determined
10 waste no time. he organized serious
discussion as methodically as he ever
organized lighting plan.
The discussions were regularly ap'
pointed affairs.
Needless TO say. Napoleon arranged
everything and controlled everything
He selected the subject for discus
sion, he chose the three IT four on each
side TO support ana oppose any given
proposition.
These were his fayorile topics: First,
Ghe art of war; second, tie art OF gov
eminent: third. religion
From his point II view his chief sub.
Jects for discussion were admirably
chosen. They represented the only two
things he cared for here below and the
0nal question affecting his fate here.
after.
But his field Of thought, like the
scope OF his ambition, was unlimited.
once he asked his chosen debaters to
decide whether the planets are inhab-
Ited.
Again. he discussed this eprth's prob
able ending. by fire or water.
He discussed also the meaning OF
dreams and the value Of present.
ments."
In practical life he discarded every
khlng save realities, but In discussion
all abstract questions interested him.
It may interest you to know that in
general he denied positively the exist
ence OF hell-perhaps that was caution
on bis part-and maintained that no
man should die without confessIng his
6ins:
"only a fool says that he will die
without q confessor. There is SO much,
we do not know and that we cannot
explain" a..
1t is deeply Characteristic OF Napo-
leou's thought that he should have de-
clared for Mohammedanism in prefer
cnee to Christianity.
He admired the religion Of Moham-
med because Il conquered oue-half the
world in ten years. whereas 1t took 800
gears for Christianity to establish It.
self"
The old French king became convert
ed because lie thought the Christian
God beat his pagan god in battle. Ma
poleon had not Travelled far beyond that
old king,
The man who seeks for all sorts OF
wisdom In Napoleon will be deeply dis
appointed when he comes to analyze
the great lighters religious thought
But for the hero worshiper there is
comfort In this:
Napoleon trifled with everything ex-
eept the tirst great cause.
on the deck of his ship on a fine
night there was much lrreverent, Zip
cant materialistic chatter. The revo.
aution had made stupid atheism fash
Sonable.
But Napoleon was impressed by the
calm night. the blue, dark water and
the silent. beautiful stars shining down
in cosmIc rebuke OF the tiny bias
Ihemers below.
he stopped very abruptly the prattle
of atheism.
Toward the stars he pointed the
abort. thick arm so soon TO rule this
little planet.
HYou may talk as long as you please,
gentlemen, OUT WIZ uInuS as NnAh'
There was no answer. and there was
NO more atheism that night
The man who was to build up the
code Napoleon could appreciate the
force and necessity Of law. his mind
realized the feebleness OF man. coping
even with little problems OF earth.
He felt that great laws and Great
G.awgiver must swing and direct those
millions OF silent worlds above.
when Napoleon was still Corsicnr
patriot, the great Paoli said to him:
..Napoleon. you are not modern
Won talk like the heroes of Plutarch.'
Earuestness OF the old kind was In
deed Napoleou's characteristics EN-
Moor. planning TO rule Asia from th'
back of an ornamented elephant or a
q moor. half starved lad. taking OIL III
mS1Sdy shoes 10 enter the presence o
~ n1atronly Nine. Permon and listen
me 10 her stories OF descent from IN
ssonerors OF Constantinople.
sSapoleon in his hours OF work was
6oer. and 10 his hours OF leisure u
Vns q discusser. ,,1o
He exercised constantly the two '.. sac
81 bis brain, the practical ana spec'
Do the same and succeed'-Ne'