BONAPARTE'S WONDERFUL INFLUENCE OVER MEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1678, 3 October 1887, Page 3

BONAPARTE'S WONDERFUL INFLUENCE OVER MEN.

All equality, all familiarity, freedom, or companionship, fled at hia approach. When he had been appointed to command the army of Italy, Admiral Decres, wbo had known him well In Pariß, hearing that he was to pass to Toulon, offered to present all his comrade.-. The Admiral »ya: 'I ran, full of eagerness aud delight, V v greet him. Tbe doors of th. salon .pened. I was going to spring towards :lm, when his attitude, his look, the tound of Ws voice, were sufficient to arrest me. There was nothing offensive or Insulting, but It was enough. After that I have never tried to overstep the distance tbat he had placed between us.' Some days later, at Albenga, tbe generals of division, among tbe rest Angerean, a kind of heroloal, rough old soldier, prond of his tall form and of his bravery, came to head quarters very badly disposed towards the little upstart whom they had sent to them from Paris, From the description given of him Angerean is Insulting and Insubordinate m advanoe* • A favorite of B;r.aß ! ' he says ;* a street general.' They are admitted, and Bonsparte makes them wait. He tppears finally, girds on his sword, puts on his hat, explains his dispositions, gives them his orders and dismisses them, Augereau bad remained dumb. When they are outside he firßt recovers himself, and finds again bis customary oaths. He agrees with Massena tbat * that little b of a general frightened him.' He is not Bble to understand ' the ascendency at the first glance.' Another specimen of tbia ascendency on another old soldier of the revolution, still rougher and more energetic than Aogoreau, la given m the experience of General Vandamme. In 1815 Vandamme eaid to Marshal Soult one day, as they were ascending together the steps of the Toillerias : 'My dear friend, that devil of a man (referring to the Emperor) exercises a fasoination over me that I am unable to account for. He influences rae to that degree that I, who fear neither God nor devil, am ready to tremble like a child when he approaches. He could make me pass through the eye of a needle, to cast myself m the fire for him.' — • Cosmopolitan for June.' -