Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / June 6, 1909, edition 1 / Page 18
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, .1 1 (. ' , " CHAELOTTE, DAILY OBSEKvER, .SUNDAY, JTJNB 6, IDOa. t) I:, It- 7 , w ; Peter Stuart Ney of North Carolina 1 ; ' Bg LINDA CLEMENT : - 'Three years after the execution of Marshal Ney In Paris some French 'refugees sojourning in Georgetown, 8 Ct wet a schoolmaster who. In the town, orai known as Peter Stuart ey. They publicly declared that in . the exiled Frenchman they recognised their great and loverf marshal, Michel Ney. Friends ef Peter Ney, overjoyed to learn that he, the remarkable . stranger, bearing o distinguished a cognomen, was not merely the lowly pedagogue he assumed, made haste to tell him that his identity waj known. As mysteriously as he had appeared In their midst he departed, leaving no trace by which he might be followed. Afterward, however, It was learn ed that he -was teaching In Browns ville. Marlboro county, S. C. Here In 1821, while in the schoolroom at his, iwork a newspaper was brought to i him which bore tidings of Napoleon Bonaparte's death at St. Helena. The news, to an ordinary soldier of thi; French revolution, would have meant a sigh, a tear of regret without further outward manifestations of Jeeling Peter Ney read In horribli fascination the short account of his Emperor's end. then turning deathly pale, fell in a dead faint to the floor. When he had revived his school was dismissed for the day. In his room some hours later he burned most of his valuable papers. The next morning, when he did not make his appearance among the family of the home in which he was boarding, those going in search found him w ith a gash In his throat. The blade of the knife with which he had sought to end hl unhappy existence ha'l fatefully broken, sparing for a lunger period the life that some super natural power had so long stood guardian of. Skortly alter this while attending a military review In Columhla and occupying an honorary position as rlgned him In the parade by the Gov ernor, he waa a second time rec-og-r.ised by Frenchmen who had known him as the marshal. Again, when the rumor whs brought to him of hl discovery he fled. In Mocksvllle. Davie county. N. C. he sought ob livion among a people who had noi previously sheltered a French fugi tive. Here In 1 822. he resumed his occu pation ae teacher. But even In this obscure and shut-In place the fear of an nswnasln never left him. With the people who so graciously received him he. in time, grew Intimately fond and to the moat trusted of theee friends he related the story of his adventurous life. From French records, one learns that Marshal Ney was not of noble origin. His father was called Peter Key; his mother, a Ptuart. was of Scotch descent. The pedagogue de clared: "I could not give up the tame of Ney on coming to America. ro T decided to take my father's name snd add to it the niniden name of my mother.' Of hla bogus execution in Paris. Peter Stuart Ney. in relating the cir cumstances leading up to It. slated that Louis XVII. was full of rcvine, rna m oroer lo make his execution . the more horrible decreed that his own soldiers must lire the fatal allots. Not until after he left the prison for the place of his execution was he tcld that a plot had been formed to spare his life. Over his heart a thin lubber bag containing a red lluid was concealed. He was told that he should himself give -the command to fire, nt the same time striking his bren.it with sufficient force to burst the bug. Instead of being carried to the Plains of Jrtnelle. where he Mud every one else mupikmkm! the execution was to take phice. the carriage con taining besides himself inii the curate of gt. Sulpire. stopped in a narrow alley Just back of the Luxembourg Uarden. He was immediately order ed to alight. As he passed the line of detailed soldiers drawn up before. Mm, he whispered, "Aim hlh." His command In battle had always been Aim low." When he had taken his place about eight paces from the wall the officer commanding the party advanced to ward him for the purpose of bandag ing his eyes. But N'ey stopped him Are you Ignorant," he said, "that for twenty-five years I have been accus tomod to face both halls snd bullets' The officer, confused and embarrassed mapped back. Ney, taking advantage of the halt 1n the proceeding, said. "I protest before Rod and my coun try against the sentence which has condemned me." With the next rath, striking his heart with his hand, he gave the command to