The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-01

By way of result, was asked to de- liver the principal speech at a grant se- cret caucus of the students where in the fate of France should be determined
 Both the Bonapartist pretender-Prince Jerome. and the Bourbon claimant-whom his adherents called King Henry the
 Fifth. were to be present. They had agreed to abide by the students decision After the caucus, farewell to the Repub-
 lic f.
 So ran the program. Remember said the Due de Ia Rouchefiutee, as he left me, that on you, mon cher ami. depends. to an incalculabie extent, the future of the worldl Remember also-How would Mon steur le Prince de Layer sole minister of the French Kingdom sound?' A half hour later. young Murat-Ney. another friend of mine. attempted to pledge me in favor of the Bonaparts. He spoke of slory and the Grand -Marshalshfp.
 Let me own that I was tempted. But made no reply. Next night. at F o'clock precisely. went to the place of meeting-the catacombs beneath the Mou- lin Rouge.
 "On the platform sat the student lead ers, Prince Jerome. the Bourbon and his daughter. the Princess -. who was un- occasionally the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Aitho' the hall was packed. the meeting had not yet been opened. It was waiting for me, and when entered, . mufiied murmur rolled from wall to wall. Applause was impossible. since se- crecy must be maintained. 'T was introduced to the pretenders. The Bourbon addressed me as Monsieur ie Prince! The Bonapartist called me Mon- sieur le Merechal! They were evidently aware of my tremendous popularity. The princess biushed, and smiled. and ten- dered me q tiny hand. ungloved. Her eyes, as they looked up, and into mine. had that half-unwilling glow which marks tho first approach of love. I've seen that glow so often that I couldn't well make a mistake.
 "And now the speaking had begun. There were nine of us leaders. Eight of them spoke. Four for the King. and the other four for the Emperor. The sym pathy of the audience appeared to be sim '':1.E ,sy d.nI turn had come. peint the we,sh.i- est parsonage of the occasion. was given the last say, of course. As I rosc a sweet, entreating glance fell on me from the Princess wondrous eyes. "I faced the essemblage." "'Bring me my easel, paints and can vas. I exclaimed. "A true artist speaks with his brush!'
 '"Then. with my back turned to the pub lie, I painted-I was always lightning draftsman but here I outdid myself. In three minutes, eighteen seconds the pic ture was completed. And it was grand. It represented frozen Russian field-- black with French soldiers who had fall len from famine and exhaustion. The scene was horrible beyond description. Ravens and cossacks hoversd In the back ground.
 .. ar,hA Erv,n niraf' eaid T..
 uImpressionable as Frenchmen are. my conferes caught the spirit of the thing, Down with the Empirer came the hoarse consensus of the gathering. Another glance from the Princess! Of hope! Of promise! I stood so that I could not see her face. and pulled myself together
 My American blood was rampant in my veins knew my duty. To love, tho power beckoned, my task was that of Freedom!
 .'To work again. Again my brushes flew. In less time than before. my second picture was completed. An inner view of the Bastille. Suffering. the suf fering inflicted by depotism was shown in every form and manner. The effect sir, was appalling.
 "'The old Regimel' said I.
 "Once more. heard the rumble from the front. Down with the old Regime! The boys were with me!
 Then, in a few strokes. my last picture was done The fair figure of Liberty tri- color flag and ail-peace, prosperity and progress!
 The Repuollcr said I.
 And 'Vive la Republlque" sounded the unanimous response.
 T stepped toward my seat. To my un- bounded astonishment the Princess threw her arms around my neck and kissed me actuated by an irristible impulse.
 You have ruined our fortunes, but admire you, monsieurr were her words Because you are hero and a genius!
 That's how I saved the French Re- public. The three pictures were sold afterward at fabulous prices. They hang in the Louvre today"