Opis: Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 25 (Classic Reprint) - Cannon George Quayle

Excerpt from Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 25

We begin to hear ominous murmurs of hatred and revolt from the downtrodden people who have suffered so long.

In France a terrible spirit is rising which is not to be quelled by promises or threats. Throughout the kingdom there are signs of preparation for some great outbreak. Fresh crimes of extravagance and exaction are committed by the royal family and the murmurs of indignation and resentment are loudly heard. In vain for the rulers now to preach of the "divine right of kings."

A spirit of infidelity has taken possession of men's hearts, and the old lessons of humility and subjection to kingly power are being unlearned. We see the commencement of that great revolution which overturns the order of things established for centuries, and convulses with its terrors the whole of the civilized world. We see the prison of the Bastile, that monument of wrong and tyrrany fall before the fury of the people. We see the king and his beautiful queen meet their death upon the block, and witness with horror the terrible scenes of violence and bloodshed which follow. The people now rule France and the families of the nobility are dragged to prison, only to be brought forth to meet their death upon the guillotine.

The people are like wild beasts after their long and helpless endurance of wrong, and the streets of Paris run with blood. List upon list of victims are made out, and thousands die daily upon the scaffold or guillotine. Those of the nobility who escape the vengeance of the people flee into exile; but the lack of these legitimate victims does not put a stop to this mad carnival of death. Factions rise one after another and each as it gains power prepares lists of victims for the guillotine, from the ranks of those parties which oppose them. Anarchy and terror rule and France becomes a vast field of bloodshed. Month after month goes by and the terrible carnage continues, while outside nations look on in horror.

At length Robespierre, the last of those whose wills have controlled the powerful factions which ruled France, is assassinated, and the fearful period of violence is closed.

Now we see the commencement of the career of Napoleon Bonaparte whose achievements are to rival in wonder those of the great heroes of antiquity. We see him first a mere youth, distinguished by his part in quelling the insurrection in Paris, occasioned by the establishment of a new constitution for France. Then we witness his brilliant victories in Italy and Egypt and see him made first consul of France. Austria is next compelled to bow before his victorious arms, and his successes are rewarded by his being made emperor of the French. Success attends his every effort, and the first kingdoms of the earth pay homage to the genius of the humble Corsican. The chief countries of Europe are subdued by his arms while the world looks on in amazement.

At length however we see his fortunes reversed. The invasion of Russia is the commencement of a series of disasters which end in his complete downfall. Battle after battle is lost and we see Napoleon compelled to retire to Elba. But the great hero is not yet conquered. We see him escaping from his island and landing in France to be received almost as a god by the French people. We see his triumphant march to Paris and the preparations made by the great nations to array themselves against the man whose ambitious plans threaten the peace of all Europe. At length the armies of Napoleon and the allied hosts of Europe meet at Waterloo, and this great battle closes the career whose glorious progress has dazzled the world. The great warrior dies alone in his island prison of St. Helena, hated and feared to the last by the nations which hold him in their power. In his humble grave at St. Helena he lies neglected, till at last the acclamation of all France demands the honored return of the dead hero to the land which owes so much to his

Szczegóły: Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 25 (Classic Reprint) - Cannon George Quayle

Nazwa: Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 25 (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Cannon George Quayle
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331578529
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 44
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 25 (Classic Reprint) - Cannon George Quayle