Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-10-18

his regiment In Tor "Thunderation! ~
exclaimed the Count go at once to
this valiant old captain and tell him
that l should like very much to shake
hands with him." Folichon was given
the honor of touching the hand of the
last of the Nefies.
pray tell me, my good man, on
what occasion You saved"
"Oh, Count! 1t isn't worth speaking
about only did my duty. No more,
no less"
Count Oscar from a feeling Of deli.
cacy did not insist. The interview
impressed him most favorably. He re-
peated to each Of his guests. THAT is
truly brave man, and as modest as lie
Is brave. He did not say word about
his heroic act. Let us show respect to
him, gentlemen, for people like him
are rapidly dying off"
The Count stopped calling him "old
man Folichon" and addressed him very
respectfully as IN. Fohchon." He
became his panegyrist. He told every
one the legend of the regiment
snatched from disaster. At Paris all
his friends knew the story 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
a new page Of history was inscribed
on the memory Of whole band OF
country squires, who retailed it proud
ly to their tenants and their men. The
whole country became enthusiastic
over the deeds Of certain Oliver.
And the day arrived that the legend
on its way back from the south was
implanted in the counties Of Vierzon,
ROmorantin, Sancerre, Saint Armand
and Bourges-a definite history in
which FOlichOn, alone, had delivered
corps of the Army and had almost cap
tured the Emperor Of Germany.
Before long it was a unanimous cry
in the country, which was at that time
in the midst of its elections: "How
can 4 Republic that respects itself
think that it has done it's duty to the
most devoted of its children when it
has given him only medal from the
Humane Society?"
There was general cry Of indigna-
tiOn. Each one of the candidates took
up the wrongs Of Folichon as one of
the planks of his platform. Each one
swore to use his influence to have
him decorated with the Legion of
Honor. The Radical and the COnserva-
tive each pledged his word solemnly.
The Radical, however, bethought
himself to look up the title of the old
soldier who had become bugbear to
him. He had no trouble in finding out
what he wanted to, and one fine morn
ing placard was pasted up in the
forty-three districts of his riding
"The individual named Folichon
(Oliver), about whom so much fuss is
being made, is a former policeman of
Paris, retired and pensioned after thir-
ty years Of loyal service. His regular
beat was the quay of Bercy. The 7th
of July, 1875, at 2 o'clock in the after
noon he saw drunken man who was
lying on his stomach with his lips to
the water and was trying to drink.
He drew him away by his feet, took
him to the station and left him there
till he was sober again. On this &C.
casion report having been sent in
the medal of the Humane Society was
awarded to the said FOlichOn (Oliyer)
and he now wears it's ribbon"
The people of Nancay could not be-
lieve their eyes.
"Is it true what's written On
that paper?" asked Mother Cretu with
trembling voice. .&
"Why, yes" replied the thunderbolt
that had almost taken the Emperor Of
Germany by the scruff Of the neck
And always modest, he added
Il never told you anything to the
contrary, did II"