Recollections of Paris Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...feelings of the army. This was in the month of August. Sixty of the pupils of the military school at St. Cyr, who had just passed their examination and were about to join their various corps, dined at the Trois Fr&res in the Palais Royal, a celebrated restaurant closed some years ago. After numerous toasts to the Imperial family, the Army, &c. had been drunk with the usual honours, the pupils separated, wishing each other not adieu, but au revoir till next spring in Prussia And this same spirit was constantly manifested up to the time that the great Franco-German difficulties ceased smouldering and burst out into flames. There were many causes to kindle this war. First of all there was Sadowa and the wonderful success of the Prussian arms, which was felt all the more acutely after the 1 The bone of contention was at that moment Luxembourg. miserable way in which the Mexican expedition was brought to an abrupt termination. Scuttle home at the arrogant bidding of Mr. Scward and leave poor Maximilian to his fate was a humiliating piece of business, a deplorable epilogue to " the brightest idea of the reign." Few Frenchmen ever heard of Mr. Seward's despatch, but all felt that a certain amount of French prestige had oozed away and ought to be made good. What a sorry figure did France cut in presence of a successful Prussia Hence a terrible feeling of jealousy. Prussia was on every lip, and " the word that floats ou the surface Is as the tossing buoy which betrays where the anchor is hidden." For four years before the war broke out, M. Thiers had never ceased bewailing in and out of the Chamber the loss of French preponderance in Europe. Then the French, in spite of Mexico, which had proved a severe drain upon their resources, were confident in...