The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-22

| DrideSroOmS ancestry, story Wnlcn
in its wonder and adventure justities
the maxim that life is more surpris-
| ing than melodrama.
Little more than a century ago. in
the little town of Pau in the French
Department of the Pyrenees, there
nadotte. He had two sons, who, like
Esau and Jacob, got on together so
badly that the younger, Jean Baptiste
Jules, cut the family knot by running
away from home at the age of sixteen
and enlisting in the Royal Marines. That
was in 1850, when France was still a
kingdom, and ten years before the out
burst of the Revolution.
The first military experiences of this
young runaway, Jean BernadOtte. who
was the dullard of his home, were not
encouraging. He fell seriously ill., was
pronounced dead by the doctors, and
his body removed for dissection. While
lying on the dissecting table he rccOv-
cred consciousness and showed that he
was veritably alive.
Eight years strict attention to his
military duties raised Bernadotte from
the ranks to the position of sergeant
major. Then came the French Revo-
luton, sweeping away all social bar
ricrs and clearing the road to the high
est offices for men of merit. Berna-
dotte showed himself one of these In
100 he was given his commission as
lieutenant in all Anjou regiment. With
in two years his corps Of wanderers
and peasants was model of dis
cipline. At Spires he fought his first
battle. There and in succeeding en-
gagements he proved himself born
leader of men. Not once but many
times he rallied retreating regiments
and instilled courage INTO flying SOL
diers. Riding among them, a tall fig
ure of man, his eyes flashing, and
tossing his black hair like lions
name, Bernadotte's commanding pres
ence and the laundering eloquence of
his voice stayed the broken troops and
led them to victory.
| To such man honor was inevitable.
After refusing the rank once, lie be-
came general of division in 1904. The
next year he led the First Army Corps
over the Alps to support Napoleon's
campaign in Italy. 1t was the first
| time til. two men met. Napoleon
| showed no especial liking for Berna
dotte; he recognized in him a man as
strong as himself. but of scrupulous
conscience. But Bernadotte. this gen.
cral risen from the ranks, was too able
| @x> 1,o =
pointed Ambassador at Vienna. and
during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt
acted as Minister of War, meeting the
incessant demand for stores and men.
| Suddenly Bernadotte was dismissed
| from office. Napoleon feared his Op-
position to the coup detat by which
lie made himself first consul. 'If Ber-
nadotte addresses the troops am
lost" said Napoleon. but Bcrnadotte re-
| Trained. His talents We're rewarded
| with the rank of parshal. and NapO-
leon assumed the office of godfather to
Bcrnadotte's tirst-bOrn son, for whom
he chose the name of Oscar 1t was at
this time that an old fortune-telling
woman predicted Bernadotte's rise to
a throne. 1t was certainly an era of
amazing Gibbs and flows of fortune.
The lawyers son turned common sol
| dier, had become marshal of France
and wore the grand cross of the Legion
of Honor. But that he should become
Il king was ludicrous.
Yet within a year or two he had
covered half the distance to throne.
| oh, ;, -, of r1;
was rewarded with the title of Prince
of Ponte Corve. Then Napoleon, who
| dislikcd the man. sent him to govern
| Hanover and command the troops there
and in Denmark, rs 4 means of getting
rid of him. BernadO,te showed himself
rs wise Il ruler as AusterltZ. Jena and
many battles had proved him mas
terly soldier. He was recognized. i'll
deed as one of the ablcst men of the
| day when men were great and many.
| Charles MIL, King Of Sweden. was
| chlllcss: with him would end The
royal house. 1t was urged that Il sue
| cCSsor should he selected from the
great mon of Europe. and by election
Bcrnadotte was appointed crown prince
| first. however. Napoleon opposed this
| crowninC of his marshal. The Empcr
or's hostility was pierced by Berna-
dottes superb sarcasm: What said
| he to Napoleon. would you make me
| greater than yourself by making me
refuse Il CROWN" Napoleon capitu
| lated GO" he said. "our destinies
| must hn occbmulishC ~
And to Sweden went Rernadottc as
| Crown Prince in 1910. OF Hugucnot
ancestry he readily embraced the Pro-
| tcstant religion. and assumed the
names of Charles john. RenOuncing
his French nativity. he became 4 true
Swcdc as behtted the future King of
Sweden. In 1911 Charles NH. fell ILL.,.
so that Bernadottc. or The Crown
Prince Charles, as he should now be
called. became regent. In the service
| of his adopted kingdom he did not
shrink from opposing his Old sovereign.
When Napoleon laid an embargo oil
all British trade. Bernadotte refused
to recognize the blockade. as contrary
TO Swedish interests, and war with
France followed.
In the European alliance which led
to Napoleon's downfall at Leipsic. Bcr-
nadotte played Il true Swcde's part.
But in the subsequent invasion of
France. which led to Napoieons abd-
cation and flight to Elba, it is to Ber-