Year: 1873

sole mission ~ was 10 accept Chdhenecs'
lie was generally an Old halfpay officer
or sergeant. and now and then It hap
pened that he could not even read. Mac
Mahon fought seven OF these gentlemen in
was never once wounded. nor did he ever kill his
man. He was sngularly expert in the art OF
pinking his adversary in the cshy part Of the right
arm, just above the elbow, innicting wound that
was not dangerous. but which obliged his adver
sary drop his foil like hot COAL and to keep his
arm in sling for six weeks This thrust got to
be known as .lG bofte MacMdhon,n and it earned
the young officer many encomiums, for which he
little cared, being in his heart averse to duel
ling. In 1929, being then 81, he was promoted 10
lieutenancy and in 1880 he was sent at his own
request to take part in the expedition against
the Dey OF Algiers. This expedition was short and
brilliant, and Lieutenant MacMahon much distin-
guished himself in IL by his GOODNESS under fire and
by his steady zeal But just after Algiers had
fallen the news arrived that the revolution OF July
had taken place, and that Charles x. had been de-
throned and driven into exile This was heavy
blow to the MacMahons, and II the young Count
Maurice had been but mere carpet soldier his
prospects OF advancement would then have ended
AS it was.


THE MARQUIS OF MAcMAHoN FoRFEITED HIS PEER


AGE


by refusing to swear the oath OF allegiance to the
new King Louis Philippe. He advised his son,
hnxva avart IN in army and
so. He disked the new regime, and cherished an
ardent hope that it would soon collapse being well
resolved in such an event to lend his sword in
storing him whom he conceived to be the only
rightful sovereign OF France. But meanwhile he
volunteered for active service whe rever it was
to be found his object being to keep aloof from the
court. In 1882 he accompanied the French army
to the siege Of Antwerp alde-de-camp to General
Achard, and obtained his captaincy. In the follow
ing year he set of for Agiers again. and battled
increasingly against the Arabs till 1887. when he
was wounded at the siege Of Constantine and
decorated with the Legion OF Honor. BY that time
his reputation for quiet, unobtrusve bravery was
so well established that an offer was made him OF
a post at court with the rank of Kings aide-de-
camp; but de declined 1t, and, after three years.
more tough and wearisome campaigning, he ex-
changed his place on the stan for the rank OF major
in line regiment. and in 1S42 exchanged again
into the Foreign Legion, with lieutenant c0lOnels
epaulet. Thrown very much by the chances OF
MacMahon grew to like them and IN 1s45 he 80
far relaxed his hostility to Louis Philippe as to
turn France Colonel OF the Forty first foot aud
to the oath Of fealty which then required
OF all officers IN command OF regiments. Matters
had much changed since MacMahon had last been
quartered on French SOIL In 1S45 Louis Philippe
looked as securely seated on his throne as Charles
X. did in 1926, and the gallant Marquis Qor his
father had recently died) was given to understand
that if he would only show himself at court he
might hope in the course OF few years to take his
seat in the House or Lie-Peers which had sue
ceeded the old hereditary Chamber. But Mac
Mahon's loyalty did not 60 the length
OF seeking political honors. He accepted
military promotion because rewards OF this sort
quired formal surrender OF his private opinions,
the oath he had sworn pledging him simply not
to bear arms against the King. He was still le-
girimist however, and when Louis Philippe fell, in
ls4s, he was sincerely pleased, though he sympa-
thized with the Orleans princes, and wrote TO the
Duke Of Aumale a frank and manly letter OF con.
dolence.


THE NEW REPUBLIC AT ONCE PROMOTED MAcMAHoN
to major generals rank. He was too ef1cient and
honorable an oficer to be passed over, and the
republican government had hoped to win him over
to their side but in this they were mistaken. Mac
Mahon promised to obey the established govern.
ment OF his country, whatever 1t should be but his
dislike for .repubicanism was too deep-rooted to
be plucked out by honors, however natterlng, and
until the coup d'etat Of 1851 he lived in the daily
claimed by the National Assembly and resume the
reins OF power winch had fallen from his grand
fathers hands in 1880. The restoration or the
Second Empire seemed to him to cut down all such
hopes forever, and accordingly the Marquis OF
MacMahon gave in his sincere allegiance to Napo.
leon Ill, and was recompensed with the grade OF
lieutenant general. Comparatively young at this
date, being only A. rich. well born and much liked
by his brother officers, the Marquis OF MacMahon
was just such soldier as the Emperor liked to
have about him. He well knew that Mao
Mahon served the Empire rather from ne.
cessity than from love; rather because he deemed
it the only form OF government possible than be-
cause the name Of Napoleon had any great attrac-
tions for him; but the Emperor did not dislike
legitimists. splendid marriage which General
MacMahon made in 1853 with the daughter OF the
royalist Duke de Castries further won him the
good opinions Of the Emperor. ana the Empress
Eugcnie laid herself out to be especially gracious