The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-26
NCESSANT WORK AND STUDY
MARKED NAPOLEONS YOUTH

aCaueWy ndu StaH O1 some twenty
instructors. and much attention was
given to studies making for physical
strength, agility, dexterity, such as
riding in the saddle. dancing and
fencing. Napoleon. however, disdained
these as comparatively unimportant.
but continued his work i'm history,
biography, mathematics and in par
ticular the analysis of military cam
paigns. Once he turned in paper
concerning a phase Of history, and on
1t De rEsguille wrote: "Corsican by
nature and character. He will 20 far
II circumstances permit" In comment
ing upon his French style, which he
seems to have had difficulty in acquir-
ing, Domairon remarked: ut Is granite
heated in a Volcano
Napoleon had been at the academy
in Paris only few months when
another blow fell. His father. Charles
du Buonaparte. died In February in the
city OF Montpelier, where he had gone
to consult eminent ply scians as to his
failing health--discouras ed. weighed
down with financial anxiety for wife
and children. not knowing where to turn
next for relief After this the cadet
at Paris Stunned the society of his
fellows more than ever. lie fairly SUBJ
merged himself with work.
Now If never before. must he seize
advantages Of training for his career
before they vanished; before some new
blow crushed them: before they were
snatched from his hand. And less than
a year after the time he arrived from
l,ricnne he took his final examinations
at Paris. which he passed with the
rank Of AZ in a class in which his
friend, Des Mazis, ranked fifty-sixth.
Both lads had requested appointments
| to the regiment Of La Fere, then sta
toned at Nalence. and thther they set
| out together. their journey broken by
a stay in Lyons. whore their real boy
ishness was shown in the fact that
| they spent about all the money they
possessed and We're compelled to tramp
the rest of the distance on foot.
At this time the army Of France had
| fallen to low estate. The officers re-
garded 1t as point Of vantage for social
prominence and the life growing there
| from. AS matter Of serious concern
to their country. as It's arm Of defence
they thought little If at all. The rank
and file were filled with nondcscript
| neer do wells. Weak in organization.
with insufficient equipment. with a
~ 1885 was not n body which careful
father would encourage a son To enter.
Sloane (Vol. l.. page 6N quotes as
follows an advertisement for recruits
TO the regiment of la Fere which he
AYERS was but "A sample of the whole:
Dancing three times week" says
! the quoted advertisement, "rackots twice
and the rest of the time sk.ttles. pris-
| ri' lans r,il
Every man has the highest pay and is
| well treated
Yet many years later, far away at st.
| Helena, the dethroned Emperor recalled
La Fere as a regiment of fine person
mel. well trained and commanded by ex-
cellent officers who, although too old for
actual service, We're loyal to their ooun-
try and took fathorly interest in the
| young men under them.
| II was while at Nalence with his first
regiment that Bonaparte finally burst
out Of his shell of reserve and faced the
world. welcoming its joyousness and go-
| ing half way To meet II. And It was in
January. 1886, that he received his COM
| mission as lieutenant. For the first
time the youth went To balls, for the
| first time he was welcomed in society
which. though OF the provinces. main
| tanned traditions, and with them also
manners. agreeable talk, Wit and appre-
citation of the beautiful.
He had been recommended by the
| Marbeufs to the social arhlter in Va
lcnCe. the Mgr. de Tarl idOn. Able os
Saint-Run, who introduced him in some
Of the best houses. including those of
Nine. Gregoirc du Colombier. Mime. Lau-
| h,rie a.. Saint -Gprmain and Mime de