fire, falling as he did so, and alluwing every bullet to pass over him. Besides the soldiers, only five or fix persons w-rtneesed the execution; these unwilling or chance spectators, among -whom, most probably, were everal children. When the smoke from the discharged guns of the exe cutioners had lifted, the apparently lifeless form of Michel !y was cover ed with a Cloth. A few minutes later the body was borne to the chaise that no lately had drawn him and conveyed to the Hospital for Foundlings. ''?''' From that place, the next morning. f.ta leaden coffin encased In a pine one ' :. containing- possibly a substitute-! ?.'" corpse, but most probably none at all, " "was carried to the Cemetery of Perc 5'.-. J Chaise and burled without anv ,-, , rites or ceremonies whatever. Tho 'L marshal's wife, -who loved him de , votedly. did not so much as witness :' the burial. Peter Stuart Ney asserted that from the hospital, on the night after his V bogus execution, he fled, and having been provided with one of the swiftest 1 of horses, reached Bordeaux by day- break. From there, disguised as a ',. servant, he took passage on a ship fcound for America. On January 29. lilt, after a 35-days' voyage, he " landedat Charleston, S. C. On board the same vessel on which JCey embarked and with the same des tination In view, was an old soldier. who had served under his command , In the French wars. One day the old veteran, who. for some time, had been suspiciously attracted to the disguised marshal, approached him and ofte-'- conversing with him for some min te told him that he knew him. ;"Wn do rou think I am?" his old : tommsnder asked. The reply csme. ' ' My old leader. Marshal Key." In rough voice the Duke of Elchfrigefl , nought to mislead him. saying. "Mar shal Ney wag executed two weeks ago In Paris," And ' Immediately after . ward, fearing further Identification. .i iit 'withdrew from the man and was not seen again by the passengers dur ing the entire voyage. Peter Ney'e first three years on American soil were spent In utmost seclusion. It Is said hs gave two very plausible reasons for this. The first was that lie felt confident that after that lapse of time all Europe would have 'ceased to discuss him and be lieve him dead, despite any rumors to the contrary that might arise. Be tides this, it was necessary that he spend a part of his time In study and review to fit himself for his profes sion as schoolmaster. He had de cided on his occupation soon after reaching the land In -which his exile was to be spent "Here" (in the school room), he said, "I can earn my living and be my master still." The Idea of serving a man whom he might consider his inferior, was always moat lepellant and repugnant te him. There is connected with Schoolmas ter Ney's arrival In Mocksville. Davie county. N. C. an Incident which many of the children and grandchildren of the teacher's old pupils still relate During a heated political campaign in 1 822 a group of men had assembled in the Ifctle village of a few houses to discus the leading Issues of the op posing parties. Pre-eminent In the assemblage was Dr. Schools, an Irish man by birth and rearing, but for nevernl years a native by adoption of the town. When the argument began to clash as the debate waxed warmest. Dr. Pi hools became msulted by a state ment made by one of the party. He declared that his opponent meant his remark as a persona.1 Insult to him self and demanded an apology. When this was denied him, his Irish blood -ought revenge In an encounter. Dike llKhtnlng he grubbed the offender and rwnr? be iwould thrust him through vith the dagger which he had Just drawn from a concealed place on his pexfcon At that juncture a stranger of Im posing ac&arance added himself to the group. Without amy hesitancy whatever, he walked up to the Doctor and laid hi Hand on his arm as he asked of him In some surprise "What! kill a man unarmed with no rhanof bo defend himself?" The qi.iet Irrjiilry chilled the boiling Wood of the Irishman. Dike magic, his dagger sought Its accustomed hiding place and the hwmd that had held 't nas extended to the stranger. With a ifcretgn brogue, but in erfectlv intel ligible English, the peacemaker con tinued: "I bit. Peter Stuart Nev, a French refugee, in search of a school." The people of the vlllasre were in ned of a teacher end Mr Ney eneounten d no difficulties In coming to terms w!th them. Whatever my have been the first !mprelon made by the Frenchman, time onfy served to strengthen them In his favor. Tn iphyaical appearance, he was tall and athletic