Evening journal., 1902-09-22
NAPOLEON Was \.
IA VERY WISE MAN
Understood Value Of Discus
SiOE-HiS Idea Of
Religion

them. He competes 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
Ike a big man, selecting questions to
exhaust the mind and lead far away
into fields OF conjecture and widest
speculation.
His was no dreamers brain. giving |
TO speculation the time needed for do
ing. First camo 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
discussion as methodlcally as he ever
organized fighting plan.
The discussions were regularly up
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 fayorlte topics: First,
the art OF war; second, the art OF gov
ernment; third. religion.
From his point of view his chief sub
1ects 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 ''presentl-
ments."
In practical life he discarded every
thing save realities. but In discussion
all abstract questions interested him.
II 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 a fool says that he will die
without a confessor. There IS so much
we do not know and that we cannot
explain"
II Is deeply characteristic OF Napo-
leop's thought that he should hnve de
clared for Mohammedanism in prefer
ence TO Christianity.
He admired the religion Of NOLAN.
med "becnuse Il conquered one-half the
world 10 ten years. whereas IL took 30C
years for Christianity to establish IL
self"
The old French king became convert
cd because be thought the Christian
God beat his pagan god in battle. Ma
poleon had not Travelled far beyond thai
old king.
, The man who seeks for all sorts OF
wisdom In Napoleon VIII be deeply dis
appointed when he comes 10 analyz'
the great fighters religious thought
But for the hero worshiper there is
, comfort in this:
Napoleon trlfed with everything ex
cept the first great cause.
On the deck Of his ship on a fine
night there was much irreverent Zip
] pant, materlallstic chatter. The revo
luton had made stupid atheism fash
ionable.
But Napoleon was impressed by the
calm night. the. blue, dark water ant
the silent. beautiful stars shining dowr
In cosmic rebuke OF the tiny bias
phemers below.
. He stopped very abruptly the prattl'
J. Of atheism.
Toward the stars he pointed the
short, thick arm so soon to rule thii
little planet.
! "You may talk as long as you please
5 gentlemen, but who made all thatT"
D There was no answer, and there wal
y no more atheism that night
4 The man who was to build up The
code Napoleon could appreciate th'
, force and necessity of law. His minC
realized the feebleness of man. coping
. even with little problems of earth
: He felt that great laws and a Grea
Lawgiyer must swing and direct thos'
: millions of silent worlds above.
When Napoleon was still CorsicaI
patriot. the great Paoll said 10 him:
Napoleon. you are not a modern
J. You talk like the heroes Of Plutarch."
l. Earnestness Of the old kind was IN
deed Nnpoleon's characteristic-as EN-
= peror, planning TO rule Asia from thu
back of an ornamented elephant. or al
e a poor. half starved lad. taking or hi
n muddy shoes 70 enter the presence o
v the matronly Nine. Permon and listen
# ing TO her stories of descent from th'
n emperors of Constantinople.
Napoleon 10 his hours of work was I
a doer, and In his hours of leisure b.
was n discusser.
He exercised constantly the two side
20 of his hrain the nracticaI and sDecu