New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-01

| he went with MS tremendous TASK and there
is something profoundly impressive in the
figure of desperate energy which Mr. Browning
portrays throughout the course Of military and
Diplomatic events leading. like the progressive
events of some murlzy drama. to Elba and the
Hundred Days
The chapter in this book on NapOleon's efforts
to adapt himself to a vegetable existence, and
his ultimate magnificent refusal to endure it.
is uncommonIy well written So, too. is the
account of the march to Paris. though, to be
sure he would have to be an almost incon,
ceiyabIy dull writer who failed to make some
thing out of the extraordinary material avail
able 1t is an old tale. but no matter how often
it is retoId it remains strangely thrilling We
must quote one incident of Napoleon's march
through a country he taking By surprise:
NInre where there is a narrow road between lake
and hills his troops found battalion OF infantry
sart who Marchand'S nephew, youth OF I nlne
teen years Of age Here scene scarcely a5nenn
who ridden UP with his lancers. got on ms
the soldiers With his glass An officer Of Nago-
Icons guard approached and began 70 Pt ri I Ne
essart said TO him; i am deternhheu 20 IN 10 -
duty, and if you do not nmedafeIy aid
will have you arrested But NIL you abl iirs DeeS
sart. The EmPeror's aide de camp ,s dIa I @P
rs in Nh be fn5 him You viii answer for it before
France ." The soldiers stood dumb and mOtiOnlesS,
ike a row Of statues The Polish Iancers advanced
old Guard were seen Napoleon ordered his sol
and then alone at the head of his veterans he ad
vanced toward the battalion captain k@lndoh
ivid their limbs shook and their hands trembed
When he was within hin pistol shSt T NP2f1 S.
Then advancing a few steps he opened MS over
soldier who wishes to kill his Emperor. he can do
there l am great shout arose or I'VE
AIDES strewed the ground shakos We're elevated
at the point OF the bay0nst and SoiaeTS ti tI I}
down before him. strOked his boots his SWORD
fo his horse and rode away. DelessaTt broke into
tears and surrendered his sword 10 4he III
amnnsst YOU with a handful OF brave be
canga 7 count on the people and you The
throne of the BOurbons II leSitlhaIt because y
has not been raised by the nation 1oGr laSIl-Is
are threatened with the return Of the uthes pTyl-
eges and fsgdal r,stts- Is |. ol aI frSops At
this moment captain Of the Nallglli Ss'TI, In
disrnounting said to the Emperor; sire am Jan
Dunoulin. a glover; bring to your n! IJt =
rSIIr horse replied Napoleon 4 accept your
services The whole body Of troops then advanced
foretber toward Csrenobie. Napoleon's army and
those who were sent TO oppose MN, w $500
welcoming them with shouts Of "Five It-npereur,
surely this of the greatest scenes OF history
Who can wonder that he went on his way
with q confidence that only complete catastrophe
ror1Id shake? Mr.. Browning relates with Dig
nftv and feeling the remaining tragic chapters OF
his story He tells them with sufficient dets'Il
where the tangible events to be dealt with are
concerned but We more particularly appreciate
the sympathy with which he keeps the person
a1ity of the Emperor in the foreground He
does this too without falling into the sentj-
mentality of mere hero worship Indeed. his
hook. while possessing as we have said. no re-
rnarkable quality. renders a Just and very in
teresting account Of the most sOrnbre phase OF
NauOleOn'S career
II is pleasant to record the appearance OF
new edition of Mr.. Petre's work on ''NapOleon's
Campaign in Poland" Addressed to military
students rather than to the general reader. It
is nevertheless free from the pedantry and ex-
cess of technfcalities which might abash the
latter The chapters on the constitution Of the
armies and their leaders and the theatre of war
are especially useful
Mr. W. Fl. p. Phyfe has enjoyed the privilsge
of examining the crypt in the Hotel des In
vaIides and has written description OF it
His little book also relates the incidents of the
return Of the Emperor's remains from St. Helena
to France. The sketch is very well written
and. with a number Of appropriate illustrations.
it makes n handbook which will doubtless be
appreciated by many travellers
THE HFRRTVTS' HEADS