The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
At he Age of Thirty the
Corsican Adventurer
as the First Consul
Was Master of the
Natlon

WHO are tOiipttihb iVi NhC
medals offered by THE Sun
s,r ... best essays on Napoleon should
understand that the articles now APP
mari. in THE SUNDAY SuN do not
pr,t,rl to furnish history Of that
,emar' Ile man. Their purpose is two
fold; T., interest young students in the
suhi,.' md 10 picture certain phases
in the lie of Napoleon which help to
show what kind Of a man he really
was.
Thus fir we have seen him as ne
,ppear,d one hundred years ago, in
,prl. 1911. the period of his desperate
,ndea,ur to- save his army in the at
tack On Paris his tragic defeat and
,hd,,at.an and exile to Elba. We have
soon Inn as a child, sullen, morose,
ANYTHING tut pleasant and companion
iN,. but from the age of 10 intensely
Industrious. studying night and day.
dreaming If the time to come when
ne should be a great man, allowing
nothing 70 interfere with his plans.
.f',n ewing way to outbursts of anger
% fierce that some of them resembled
he violence Of an insane lad.
Then. again. We saw Napoleon as a
Young author. trying to make money
writing stories. history, essays, even
Attempting a novel, with the idea OF
helping his widowed mother and her
little children. who were in want. We
saw him drifting away from the work
4 soldier. to which he had been
trained. and dallying with politics. but
finally going back To his regiment. And
N Oh, THE SUNDAY SrN of last week
ye followed Napoleon. the commander
4 great army which he led to VIC
tory IN Italy. and as commander Of
another great army and fleet invading
Egypt from which he finally returned
IN secret to France. believing that the
time had come for him to assert his
power there.
Wien he came home from Egypt Ma
poleon was received in the city of Lyons
as great and successful hero; for the
poop, lid not know at the time that
he had been defeated at Acre, and that
he had left the remnants of his army in
Egypt without providing any way for
their 90 escape. In Paris the people
were not SO enthusiastic at first. They
welcomed him without running in
great crowds to meet him and acclaim
him as they would a king. Only few
'ays passed however. before even Paris
was de itself with excitement over
what was quickly called 1.-The Return
Of the Hero"
All over Europe French armies had
been fiuhtng while Napoleon was In
Egypt. and they had been defeated again
and again. Here at last was a general
who had never been defeated, so far as
Paris knew at that time. Great per-
sonagcs, both men and women, fiocked
70 do him honor. dressed in magnif-
cencc, surrounded by every appearance
Of grandeur: and they found him quiet
II voice apparently frank, wearing not
a brilliant uniform covered with deco
rauuus. hut clothing Of quiet color and
simple fashion.
Instead IL plunging into the brilliant
llfe ~ court he sought the society OF
learned men talked with them about
science. philosophy, art. Because OF
this people in general became con-
WINGED that the country had nothing to
fear from him; that he was a loyal
citizen ~ the French Republic; that he
had no d.a Of making himself all pow
crful But everything now points to
the conclusion that during this time Ma
poleon was quietly making definite plans
for something which was shortly to oc-
cur and have its effect throughout the
entire world.
With utmost care a plot was arranged
whereby BOnaparte and two OF his as
soca,,s Sieyes and Roger-D ucos, were
10 talk" control of the country, although
the country was not to know for some
time at'trward just how much control
they had taken. Making the excuse
thai 'hoy had discovered a plot to over
throw he Government of France these
men We're to be appointed consuls and
10 dr'Ct affairs while the Government
was being reconstructed. At last "the
pear was ripe; and Bonaparte pro-
.cecd'd io pick 1t.
The city Of Paris was strongly gar
rson,i by troops who were loyal 10
nm 'n' Councils, up to that time pow
cru. 20 Government affairs, were trans
ferr"d from Paris to st. Cloud, five miles
away. where a coup detat was planned
on" e the peculiar steps which
French politicians know how to carry
GU suddenly and successfully. This
step Was 20 dissolve the Councils, take
away rhrir authority, dismiss them and
pla'" !Huaparte. Sieyes and Ducos in
power .s cOnsuls for n term Of years.
S''r'hng had been planned with
~" utmost nicely on November (the
mite II Brumaire) the details were
hha'N creed upon and 1t twas decided
10 sI ng the plot three days later. The
!ht'r ''tng time was fully occupied
EN''F .sSlble precaution was taken "a
SEQ '.' nothing was interfered with
una .. counter plot was launched.
Whoa The hour Of crisis came Bona
par'e md Sieyes We're secluded in q
room m' the palace at st. Cloud. Troops
were un guard everywhere. From the
chamh'gs where the Councils were
m'"INE came vague rumors so disquiet'
hf chat Bonaparte realized that the
m"iErn. for action had arrived. Sur
rounded by his stan ne suddenly ap.
pear'I 40 the door OF the chamber wher,
he Council OF the Ancients was as
stmh.,l
f'r moment ne hesitated before thu
unreal ung scene, for this time he wa'