The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-01
Napoleon a Creature of Circumstances
 am the creature of circumstances do but go where events point out the way

Hundred formed the upper and lower houses of the legislative body. His plot called for the assembling of those two houses in an extraordinary session at m early hour in the morning. before the city should be astir. The Ancents, whose leaders were favorable to change We're to declare that Paris was in danger of q terrorist uprising, appoint Napoleon to the command of the military forces for the protection of the capital and ac- journ the legislative sessions to the quiet and security of St. Cloud.
 In the midst of the panic thus fomerf- ed Sieyes and a fellow -conspirator in the directory were to resign and the remain fng directors were to be frightened into retiring, while the legislature at St. Cloud was to be hastened into estap- fishing a new governments with new constitution. Sieyes proposed to handio the politicians and look to Napoleon to control the army officers, who natural ly rallied around him in unquestionine loyalty when they saw him preparing to act.
 A Scheduled Revolution
 Like everything with which Napoleon had to do, the revolution moved accord ing to a nicely arranged schedule. All his trusted companions in arms were to be at his house in the Rue de la Vie toire at an unseembly early hour on a certain November morning. And at o'clock they were all present and ac- counted for. Indeed, guard of 200 dra- goons were in the saddle as easly as 5 with Sebastiani. trusted Corsican, ali their head.
 The uniformed crowd Of officers over flowed the little house and stood in the yard. General Bernadotte was there, but not in his uniform and in no mood to further the ambition of one whom he dared deem a rival. The general In command of the city. a most vital per sonage, burst in with a demand to 3e informed what it Was all about This was Lefebre. the husband Of the former laundress, the Mime. Sans Gene of tho stage and the novel. He was hot headed a republican to have been ap- preached in cold blood and pe told the secret in advance.
 'Lefebre, cried Napoleon. you, one Of the pillars of the republic. will you leave it to perish at the hands of the lawyers? Here is the sword l wore at the Pyramids; give it to you as a pledge of our confidence
 Let us throw the lawyers into the river. roared the fierce republican as he fondled his new toy.
 Sieyes now sent word that he had played his part with the Ancients. There upon Napoleon came out oI ms mousse ana asked the overflow meeting of officers in the yard, Can l depend on you to save the republic?" (Cheers).
 A Sudden Collapse
 Mounting his horse and followed by his comrades. the morning sun gleaming on their brilliant trappings, he galloped to the Tuileres. There the Ancients were waiting to receive his oath of allegiance He renewed his vows to the republic, but not the republic as 1t had been. on the conthary. he asked the Ancients to forget the past and stand for a republic founded on true liberty, civil liberty and national representations.
 Meeting in the palace yard one who was merely the private secretary of Di- rector Barras, he overwhelmed the poor fellow by loudly dcmanding: What have you done with that France that l left m such glory? ] left peace. l find war. 1 left victories find reverses. Where are the 100000 men who have disappeared