His head .was very large emd remarkably shaped,. One historian. In describing; It, said: "Flaftish on top, ovaJ. long from front to hark." His hair was red. complexion florid, forehand broad, deep and full; eyes blue or gray and deep set. overhung by great bushy eyebrows; his mouth straight and firm; llpe tightly compressed In re pose; chin large and prominent; neck short and massive; step quick and spirited with marked military tread; face some.what scarred as If by small pox; voice deep and vibrant. In personality and characteristics Peter Stuart Ney was even more striking than in personal appear ances. Hla historian, the late Dr. Weston, says, by way of comparison in associating the pedagogue with Marshal Ney: '"Marshal Ney had a sound, strong, clear, Hcute, vigorous, practical mind. He was brave, bold, daring, intrepid, calm and cool In the hour of peril or need; active, ener getic, prompt, painstaking, methodi cal, eelf-denylng (though heady at times I, modest, kind, gentle, affec tionate, tender, horcst. Just, generous, frank, open, bhint. rough (though not coarse), impulsive, quick-tempered, sometimes offending his beM friends by the plainness and severity of his language, yet always careful to make the amplest reparation for any wrong done when the excitement of the mo in cut had passed away; a good, though not Implacable hater, a true friend, grave, dignified (yet witty and humorous at times), plain (despising the fashlms and fripperies of life), proud (though not haughty), inde pendent, yet grateful for the smallest attention or kindness, patriotic. ' an irden lover, nay, a devout worshlo er of freedo-tn, ready to die at any moment in defense of holy cause; a man of great personal magnetism and Immense moral power, who exercised a controlling influence over almoet all persons who wvtp brought into asso ciation with him. Such was Marshal Ney. Su:'h was Teter Ntuart Nev." As a techer. Ney made a reputa tion for himself while In North Caro lina, which, though probably equaled in this day of modern progressiveness. certainly has never been surnassed. He spoke wKh fluency the French, Italian. English, Latin. Greek, He brew, Rifrsian and Polish languages. Besides his knowledge of the classics, he was considered a splendid mathe matician. He was also a talented artist and frequently ga-P evidence of the fact by his free-hand sketches, in a volume of "Napoleon and His Marshals" In the Davidson College library, beside a fine engraving of Marshal Ney. Peter Ney drew a life like pencil sketch of the same indi vidual. Underneath his drawing h wrote "By Ney himself." The seal of Davidson College Is a further evi dence of the Frenchman's artistic ability. The Latin motto engrave! thereon,' sn original text of Mr. N'ey's, is supposed to refer to the Mecklen burg Declaration of Independence. The English translation of the sen tence reds: "Light must be sustain ed where liberty arose." In the history of Peter Stuart Nev's ! life there is contained a number of ! ) oems of no small merit besides ser Ing In a most convincing way to re veal his identity as the great French marshal. HSs epitaph to Napoleon Is (specially nrniseworthy. It reads: "T'jion thy self-erected throne Thy genius Mke a meteor shone: The world beheld thee and admired; Kings trembled, flattered and retired Before thy withering glance: they found Thy mental volume too profound For common kings to scan: in fear They placed thy mortal relics here Lst from the grave thy mouldering hones Might rise and blast their" rescued thronee." The two poems which are vibrant of his Illustrious past are; Though I of the chosen the choicest. To fame gave her loftiest tone; Though I 'mong the brave was the bravest. My plume and -my baton are gone! The eagle that feinted to conquest Was struck from his altitude high A prey to a vulture the foulest. No more to revlclt the sky. One sigh to the hope that has perished, One tear to the wreck of the past. One look upon all I have cherished, One lingering look 'tis he last. And now from remembrance 1 banish The glories whloh shone In my train; Oh. vanish, fond memories, vanish! Return not to sting me again. An atom on the atmosphere,, Tossed here and there and everywhere; No female hand to press ray head Or elpse mine eyes when I am dead; No feeling friend to whisper peace And bid my erring passions cease; Tbelr wild uproar no kindred none. An exile from my native home. A wanderer, like Cain, am I And only agonize to die. Yes. agony must be my lot While sensibility is mine! ( Yet shall I never be