Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-22
Hon. Thos. E. watson's Napoleon.


am often asked about books and / am
now anxious that the young people of
Georgia should know about this new book
| entitled Napoleon" and written by Hon.
Thomas L. Watson, and published by
! Macmillan G. Co., Mr.. Watson is a
} Georgian OF whom the state should ever
I be proud for what he has done in the
interest Of good government. He is one
/ of the most remarkable. OF public speak
ers and before jury has magical infiu-
ence.
But he is greater as a writer Of history
than in any other line of effort-known to
me at the present time.
The STORY of France is full OF interest
With remarkable vigor he has taken I'D
the history Of the French people. and
made II as interesting to those familiar
with other histories as II II had been
touched, now for the first time. But the
story of Napoleon Is far ahead of the story
/ Of France. II is verftable history Every
point is well sustained. Yet IL reads like
romance Of the most romantic kind OF
literature.
1t fills the reader with the most In
tense longing to keep on reading-al-
though every person of my age was fully
aware before of the trend Of events
and the closing scenes of the great Cor
sican generals life. This interest never
flags for an instant. Every chapter is as
strong as the one preceding It.
You are not only captivated. but you
are breathless with interest as the story
seems TO unfold itself page after page be-
fore your eyes.
I did not find a dull line IN the book
and did not find a surplus sentence in It,
There are no platitudirizing interludes;
no glittering generalities or readings out
for eloquent periods. 1t is the ful flow of
a strong. bold river that has neither
- ~ A.
majestic power of its current.
Beginning with a poor little boy on a
small island with nc fortune and small
family or political influence, Mr.. Watson
leads you along to the greatest emperor
known to modern history.
Never concealing his faults or condemn
ing his errors or apologizing for his mis-
takes. Napoleon under the magic pen of
his historian stands out before your mind
as the greatest man OF the nineteenth
century. no matter from what standpoint
you may view him.
He was waterlogged to the gunwales
with the faults OF his family and init
mates. Except his mother and his brave
stepson. Eugene Beaucharnois, there was
not a single one of them that did not
make his burden still heavier, not one
that was necessary TO his success. and
not one that added to his happiness or
his peace of mind. Yet he was the most
devoted of sons. and the best Of brothers
TO the tribe Bonaparte, who eagerly took
from HIS hand riches, promotion and hon
ors, and yet were in the main migrate
full as well as incapable in their eleva-
ton. II he could have steered clear from
his kin. this comet might be today a fixed
star in the political heavens. II fatigues
the indignation TO know wherefrom he
took his wives and how little they helped
him in his public success. True 1t is. poor
Josephine learned to prize the jewel which
she had dishonored in early married life,
but the world turns with disgust from
that Austrian COW who was amatory
with any of her mates. provided the pas.
turage was green and satisfying TO her
bovine inclinations-well developed. New
er was brave man so pressed to earth by
his domestic surroundings. Yet he rose
and continued 20 soar in spite OF these
clogs on his feet which never failed TO
pull him downward, and never added one
iota to his credit or public respect any
where or at any time.
The conclusion is irresistible that his
weak place was in his affections. Every
where else he was a perfect miracle of
clear-sighted vision and unlimited energy.
Coming to France. when the whole land
was Frustrated with the strife and car
mage Of the revolution he metamorphosed
ruin into grand achievements in states
manship as well as in military prowess,
and national victory. The fame OF Napo-
leon rests on what he did for his coun-
try I'm bringing order out of chaos, as
well as in humbling the proud insolence
Of monarchy and teaching tyranny les
son.
France is a republic today because that
poor little Corsican boy despised tyranny
and learned lessons of independence in his
extreme youth which he never forgot
until his eyes were closed in ST. Helena
in death.
The indignities heaped upon him by a
British prison Keeper will never cease to
be resented by the lovers Of freedom in
countless ages. The great emperor was
never greater than when he lived in a
COW house as a prison on the island,
watched by British spies and tainted by
British sneers, for as Mr.. Watson con-
cludes: History will do him Justice"
I wish our young people would read
this story OF Napoleon. 1t would be a
great book for Georgians to read II Il
had been written in France OF anywhere
else. Written here in Georgia by our own
Georgia writer II should be felt a boun-
den duty to study It because 1t has this
added charm.