The Merry Past 



and that those who know how to convey an Insult 

 have rarely the courage to redeem it. I regret that 

 it should have been my fortune to find beneath the 

 uniform of France a proof of the truth of such a 

 statement." 



The French officers of Napoleon's day were by 

 training and disposition of somewhat overbearing 

 habits, which clung to them even in the moment of 

 defeat. 



A gallant General of Division, having escaped 

 the horrors of the retreat from Moscow, arrived, 

 half frozen, at Schipenheil, in Prussia, with his 

 division, consisting of " three men and himself." 

 They were accommodated with quarters at the Burgo- 

 master's house, and the General was warming himself 

 at the stove, when a young French officer entered the 

 room, demanding, in a loud and arrogant tone, that 

 lodgings should be provided for a division of cuiras- 

 siers of 3500 men. The Burgomaster tremblingly 

 answered that he could not procure accommodation 

 for so numerous a corps. "Make yourself easy, my 

 friend," said the General ; " the young gentleman's 

 division is like mine — you may lodge them all in the 

 next room ! " 



It can hardly be conceived that in such a terrible 



retreat, during which thousands of stalwart men 



perished, an invalid would have had m.uch chance 



of survival. Nevertheless, an officer suffisring from 



typhoid fever came safely through the terrible ordeal. 



Being taken ill shortly after leaving Moscow, he was 



put in a sledge by his friends, where he lay till the 



262 