forgot Or ailent sink to latest time. High on the pyramid of fame. The bravest of the brave, my name Shall ahlne. Oh! sweet consoling thought! When I am gone I shall not be forgot. Tn 1832 Mr. Ney taught at Burgess school house east of Mocksville. At that time of poor mall facilities the weekly arrival of the postman was an event looked forward to for days be fore the due time. In October of the stated year. Mr. Ney sent one of his pupils during the noon hour from th n hool to the office, which -wag more than a mile away. When he returned the study period had been resumed. He handed to the pedagogue a pack age of letters and walked back to his stationed place. Mr. Ney looked hastily through the bundle until hla eye was attracted by a familiar post mark. Instantly he broke the seal ef the letter. It contained the neiwa of young Napoleon's death. The other comnvinlcatkna fell nervouslv through his fingers to the floor and he. so absorbed and troubled, paused1 not to reclaim them. Frantically he ' paced back and forth the length of the room, oblivious of all else except the over-burdening weight on hi hea rt. As a maddened animal he rushed through the door to the open, where he strode once more back and forth, seeking to compose, his confused biain. Later, he re-entered the room and di 'ed school for the day. To some of his pupils who lingered be hind he revealed the nature of the awful stroke he was endeavoring to endure. "Young Napoleon is dead," said he. "and with him die my every hope of ever going back to France, of again weeing wife and children and horpe and friends." So fiercely did the fire of despair burn Into hla brain that he became 111. In delirium, he gave orders to his under officers as he fought again the old battles. Re peatedly he raved of Feienac. the man he loved above all others, save Napoleon. When the fevered brain of the un fortunate Frenchman once more be came calm, he resumed his former occupation. But realizing that hiM exile .would only end with death, he never again spoke of returning to his own country. For in France there rtlll lived those who had aided in his escape, and had they, never-forgiving Bourbons, been Informed of their miscarried plot, they would have as cruelly and unmercifully slain Ney's rescuers as they had Imposed his death sentence it is supposed that Wellington (though It Is said that Peter Ney never implicated any otic by revealing their names) contrived the plot for his escape. It is an un questionable truth that Wellingto i greatly admired Marshal Ney ami there are French records which prow his Intercession with the Bourbon monarch in behalf of "the bravest of the brave " Louis, who owed his un steady throne to the Intercession of the English, dared to Insult Welling ton when he appeared as the sup pliant and many believe that thl--made resolute the Iron Duke's deter mination of protection. Peter Ney said he was spared through the "an cient order." referring, most probably, to Masonry. He and Wellington Jjore the same high rank in that fraternity. Marshal Ney was the best fencer i:i Europe with the exception of Murat. The North Carolina schoolmaster could use a sword -with a dexterity that amazed the most appreciative of American spectators. Those of his pupils showing any interest or de sire of proficiency in swordsmanship he took into careful training. The practice weapons he used with theso lnheir sham encounters were corn stalks. The Influences of the refugee' j ast life were everywhere brought to bear upon those with whom he wna nssociated. Even In the schoolroom his manner of order and discipline were distinctly military In caste. There were those In his training then who in the after years donned m;lts of gray and shouldered muskets to enter a -warfare in which thev would have bef n raw and blunderin-r soldiers save for The training he had given There were many of theee. at evening by campfires, who. with the cver-preent reminder of the slavery that had -made necersary their pre? ence there, remembered a solitary prave in their home State and recall- ra a pro; he v that their "bravest of the brave had uttered. "The black spot will ruin you." After leaving Davie county, Peter Muart Ney taught for a Mr. Houston in Iredell county. Mrs. Man' C. Dal ton. a daughter of Mr. Houston, con- trioyteo to Dr. Weston's book, that was published fourteen years ago. a testimonial that relates a remarkahte incident that occurred while Mr. Ney was a boarder !n the'r home. "One T about dark a stranger rode up to our gaie ana skm rather if he could stop