Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-04-20
NAPOLEON'S WISDOM.
THE GREAT GENERAL UNDERSTOOD
THE VALUE OF DISCUSSION.

Man exercises his muscles to improve
them. He completes muscularly with
his fellows, and rivalry of muscle ends
in muscular improvement all around.
What exercise does for the muscles
discussion does for the brain.
The Importance of discussion Napo-
leon appreciated thoroughly.
And when he discussed, he discussed
like a big man, selecting questions to
exhaust the mind and lead far away
into fields Of conjecture and widest
speculation.
His was no dreamer's brain, giving
TO speculation the time needed for do
Ing. First came the real work OF the
day or hour-the planning and finish
ing of details. from the disposing OF ar
my corps TO the smallest final arrange
ments.
Then. free from actual work, seeking
relief from concentrated application,
his brain sought rest In talk worth
while.
On his voyage to Egypt, determined
to waste no time, he organized serious
discussion as methodically as he ever
organized fighting plan.
The discussions were regularly APP
pointed affairs.
Needless to say. Napoleon arranged
everything and controlled everything.
He selected the subject for discus
sion, he chose the three or four on each
side to support and oppose any given
proposition.
These were his favorite topics: First,
the art Of war; second. the art Of gov
eminent; third. religion.
From his point of view his chief sub
jects for discussion were admirably
chosen. They represented the only two
things he cared for here below and the
final 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-
tied.
Again, he discussed this earth'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
thing save realities, but In discussion
all abstract questions interested him.
1t may interest you to know that In
general he denied positively the exist
ence Of hell-perhaps that was caution
on his part-and maintained that no
man should die without confessing his
sins:
"Only fool says that he will die
without confesSOr. There is so much
we do not know and that we cannot
explain"
1t is deeply characteristic of Napo-
Icons thought that he should have de-
clared for Mohammedanism In prefer
ence to Christianity.
He admired the religion Of Moham-
med because 1t conquered one-half the
world in ten years, whereas it took 300
years for Christianity to establish it.
self"
The old French king became convert
ed because he 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 be comes to analyze
the great fighters religious thought
But for the hero worshiper there Is
comfort In this:
Napoleon trifed with everything ex-
cept the first great cause.
On the deck of his ship on a fine
night there was much irreverent. Flip
pant materialistic chatter. The revo-
luton had made stupid atheism fash
ionable.
But Napoleon was impressed by the
calm night. the blue, dark water and
the silent. beautiful stars shining down
in cosmlc rebuke Of the tiny bias
phemers below.
He stopped very abruptly the prattle
of atheism.
Toward the stars he pointed the
short, thick arm so soon to rule this
little planet.
"You may talk as long as you please,
gentlemen, but who made all that%
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 a Great
Lawgiver must swing and direct those
millions Of silent worlds above.
When Napoleon was still a Corsican
patriot, the great PaOl said to him:
Napoleon. you are not a modern
You talk like the heroes Of Plutarch."
Earnestness Of the old kind was In
deed NapoleoD's characteristic-as en-
peror, planning TO rule Asia from the
back of an ornamented elephant. or as
q poor, half starved lad, taking off his
muddy shoes TO enter the presence OF
the matronly Nine. Permon and listen
ing to her stories Of descent from the
emperors Of Constantinople
Napoleon In his hours of work was a
doer, and In his hours of leisure he
was a discusser.
He exercised constantly the two sides
of his brain. the practical and specu-
lative.
Do the same and succeed.-<New
York Journal
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