The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-28
THE COUNT DE VAUBLANC.
Exploits with sword and Bottle In the
France OF Louis XVI.

France or Louis XVI.
PARIS. May l?.-"Les Memories de NJ le
Comte de Vaublauc." printed In Paris in
the early years Of the last century. give an
account OF the Military School in Paris and
OF the experiences Of subaltarn in the
French army during the reign of Louis XVI
The Count de Vaublanc was born In Santo
pomln so IN 1855. He camo to France durlng g
childhood AT suitable age he entered
the College Of La Fleche. where he remained
FIVE years From this preparatory institu-
tion he entered the Military School for the
tull term OF four years. Subsequently he
resigned from the army, became a member
OF the National Assembly. was in exile durln g
the Terror and Directory. a Project under
the Empire. Minister of State at the Restora-
ton. and in old age poet. painter and horse
man He died in his ninetieth year.
The Military School was restricted TO 200
cadets. The curriculum consisted OF rnathe-
mates. geography. rhetoric and engineering.
For military exercises the 200 pupils were
divided into four companies. Fifty destined
for the cavalry we're provided by the State
with suitable mounts. Each company was
ofAcered by cadets selected more on &C
count Of birth than by reason Of proficiency.
As an example Of the manners OF the time
on certain day beautiful woman came
INTO the hail. where the cadets were en- ga ged
in fencing, In riding habit. whip in hand.
She recognized her son. who was a cadet.
and reprimanded him severely for the bad
reports she had received Of him. cadet
VINO thought that this public admontion
was an insult to the entire class approached
the lady. with foil in his hand. and asked
the honor to exchange few passes with
her She excused herself on the plea that
her riding habit and long boots would in
tarsere in the lesson she would otherwise
Re able TO give her audacous adversary.
The comm andant of the school. an officer
OF distinction, wishe d that during the sum
raer months tho cadets should be exercised
10 practical military manenvers, precisely
as il they were in the presence Of an enemy,
that they should occupy positions Of which
the defects and advantages should be ex-
planned to them. They we're to be formed
in squads and subjected to the same dis
oipline as soldiers Of the army. They were
10 visit celebrated battlefelds to have ex-
planned the reason for the gain or loss Of each
particular one. Detachments were to be
sent as scouts. to report everything that came
under their observation. The commandant
insisted that this practical experience would
relieve the nonotony and idleness OF the
cadets during the summer and do away
with the terrible ennu which affected them
az that season. This idea could not be car:
riei into effect because the military nstruc-
ton OF the time was almost exclusively the
oretical.
The only practical training that the cadet
received was in so-called -petlts queries"
On certain Sundays the corps was divided
into two equal divisions One shut up In
walled garden formed the defense and the
other on the outside the attack. The
officers who comm anded each Of the detach-
rents we're apt to take the contest seriously.
1t happened frequently that they lost their
heads; then the assailants procured ladders
and advanced furious1y to the assault. On
more than one occasion the besieged over
turned these ladders loaded with the attack
lag force, injuring many Of them seri-
ously. This exercise was abandoned after
the hospital had been filed with more
wounded cadets than it could provide for.
Notwithstanding the theoretical training
pursued at the Military School. many OF the
pupils rose to subsequent distinction. De
vaublano cites many instances. Among
others, be tells Of q cadet who, assigned to q
regiment Of infantry stationed at Brsst. In
took place between the vessel and az nelish
Sn Id The G Bss of H. .ys Snsad
nan carried i his Vessel successfully into port
vas iss }ss sRs s;bhs
otioers. Re was engaged In frequent duels.
which hs always shIeFSEe 1 1ae vii1er
Il a fsht With an English ship. was taken;
Tss . Weh the See spsna at
SIm i 70 I London and presented him to G George
He tells q snosher. .As chsvalIes de P
there Ss us i g youns ss sP Of
Barely had he left the Military School when
he eoped With IA we Travelled Tit IL her
dsr fssI adventures placed him il aTeaf peril
He returned 70 France: where his family OBJ ,.
tire Baste There he remained until 1889.
w,hen this prison vas captured by the people.
hsa m1s A Who had aWays treasad him With
When De vapblano had graduated from the
rieat de SAKE, stationed at Metz. The Marquis
q conaans vas in Somnaaaa Of 1.-THE the pest at
e1s ' Seen Moreoysr he was noted for his his
o5 Of Hd 5s seve eoone Var A he
!sndouss, also very brave and removed
r. pRyaIeal .t5easth was a. oe@l,aaually harfss,
VIA :abers in the presence OF the two armies
Aonfans vas wounded il the lsfs shoulder
ian the 3 see Te ni latter s from aoE lis
horse and died two hours later. De Contains
w3s adrclt in all teats requiring deXterity.
IL made bet 10 ride two leagues on horse.
o. the trot. holding glass h!led TO the brim
T 2e He Wa me- me- wn lei crop on
Heavy drinking prevailed in the French
LrMy at that time. De Contains was equally
renowned in this particular When he re-
lnoushed command at Metz he passed the
summer on his estate at Vaudreun, in Nor
mandy, AT a neiehborins chateau, that Of
ne Duke de Bouillon. were number Of English
r.sh. nard drinkers De Contains challenged
TEN 70 a bout IN which he proposed to up
s9riei under the ia bic while he walked home.
When he returned from 4 journey to Russia
Re gave it to be understood that bis relations
-fh the Empress Catherine had been very
Intimate This was reported to her. She
yApl4d that it could not be so. because he had
nor drawn sober breath while he was in
De G5naans was also witty On one COCA
eon he expressed indienariop at seeing a
q an sb;shGp The n1sad5e Replied ,sss
jet Inn 7 do rot doubt it. answered the
MARQUIS, the CONTAINS have always, been
roted for pulling the devil by the tail
Tie Regiment de SAKE, to which De vaublanc
wat attached, had several officers who had
served in Canada. Among them was
Chevalier de Granet. noted ior his GOOD
sumor, always singing and drinking He
had been taken prisoner at Quebec and sent
- Pennsylvania, where he was lodged With
caurhters. He was fond OF telling Of their
simplicity, their unconscious innocence; Of
their walks in the woods; their games and
ne care they gave him, suffering as he was