with him that night We had a pood deal of company at the ttm ana every room was occupied. My father told htm that he was sorry he could not accommodate Mm: but the young man insisted, and said he was willing to sleep on the floor and that Mf. horse belay tired and completely worn out he could go no farther. My 'ax her then told him if he could suit himself to circumstances he would be glad to have him remain. The Granger, a fins looking man. thanked him and went In. When he wtu con ducted In to supper he took a seal ef the table opposite fr Ney, who was occupying hla vsoat seat on the left hand of mr father. Thev glanced t each other, and thou not a word was spoken, tt cedent to all with the glorle present that tt was a glance f recog tion. - My -mother said a sign passed between them. Immediately after tea. Mr. Ney and the stranger, talcing their hats, left the hons together and were not seen by the family any more that night. An old negro man (freaerick) reported that he saw them near midnight sitting behind a atrsjwatack In the field in close con versation, and although unobserved by them, couM hear them distinctly, but could not understand a word they said. The stranger ordered his horse very early the next morning and left He gave no Information about himself except in a general miay. After the man had gone. Mr. Key went to his room and remained In H all that day, radlng and writing. He never made any aJIuslon to the matter and we had too much respect for him to question him about it. The strange rod black hair, black eyes and a dark complexion. This Incident happened 1 think. In 1814 or lgS." In a note appendix Dr. Weston re fers to the testimony Just given thus "Since this book went to press, the author has received a letter from a foreign (tenlleman of high character and position. In which he says: 'I am acquainted with the history of Peter S. Ney prior to his escape to the United States of America. Many years ago. when I was a young man I vieited yout country for the express purpose of communicating with him I found him In Rowan county. North Carolina, teaching school. He was hoarding 'With a planter. After sup per ove retired to a straw-sta-k. where we spent the might In talking over ipast matters. I never saw him afterward. The identity of Peter S. Nev has been a profound secret. He was a fugitive from Jostlce, and many persons In Frajice were accessory to hi ?scape. If MVter 8. Ney had re vetted his Identity In America, his friends in France who aided in his eecape would have suffered death Fn now, perhaps, his Identity can not fully be made known. He was born January 10. 1789.' "The name of this writer cannot bp given. It is kno-wn only to my publisher. Mr. Thomas Whittaker, ami tr? self." Two of the strongest and most con- luMve testimonials of the Ney book are as follows: R. A. Henderson, attorney at law, Topefca, Kan.: "I was born in Eng 'and; was educated at the Royal Mili tary College, and served three years ;n the regul?r army.( My grand father (Robert Laird) was an Eng lish soldier In the Peninsular war and at Waterloo. In the Peninsular war he was a member of the Eighty eighth Regtar.ert, known as the Con raught Rangers, and at Waterloo h was a sireant In ihe celebrated Sixth Innlskillen DTsgoons, who -were al most annihilated in their charge aalnat the Cuirassiers. After tha 1 attle of Waterloo he went to Franco and remained there with the army of occupation. He was one of the per sons representing the English army appointed to v.-ltncyg the execution of Ny. I iiHe heard him say often that Ney was not executed; that he raw the muskets discharged, saw Ney fall, viewed the body, saw it taken up ui d curried away, saw It In the hos pital, bjt that Ney was not hurt; that the so-called execution was a fan-?. He always affirmed this in tho nicst positive manner. Said Nev's fall ui-s not natural and that the supposed bullet marks upon hiH rte-- son were artificial. I think ha iiif-o sta;?-l that some Prussians were present at th scene. My impression is that he buid the guns contained Wank cartridges. The report made by tiie commission, of which he" was a member, to the military authorities was this; Marshal Ney was not shot.' 1 may be mistaken aa to some minor mc Iters, jut the essential facts are as I have given them. My grandfather w as a man of approved courage. He had a gr.at many medals which were Klven to him for gallantry in th? Pnlnaulit- war and at Waterloo. He was born in Fermanagh, six miles fr( m Innisklllon, Ireland, and was xery okl when he died. While in the army he kept a private dNrv, which l.e bequeathed to me. I have it among my books in, Canada. In that diary will be found a conflnT.atto.n of what I have said and other details of tho alleged execution. "My grandfather further said th?.t at the time of the ao-catb-d execution it was common talk in the army and elsev.