第 62 节
作者:飘雪的季节      更新:2021-02-17 23:32      字数:9322
  mounted game…keepers; who with great difficulty controlled the pack
  of sixty or seventy hounds; the dogs and keepers together almost
  driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling。  On
  reaching the stand; I was posted within about twenty' yards of a
  long; high picket…fence; facing the fence and covered by two trees
  very close together。  It was from behind these that the King usually
  shot; and as I was provided with a double…barreled shot…gun; I
  thought I could do well; especially since close in rear of me stood
  two game…keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was
  emptied。
  Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park
  to drive up the game。  The yelps of the hounds drawing near; I
  cautiously looked in the direction of the sound; and the next moment
  saw a herd of deer close in to the fence; and coming down at full
  speed。  Without a miss; I shot the four leading ones as they tried
  to run the gauntlet; for in passing between the stand and the fence;
  the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from
  me。  At the fourth I stopped; but the gamekeepers insisted on more
  butchery; saying; 〃No one but the King ever did the like〃 (I guess no
  one else had ever had the chance); so; thus urged; I continued firing
  till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shotsan easy task with a
  shot…gun and buckshot cartridges。
  The 〃hunt〃 being endedfor with this I had had enough; and no one
  else was permitted to do any shootingthe aide…decamp directed the
  game to be sent to me in Florence; and we started for the chateau。
  On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw
  my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the game…
  keepers。  There was much commotion; the men pointing out the game and
  shouting excitedly; 〃See the wild boar!〃 otherwise I should not have
  known what was up; but now; looking in the indicated direction; I saw
  scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a
  halfgrown black pig; or shoat。  He was not in much of a hurry either;
  and gave no evidence of ferocity; yet it is said that this
  insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear
  the customary way。  After an early dinner at the chateau we
  returned to Florence; and my venison next day arriving; it was
  distributed among my American friends in the city。
  Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan; and then honored
  me with a military dinner; his Majesty and all the guests; numbering
  eighty; appearing in full uniform。  The banqueting hall was lighted
  with hundreds of wax candles; there was a profusion of beautiful
  flowers; and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual
  magnificence。  The table service was entirely of goldthe celebrated
  set of the house of Savoyand behind the chair of each guest stood a
  servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush。  I sat at
  the right of the King; whohis hands resting on his sword; the hilt
  of which glittered with jewelssat through the hour and a half at
  table without once tasting food or drink; for it was his rule to eat
  but two meals in twenty…four hoursbreakfast at noon; and dinner at
  midnight。  The King remained silent most of the time; but when he did
  speak; no matter on what subject; he inevitably drifted back to
  hunting。  He never once referred to the Franco…Prussian war; nor to
  the political situation in his own country; then passing through a
  crisis。  In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep
  gratitude for honoring me so highly; and his response was that if
  ever he came to America to hunt buffalo; he should demand my
  assistance。
  》From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva; then to Nice; Marseilles;
  and Bordeaux。  Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been
  called together by the government of the National Defense for the
  purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of
  twenty…one days; arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in
  negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January。  The
  convention was a large body; chosen from all parts of France; and was
  unquestionably the most noisy; unruly and unreasonable set of beings
  that I ever saw in a legislative assembly。  The frequent efforts of
  Thiers; Jules Favre; and other leading men to restrain the more
  impetuous were of little avail。  When at the sittings a delegate
  arose to speak on some question; he was often violently pulled to his
  seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues; who would throw
  off their coats and gesticulate wildly; as though about to fight。
  But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way; so the
  convention delegated M。 Thiers to represent the executive power of
  the country; with authority to construct a ministry three
  commissioners were appointed by the Executive; to enter into further
  negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace;
  the terms of which; however; were to be submitted to the convention
  for final action。  Though there had been so much discussion; it took
  but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles; the
  principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France; and
  Bismarck on the part of the Germans。  The terms agreed upon provided
  for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the
  convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from our
  Minister; Mr。 Washburn; I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors
  make their triumphal entry。
  In the city the excitement was at fever heat; of course; the entire
  population protesting with one voice that they would never; never
  look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city。  No!
  when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses; or
  shut their eyes to such a hateful sight。  But by the 1st of March a
  change had come over the fickle Parisians; for at an early hour the
  sidewalks were jammed with people; and the windows and doors of the
  houses filled with men; women; and children eager to get a look at
  the conquerors。  Only a few came in the morning; howeveran advance…
  …guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry。  The main column
  marched from the Arc…de…Triomphe toward the middle of the afternoon。
  In its composition it represented United GermanySaxons; Bavarians;
  and the Royal Guard of Prussiaand; to the strains of martial music;
  moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la Concorde; was
  distributed thence over certain sections of the city agreed upon
  beforehand。  Nothing that could be called a disturbance took place
  during the march; and though there was a hiss now and then and
  murmurings of discontent; yet the most noteworthy mutterings were
  directed against the defunct Empire。  Indeed; I found everywhere that
  the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's doorhe; by this
  time; having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war。
  The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at
  Versailles the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into
  Paris; though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started。
  After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles; and
  as soon as circumstances would permit; I repaired to the Imperial
  headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title
  and dignities; and to say good…bye。
  Besides the Emperor; the only persons I me at Versailles were General
  von Moltke and Bismarck。  His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame
  of mind; and as bluff and hearty as usual。  His increased rank and
  power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him; and by
  his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with
  the German army had contributed to his pleasure。  Whether this was
  really so or not; I shall always believe it true; for his kind words
  and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion。
  General von Moltke was; as usual; quiet and reserved; betraying not
  the slightest consciousness of his great ability; nor the least
  indication of pride on account of his mighty work。  I say this
  advisedly; for it is an undoubted fact that it was。  his marvelous
  mind that perfected the military system by which 800;000 men were
  mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of
  combination that; in a campaign of seven months; the military power
  of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled。
  I said good…bye to Count Bismarck; also; for at that busy time the
  chances of seeing him again were very remote。  The great Chancellor
  manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone
  else at the Imperial headquarters。  Along with his towering strength
  of mind and body; his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and
  impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men; and now in his
  frank; free way be plainly showed his light…heartedness and
  gratification at success。  That w