The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-30


able grave. Pell nell the first lines
stumble, and horse and rider roll
over together. Diminished in number
but undaunted in heart, the other lines
pass over the dead bodies of their
comrades. They hurl themselves on
the British squares. In vain Yelling
tons men stand firm. Heroically,
desperately Napoleon's veterans fight,
but they are repulsed, and the British
guards complete the defeat.
Who led those brave. soldiers of the
Imperial Guard? Fondly they had
hoped their master, Napoleon, would
ride at their head. No, they had to
pass before him, and it was Ney who
commanded them as they rushed to
duty, and also to doom. Conspicuous
too, at. their head was another gallant
general, hero of a hundred conflicts,
dauntless, intrepid, the courageous,
high-spirited Cambronne. To him are
attributed the words, la Garde
meurt, ct ne Sc rend pas" Whether
really uttered or not, the words we're
true on that day, for when the noble
French army was plainly defeated the
Guards refused to yield, and almost
to man died where they fought.
Calamity Cambronne bore himself at
the head of the Cuirassiers until, sur
rounded and disarmed, he was per-
force made prisoner by General Hugh
Halkett's men.
The anniversary of Waterloo recalls
this incident and Cambronne's name.
Like so many of Napoleon's renowned
captains, this notable leader had risen
from the ranks. Soult, who when he
died in 1851 was Grand Marshal of
France, entered the army as COM
mon soldier. Ney, who was so promi-
nent at Waterloo, commenced his mill
tary career as private Hussar.
Similarly, at the age Of twenty, Cam
bronze was only corporal, and his
distinction in after years, his posi-
ton as general, even life itself he
owed to his word of honor as a young
man, and to the fact that he pledged
himself to forego entirely and forever
the pleasure of the wine cup.
Though little more than lad, the
young corporal had learned, unfortu-
nately, as was usual in those times,
| to drink heavily, and, naturally bold
and spirited, when under the influence
of wine he became very excited.
Brave and daring to a fault, wine
proved an exceedingly bad master for
him. One day when thus intoxicated
an officer gave him an order, and,
resenting either the order or the tone
in which it was given, the young cor
poral struck the officer fiercely. There
was one punishment for such an Of
Unconstitutional the lad was con-
j demned to be executed.
The colonel of the regiment was
greatly grieved. He knew the intel
ligence, smartness and bravery of the
young criminal, and spared no pains
to obtain, If possible, a pardon. At
first he met with no success, but at
last he obtained the promise of par
don upon one condition-the prisoner
must never again be found intoxi-
Gated The colonel fastened to the
military prison and summoned Cam
bronze
t'You are in trouble, corporal" he
said
"True, colonel; and forfeit my life
for my folly" returned the young fell
low.
ct may be so" replied the colonel,
briefly.
MAY bel" responded Cambronne.
"You are aware of the strictness Of
martial law, colonel. I expect no
pardon. I have only to die"
'tBut suppose bring you a pardon
ON one condition."
The corporaps eyes sparkIed.
"a condition? Let me hear it,
colonel. l would do much to save
life and honor"
"You must never again become
drunk
ooh, colonel, that is impossible!"
Impossible, boy? You will be shot
tomorrow otherwise. Think Of that. y
ct do think Of IT, replied the young
soldier. "See you, colonel, Cam
bronze and the bottle love one an
other so we'll that once they get to-
gether it is all up with sobriety. No..
no! I dare not promise never to get
drunk"
"But, unhappy boy, could you not
promise never to touch wine?"
"Not drop, coloneT?"
eyes"
"Ah, that is weighty matter; col
onel Let me reflect. Never, never
to touch wine all my life"
For moment or so the young cor
poral thought, Then he looked UP.
"But, colonel, il I promise, what
guarantee will you have that / shall
keep my promise?"
"Your word of honor" said the
colonel. II know you. / know you
will not fail me-"
The lads eyes lighted. His fea-
lures frightened. The colonePs con-
fidence touched him. With his face
resolutely set, he solemnly replied:
"Then / PROMISE, Cambronne;
swear never to take drop of wine"
\. The colonel warmly shook his hand
and departed, and the next day Cor
poral Cambronne resumed his place
I'm the regiment. That was in the
year 1895, and in the garrison town
of Nantes.
| Years passed, and step by step the
young soldier rose until, in due
4 L11oo Hnnor01 Gam