Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24
XIV.
= other ruler the world ever saw
put forth In public labor the
amount Of personal energy dis

put forth In public labor the
IN amount Of personal energy dis
played by Napoleon. The day
after his accession to power, 1909, he
said, Now we must rebuild. and re-
build solidly, moreover"
Napoleon worked says Molten.
minister Of the treasury. "for ten or
twelve hours daily either Mt depart
mental committees or at the council
Of state, when every detail Of the new
laws necessary to complete our imper-
feet legislation was discussed In his
presence. He strengthened the army
BY numerous recruits. inspected and
reviewed every division. He increased
his artillery. always his ~favorite branch
OF the service. He examined the plans
Of fortresses. ordered the works neces-
snry to their completi \, regulated
himself the contracts for weapons, uni
forms, provisions and purchase Of
horses. He demanded accounts Of ev-
cry detail from each minister, ever ad-
dressing himself to the head clerks
when the ministers themselves could
not answer his questions satisfa ctOrily.
1t wns not uncommon to see ministers
leaving the council half deac with ia
tigue after the examinations they had
had to undergo. while Napoleon. who
would never condesccnd to notice It,
would only speak Of his days work as u
pleasant recreation that had Just exer-
cised his wits. l repeat, too. that 1t
often happened that those ministers on
returning home or to their offices would
find ten letters from the First Consul
requiring immediate answers. for
which half the night would barely
suffice"
In the civil service as we'll as In the
army no nomination, no promotion.
was signed until he had satisfied him
self as to the merits Of the candidate.
when the documents" says Maret.
n OF the department secretaries, had
been submitted to the secretary OF
state and were sent to the emperor for
his signature he would leave them on
his writing table and only sign the
following day. This was his constant
habit. The examination Of these pa
pers formed a special part Of his work.
To ench name. without exception, there
was a note In his handwriting. Here
are some OF his nnnotations, copied
exactly: Granted Impossible For
what reason?' How many woundsY
At the first battle II possible Years
Of service If only ordinary service do
not constitute a right We shall see
later Not one action Of Importance
Vy.I,o, ho uN,-@oI H1o l~~c~,o,~c AI,,c
annotated Napoleon would discuss his
reasons. II the minister insisted in
favor Of an individual Napoleon sent
for his record"
Among the multitude of acts which
assisted in the raising Of France many
were laws entailing dry discussions and
special knowledge. 1t may be thought
that Napoleon adopted these laws
blindfold.
ITO think that would be a mistake"
a Roederer. who served Napolcon's
administration. From the decree
changing the denominations Of weights
and measures up to the law organizing
the courts of Justice ne discussed every
thing and ver- often threw light upon
everything. interchangeable in work, as.
siduous at the council Of state, presld
ing at meetings for 1--WE or six hours
co%nsecutively. he applied to every sub.
jcct the weight Of his talent before ap.
plying to it the authority of his posi-.
ton. He established free and familiar
debate in the council Of state. which
was exempt from the Inconvenience at
taching to set speeches from the trib.
une."
Napoleon prolonged his working ses.
siOns with his cabinet rs well as with
his private secretaries into the early
morning hours. When every one
around him was falling asleep, says
Roederer, he would cry: "Come. come
citizen ministers, 1t Is only 2 O'Clock
We must arm the money the French
nation gives u.s." Even when absen,
from Paris with his army Napoleon
did not relax his grip upon the min.
listers.
1.-The emperor required" says Mol.
lien. that the accounts Of the treasury
which served as the basis Of the cred
its he opened monthly to each minister
should follow him even to his head
quarters. There, alone In his tent, he
examined these accounts. added them
UP. modified my proposals and those
of other ministers. as II he had had
nothing else to think Of. From the
middle of his casnp and amid important
military operations he would not only
govern but manage France. and he sue
ceeded."
While in camp. too, his generals and
aids were made TO earn their money.
'One should be made OF cast iron,
said General Rapp. his aid.de-camp
ito live the life we have to spend
Scarcely have we left a carriage thar
we have to get ON horseback and re
main there, with the First Consul. fol
ten and twelve hours at a stretci
sometimes"
And he did not shirk the routine labor
to put 1t upon The shoulders of subor
dinates. The Duchesse d'Abrantes gives
this picture of the emperor inspecting
the corps of her husband, General Ju
not:
HE had every tunic unbuttoned. aft
er FIRST examining the cloth Of which
1t was made. Then he inspected every
shirt. saw whether the material wal
good, Intercepted the men about thei.
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