-here that Ney was not shot." Correspondent of I he St. Louis Re public, Rikport. Mo- "Major Thomas W. Sampson, of Rocknort I gives lon.u very interesting facts In regard to th. mytterious Ney which reem to establish the fact conclu sively that h was not ehot on that dismal and foggy morning when so many brave men fell victims to the merciless decree or the French Council of Peers. Major Sampson states that the late George H. C. Melody, of St. Louis, spent several weeks In Paris, France, In 1S45. dur ing the reign of Louis Philippe. King of the Fremh HI majesty extende 1 to the American commoner many tokens of friendship In recognition of courtesies t-xtfnded to the King hv Mr. Me!ody ln St. Lpoiis during the King's exile years before. "In the course of a eorridenllal con versation during this visit Mr. M.-indv asked Louis Philippe the question: is the statement in history that Mir. shal Ney was ehot true?' ine King replied: 'Mr. Malndv I know the fact that you are on the highest Masons in America t em known as one of the most exaltr.l Masons In Europe. Marshal v.. held a position among Masons equal to either of us. The Drlsons full of men , condemned to bp v,f These men were daily being marched out to meet their fate. Some oth.r man may have filled the grave In- lenoeo tor Marshal Ney." Mr. Melodv replied very ruietly: 'May It please your majesty. Key -was not ahof " were not the statements mai. I.ouia Philippe in his conversation with the American sufficient proof of iiseii to establish the execution . bogus one. an occurrence In Paris fourteen or fifteen years previous to that tWne Is recorded which should make believers of the most doubtful. In 1SJ0, fifteen years after- MF.h.t Ney Is said to have been executed, cne of the lawyers who defended him during his trial with the com bined influence and personal rrn. : of some other high-ranked French of ficials sought to DTOCTtr from tfc. Chamber of Peers a reversal f the death sentence of Marshal Ney. Such a reooest. made in behalf of a man already dead, wma most certainly Nout 1 of the ordinary line, ef demand er fevers ashed of that unit They swera thoreugMy frlgrhtened and refused to rrant tt. "v' " ; ' ;jnoiK ether theortea advanced 'bj theee who verei tntereated . tn. Petec ifey and sought reasons tor hla never returning la ah explanation vr or, Weston -which - runs - thus: - "It 1s claimed by some persons thai If P. 8. Ney were the marshal he could hear returned Ko France when a general amnesty waa granted by the Bourbon government-' It la true that most of the exiled officers Grouchy, Lalle mand, Vandrynme, Kellermann, etc returned to prance when this general amnesty was granted; but if Marshal Ney -were alive the amnesty could not possibly apply to him. because Mar shal Ney, legally and formally, "waa a dead man not an exiled officer snd. therefore, no amnesty .was -Intended to apply to him. Indeed,. the amnesty was granted simply because Marshal Ney was. in the eye of the law. a dead. man. He was the one vlctiny that had to be offered to ap pease the Bourbon wrath and- hate If he had returned at any time prior o 1148, he would have been given over to public vengeance, and every Frenchman wlio aMed in his eacapo would have been shot or hanged. Be sides. P. & Ney aald that he could not return to France unless Wellington gave hmi permission to do so. Cer talnly he was most anxious tn go back to nis nome and country." mere us fcuu in existence a copy of the book, "Mipoiaon In Exile, or h voice From St. Helena." which be longed to Peter fcjart Ney and c6n- tams marginal note throughout it, all of .which are in hla handwriting The book. I believe, was compiled by Ltr. o Meara, surgeon or fchyskrian to napoleon on St. Helena, Under the title of "Documentary Evidence as to -Neys Identity." fragmentary state- menu were culled, followed by Peter .