Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-11-20

AonSoA "diheu DIS ne QlQ De1Ore, his
steps were measured, majestic; he car
rled his head thrown back with a lofty
air, and his former modesty would
nave been astonished at the admira
ton that he now considered merely
Just. He became the curiosity of
Nancay They spoke Of him as we
speak OF historic monument. and the
village was proud of owning him.
When tourists or bicyclists asked
Mother Cretu if there were any ruins
IN the locality to visit Or old walls to
investigate, NO. she would reply.
'but we have here NJ. Fulichon. who
has saved two fags.''
The sort of mystery that Shovered
over the former deed Of arms only
added to- the glorious souvenir evoked
and consecrated by the tri-color rib
Don. Each time that some curious
person had tried to find out:
Never mind that" interrupted Fo-
lichon. 'It isn't worth speaking Of.
l only did my duty, no more and no
less" And the good people of Sologne,
although they were disappointed, only
admired their hero the more for it.
HIS reputation, passing the limits Of
the village, had reached the Chateau
OF Eberniers, where Count Oscar Of
Nef1e lived during the hunting season
He was free-and-easy, hospitable
gentleman, although he boasted that
he belonged to one of the best families
in France. The noble ears of the
Count had heard rumors with regard
to the pensioner of the State, and he
made inquiry of his gamekeeper for
further details about him. Hes an
old soldier" replied the keeper, without
hesitation. 'He gets a pension from
the War Ministry for having saved
his regiment in '7O!n "Thunderation!
exclaimed the Count 'Go at once to
this valiant old captain and tell him
that I should like very much to shake
hands with him." Foiichon was given
| the honor of touching the hand of the
last of the Nefles
Pray tell me, my good man, on
| what occasion you saved"
/ i"Oh, Count! 1t isn't worth speaking
about. only did my duty. No more,
mo- less"
| lCount Oscar from feeling of deli
| cAcy did not insist. The interview
impressed him most favorably. He re-
| peated to each Of his guests: THAT is
a truly brave man, ana is modest as he
is brave. He did not say word about
/ his heroic act. Let US show respect to
him, gentlemen, for people like him
| afe. rapidly dying Off -
! The Count stopped calling him "old
MAN Folichon'' and addressed him very
| respectfully as "M Folichon.'' He
became his panegyrist. He told every
one the legend OF the regiment
snatched from disaster. At Paris al!
his friends knew the stcry of the Thir-
| ty-eighth Dragons miraculously res
cued from butchery; and to induce
| them to come to Eberniers he promised
them sight of the hero. Gradually
new page Of history was inscribed
On the memory Of a whole band OF
| country sQuires, who retailed it proud
~ to their tenants and their men. The
whole country became enthusiastic
over the deeds of certain Oliver
And the day arrived that the legen(
on it's way back from the south was
implanted in the counties of VierZon
Romorantin, Sancerre, Saint Armand
and Bourges-a definite history il
which Folichon, alone, had delivered ;
, corps of the Army and had almost cap
tured the Emperor of Germany.
Before long it was a unanimous CT.
in the country, which was at that tim
5 in the midst Of it's elections: 'Hov
can Republic that respects itsel
think that it has done it's duty to th
most devoted Of it's children when
$ has given him only a medal from TIL
t Humane Society,""
e There was general cry Of indigna
ton. Each one Of the candidates too
I up the wrongs of Folichon as lone o
i the planks Of his platform. Each on
swore to use his influence to. hav
t him decorated with the Legion 0
Honor The Radical and the Conserve
/. tive each pledged his word solemnly.
e The Radical, however, bethougI
u himself to look up the title of the ol
e soldier who had become bugbear t
q him. He had no trouble in finding OF
O what he wanted to, and one fine mor1
ing a placard was pasted up in th
J. forty-three districts of his riding.
d "The individual named Folicho
= (Oliver), about whom so much fuss
being made, is former policeman {
is Paris, retired and pensioned after thi
ty years of loyal service. His reguls
II beat was the quay of Bercy. The II
= of July, 1875, at o'clock in the afte
- noon he saw drunken man who WI
living on his stomach with his lips !
:, the water and was trying to drin
:, He drew him away by his feet, toe
- him to the station and left him the
- fiji he was sober again. On this o
~ ~ casion a report having been sent
tho medal of the Humane Society WI
- awarded to the said Folichon (ollve
~ and he now wears its ribbon. :"
nv, ,,oonln Of Nancay could not 9