Charlevoix county herald., 1912-06-01
KEPT The PIPE ALIGHT
soLpIeR's ONLY THOUGHT WAS
4 OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS.
inelosnt That 10 Typical Of the pevo-
tlon Field Marshal Blucher In
spIred Among Men Who~F
lowed Him "a Victory.


Old Field Marshal Plucher was par
ticularly fond Of three things-a glass
of wine, a game of cards and pipe of
tobacco. With the two former he was
frequently obliged to dispense, but he
could not and would not do without
the latter, nor could he help indulg-
ing In smoking IL it were ever so lit
tie, before he undertook anything seri-
Gus. A few puffs at the spur of the
moment would satisfy him, but to do
without them at all was a matter Of
fmpcssibility. For this purpose he
hadSappointed as his pipebearer one
OF his 'rboys" (as he used to call his
hussars a fellow countryman from Bo-
stoekA-Christian Hennemann - who
had charge of large box OF common
long Dutch clay pipes, all filled with
tobacco and ready for use at a mo-
tnent's notice. This box constituted
theit principal item Of the n1arshal's
field equipage. Hennemann was so de-
voted to his master and his charge
that he would have killed on the spot
anyone who attempted to purloin a
pipe from the box or bring the latter
In danger of breaking some of the
precious Ito him sacred) contents.
On the morning of the memorable
battle of Waterloo Hennemann had
Just handed his master a lighted pipe,
when a cannon ball struck the ground
close by, scattering earth and gravel
In all directions and causing the white
charger on which Blucher was mount
ed to spring aside-a maneuver that
broke the pipe into thousand pieces
before the owner had time even to lift
II to his lips.
= Just keep lighted pipe ready for
me; ] shall be back in a few moments,
after / have driven away the raseally
French churls." With these words,
Blucher gave the command, Forward,
boys!" and off he galloped with his
cavalry. Instead, however Of a chase
OF few minutes. it was a rapid march
Of nearly whole hot summer day, as
we all know from history. ~
After. the battle was over Blucher
rode back with Wellington to the place
where he first got glimpse Of the
combating armies, and nearing the
spot where Blucher had halted in the
morning they saw to their surprise a
solitary man, his head tied with a
handkerchief, one ann in a sling and
calmly smoking a pipe.
"Donner and blitz!" cried Blucher;
"why, that is my Hennemann How
you look, boy;- what are you doing
here alone?"
Waiting for your speedy return"
was the grumbling answer. "You have
come at last! I havs waited for you
here. pipe in mouth, for the whole
lbng day. This is the last pipe In the
box. The cursed French have shot
away every pipe from my mouth.
Have ripped th4, aesh from my head
and shattered my arm with their
deuced bullets. 1t is we'll there is an
end to the battle, or you would have
beep too late even for the last pipe"
Saying which, he handed to Blucher
the pipe, to enjoy the remaining fumes
Of the weed.
Wellington, who had listened atten-
tively"to the Conversation. here re-
marked to''B1ucher: you have just
admired the unflinching loyalty and
bravery Of my Highlanders; what
shall l say to this true and devoted
soul?" ~
But your Highlanders had no pipes
to regale themselves with."-From
Spofford's Library of Wit and Humor.