-eys note comments and used by Dr, w-eiston in his biography of the French refugee. From the statements made by Na- I.oleon In the foregoing and the com ments offered by peter Ney, one Is compelled to believe. from the FVenehmans inner knowledge, no: only of the governmental affaire, but also of the personality o: the Em peror as well, that none other but he who had been no -closely associated as Marshal .Ney could . reveal such facts. Peter Ney loved Napoleon in the idolatrous fashion that Marshal Ney accorded him worship. Yet neither these two (or one as thev were In reality). w re ever blind to hla failings. The "bravest of the brave" knew, aside from the lesser failings of Insatiable personal ambition and audacity of the monstrosity type, that I'onaparte's faltering tongue amount ed to an Infirmity. One American hud the daring to call him "a boundr less liar." HU Tecords written from St. Helena have been declared little short of a fictitious Ktory. In these he issued Imaginary orders which he asserted iwere given by himself to his officers. It is clearly seen that the unfortunate mac had this alone to loak bis ignomlh.v and shift the bur den or disgrace of his defeat to other shouldeirs. Napoleon loved Marshal Ney and possibly Murat as much as he was capable of expending affection on any of his associates. Yet there were times when the bravery of these and he brilliancy of their combined ichie e-mrnts awakened Jealous sen sations In his saltish being. He was perfectly willing to accord them an amount of honor so long as they re mniiied his satellites, hut when their mmorta! names began to resound throughout France and the echo of iheir iiriii.se refused lo iwom stifled. he began to ast reflections. His statement concerning Marshal Nry's being a man of no educ ation is either a contradiction of his estimate of him or a reflection on his powers of 1iscermnenbj Peter Ney's note claims thnt he hart a good, though not classical, education (His knowl edge of the classics wa attained In the three and a half year' study In which he seclusivcly plied his Urn nftrr landing in America). If Rona parte considered Ney below par ln mental excellence, why should h9l have chosen him from a multitude 'o repre"nt France as minister plen!-r-otentlary to Switzerland? The lde of a diplomat being chesen from the ranks of the illiterate! A comparison of Napoleon and Ney as generals, of course, gives the Km. Teror a pace ahead of the brave mar fhal. Rut a.s moral greatness goes the war god occupies the most shadowy of backgrounds, while his subordinate (in his esteem) looms great and grand and -good asainst him. For there was never hut one Mack spot on the "bravest of the brave's" past that ot his trearhery Ci the Rourbon government he had sworn allegiance to. And If a traitor he must be called, admit as Is mosf surely true, his blunder was not of his heart. Singularly enough, there wHJa n... but one fieiw picked ln the rh-... of Peter Nev during his thlrtv-one years as an American. H at itm.. Oank to an excess and this habit he only became addicted to after Napo leon's death. He reDeatedu- i,r,i juuu mon mm wnom he .was asso ciated to let spirituous drinks alone iuwaya explaining that he used the beverage to forget for a time his ii iu tries. The old Frenchman's Inflnnnp. almost unbounded .wherever he was known. Hla moral code was almost n.ai oi a goo s. in the school room r.e insisted on Integrity to oath at naiever cost, truthfulness, purity nomeness, just dealing, frankness. Mi-rnKiiy, mercy and every other nue mat goes toward moral great- LJI- ""a. one or his old pupils. o "m: e paid as much at lrwuii pemapsio tn moral as to mental development of his pupil In this way he accomplished a vast OI s-ooa. f ew teachera. I ven ture to say, have Heft so deep, so last ing an Impress upon the minds and hearts of their pupils as "Peter Stuart Ney. He had but one vice that of occasionally drinking to excess: but his general conduct -was so pure, so honorable, so upright, so nnM 'ko ever' one. from the highest to the lowest, had the sincerest respect for Mm. the Tullest confidence in him. Hls,-oath would have been received in any court of justice as quickly and ns readily as that of Judge Pearson r Governor Morehead. His influence for good ln the comrminity where he lived can hardly be over-estimated. It is felt to this day, and will continue to be felt by succeeding generations." JPage 17 from "Was Marshal Ney Executed"). As different by contrast, as day 1 from night was the life of Peter Ney In the now-country from that tn the old. The forced Inaction of the peda. gogrie's lite during the first few years In his new profession and surrounded by wholly dissimilar circa msta noes, served to make him morbidly restless. Moweier. as time passed he recon cUed himself to the Inevitable com- menptacenesa.oTva loreigq environ. menu Hla constant oommunicatkxu with those he loved In hla hem ceun try waa the one only - privilege that amounted to. Joy U hla tonsJy exis tence. These letters cams not direct nun, ouxutrooa mendin this vyuairy. ..