Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

the trump i1ant entry of the hordes of
Austria, Russia and Prussia.
1t was then realized that Napoleon's
day was done. and truly, his glory had
departed.
1t was with mixed feelings that France
beheld the downfall of their leader
Much as she had adored him. she real
lied that to him and his inordinate ambi-
ton she owed her own fall. He had
brought her glory, but 100000 of her
best sons were buried on his battlefields
and she herself. broken nation, was
now the prey of the enemies he had ruth
lessly made. All his conuuests had now
fallen away, and France itself was para
lived industrially and financially. Mu-
peror's marshals were now with the al
lies. Thousands of his men had
deserted
On April II Napoleon abdicated, and
British warship bound for Elba, and the
Bourhons entered Paris. There he was
allowed comparative liberty. He was
absolute ruler of this miniature kingdom
He set about governing it as though he
had not once conquered nearly all
Europe. He made laws. built roads. or
ganized a small army. constructed forts
and encouraged trade. He set up the
alter and imported actors.
X
And all this time he kept in touch with
the beginning of Bourbon misrule in
France. and observed with cynical
amusement the disappointment of his
countrymen at their new king. He saw
the greedy allies fly at each others
threats in the division of the spoils.
Then, on February &c. 1915, in the alb
sence of his jailers, he escaped to the
mainland with a small following, and
while the allies were quarreling at the
congress Of Vienna they were appalled,
at the news that the lion had landed in
France. At first they could net believe
it. They thought it a hoax, but frantic
messages from the Bourbons assured
them of its truth.
The landing of the emperor went
through France like an electric shock.
The royalist cause found itself stranded,
and Louis XVIII took to his heels, fol-
lowed by his court. The marshals who
had betrayed Napoleon, together with
thousands of his soldiers who had gone
over to the enemy. rushed to welcome
him. At Marseille a man drew a dagger
to kill him. Napoleon drew open his coat
and told him to strike. The emotional
Would-be assassin dropped down. en-
braced the emperor's knees and begged
his forgiveness. A revulsion of feeling in
Napoleon's favor swept the land Officials
tore on the royalist colors and offered
their services to their old commander.
The excitable nation sobbed with emo
ton.
An army was quickly organized, and
after giving the country a modified con-
stitution he set out for Belgium, whence
the army had proceeded. He now had
to face in addition to the old allies, Great
Britain. On his whole eastern frontier
he had stationed along the line six corps
under fairly competent commanders be-
sides Grouchy's cavalry at Guise Nor
tier and the imperial guard remained In
Paris Besides these, 10000 men were
scattered between Basel and Nice, at
Lyons. or watching the royalists at La
Vendee.
The English, Prussian and Dutch troops
were In. Belgium; Schwarbenburg with
10000 Austrians was on the Rhine from
tier, while a smaller force was some
where near Nice. The Russian army,
estimated at 10000, had not yet arrived.
It was for them that Wellington and
Butcher waited, the object being to ad-
vance on Paris as soon as the junction
had been formed.
Napoleon therefore determined to strike
at Wellington Immediately. The British
commander had his base at Ostend and
oSSuplSu NGsS oCA6A I'M, W liliG bluclleT NshS
in the eastern part, resting on Coblenz
After he had disposed of these forces it
was Napoleon's design to strike the Aus
TRANS and Russians coming in from the
east The first blow he hoped to deliver
in a way to separate Wellington and
Butcher. These allies had between them
about 100000 troops under Wellington
and 115OOO under Butcher
Early in June the emperor's army be-
gan to get together. and NV fhe 1ath he
had at Solre, Philippeville, and Beau
mont l24.OOo men before the enemy had
the least suspicion of 1t.
The army which he had marshaled with