The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-04
TODAY in HISTORY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER q, 1910.
The Marshal Mel Rose

| Today is the birthday In 1902 OF Mar
Snal Mel, the distinguished soldier OF
France. the commander for whom the
Marshal Mel rose WAS named. In 1893.
when the French army was In 1tely, Mel
commanded the third army corps. and at
Magenta and SolferIno he did such brill
liant service that when peace was de-
clared at Paris nc was created marshal
Of France. His service for his country
was so brilliant and so successful that
In 1867 ne was made French minister Of
war, in which capacity he was serving
1869.
French soldier, he never forgot the In
cident which gave his name 10 the now
famous rose, II was touch of romance
and intensified his devotion TO his en-
press. The Incident Is as follows
When the army went back 10 France
from Italy Mel was obliged 10 remain
IN the latter country, for In addition TO
from fever. lie had n long and serious
illness and excessive weakness followed.
HIS recovery was slow, but he had cnre-
tul and devoted service from an Italian
peasant woman,
This patient nurse brought him one
day basket OF lovely roses from the
campagna. The sick man particularly
lovely variety When they had faded and
he was obliged 10 throw them away, he
noticed among the wlthered stems and
eayes green shoot Of several inches sS,, in
ished, he discovered that bit OF root
had been cut away with the flower
stem.
This small Incident In MS sick room
made a happy impression, and he de-
cided TO send the root to France and
have II cultivated. The campagna rose
was of single leaf, and in color pale
yellow.
According to his direction tho rose
slip was carefully planted and the next
spring four exquisite buds. Of pale lemon
When Tie time came that Mel was to
DC decorated with the cross OF the Le-
glon Of Honor and made a marshal OF
France he presented the beautiful En-
and fragrant yellow rose, the like OF
which she had never seen,
When he told her the story Of this
little plant she was intensely interested
rose for you. NJ. lie Marechal. !"
This little scene took place during
reception a II, the Tuileries. Marshal
Mel was one OF the handsomest men in
France and had the courtly manner OF
his race. His family was one of noble
blood that emigrated from Ireland TO
marshal bowed profoundly TO his en-
press and gave her glowing look OF
thanks, In which admiration for her
beauty played part.
Eugene raised the rose TO her lips
and lightly touched them with II, saying:
"ft is named the Marshal Mel. for the
soldier sans pcur ct sans reproche. as
gallant in the salon as he is on the bat
tleield."
The heart Of the Irish soldier was
deeply touched. and 1t Is said that ne
ventured to ask the empress TO wear the
rose that evening. and then allow him
10 have II forever.
story was also told by the mar
shal's chief OF staff that four DAYS after
this reception he saw Marshal Mel take
n rose out OF an envelope just delivered
10 him. and when he thought no one
was looking he locked II carefully In
private drawer OF his desk.
On October 4, i777 was fought the bat
tie OF Germantown, Today Is the birth
day of Richard Cromwell 0626); Samuel
Lang. author and traveller Q7s0); Fran
co.'s Guizot, the French historian CTS7),
Jean Francois Mllet celebrated painter
QS1D; Rutherford B. Hayes. teenth
president OF the United states OS22);
William GilpIn, the Colorado statesman
Us22); and James e. Garretson. physician
and author GS2S). Today Is the date Of
the death Of st Francis G226), John.
Duke Of Argyll. statesman and general
Q7t3), and Henry Carey, the composer
G143).