- ; ,;. ;. - In; personality Peter Key was re tiring and modest. ' He was -especially reticent and timid,- serhea thrown among strangers. He always avoided unknown gersons. when It, waa possi ble tor lm to do so without being rude? Prienda had too much respect to. ever Question him of his- past, though strangers oftimas aouht aatlate their curlosRJes by the rudest wi questions, it is aald that on such occasion he became tie-' "dnn. and most uninteresting of individ uals." To friends and mini 1 he w. ofttimee moat communicative of his torical events of his past. Peter Ney said on dm Mruinn o . he had a son In this -countrv and waa absent for some' time from the- place at which he waa boarding, on a vlait. sa he afterward told, to him. H often spoke of his beautiful wife and four sons. Ma once' mention hU adopted . child the one he rescued after . It had been deserted by Its u.umcr auring the retreat from Moscow. v His last recognition by. a foreigner In this country was about six years before his death. While attending court In 8tateavl!le. N. C.. he met on the street an old German-bom soldier who had served -under his command ln France. The old fellow iwas then a farmer In Iredell county and had not so much as heard of the myste-" rlous Peter Ney. WTien he saw him, believing him to be a ghost or some thing worse, he threw up both hands In the keenest agitation, screamed "Lordy. od. Marshal Ney!" The schoolmaster gave him a sign to keep silent., Afterwards he looked him up and engaged In conversation with him. In 148, while living with Mr Osborne Foard. Rowan county, Mr' iey was taken III. His ma.lady was noi a mortal one and there was no reason why he should not hav r. covered. But the broken-hearted old exile no longer considered life worth the living. He refused to take the medicine prescribed and gradually grew worse. Throughout hi. iii... he talked of his wife and his chil dren ad declared that he could stand it no longer; that he must go back o them. The attending nitv.Lu. t- ...... , in e. one of his old nnnlla nn. morning approached his heH.f. said: "Mr. Ney. I hav ilnn. thing for you that I can An a grieves me to tell you that I do not cnina you can get well." Mr. Ney looked at thr doctor anH ra.?. 'I know It. Matthew, t knn i t the afternoon of the same dav the doctor revisited hla patient. Finding him perfectly rational he asked of Mm: "Mr. Ney. we would like to know from your own I In. hf,. die. who ynu are. On the brink of eternity the "bravest of the hraVe" a ast time uttered the- truth of his Identity. "I may as well fell vou I m Marshal Ney. of France- nrA. ually the old man sank lnt nn. sclousnees. A few minutes before the end. from his flighty brain came the sentence that he may have utter ed when the cannon still reared and the smoke stifled on Waterloo. ' Bes sieres Is dead and the Old O-uard fallen, now let me die." The greatest of warriors entered Into everlasting peace. In Third Creek church burying ground Marshal Ney sleeps. fa from his kindred, hut surrounded by friends. A marble slab marks hU resting place. The stone bears thU simple inscription: In Memory of PETER STUART NET. A Native of France and Soldier of the French Revolution Under Napo leon Bonaparte. Who Departed This Life November 15th. 1 846. Aged 77 Years. WHAT WOMEN AUK IHIN. New York Sun. Miss Martha E. Johnson has Just been re-elected tax collector of ba conia, N. H. Thla Is her fourth term She is said to be the only woman tax collector In New England. She Is a graduate of the Laconia high school and is an active member of the La conla Woman's Club. Miss Mary Shaw In a lecture recent ly delivered before the Wlllium Lloyd Garrison Equal Rights Association de clared that the American women were responsible for the conditions on the American stage. 3he said that It was not actresses and actors of great gen ius who made money and were ac ceptable to the American theatre-goers. The successful actress in Amer rca was the kind of woman of whom other women said "Isn't she sweet?" The successful actor was the maff who they thought could make love grace fully. Mrs. Julian Heath presided at the meeting which was held the other day in New York for the purpose of urg ing the creation of a Federal bureau to Instruct mothers in the care of en The causa of all sldn disaaaeg oan be traced to wm the blood; the cuticle is always healthy where the jt Impurities. When tha blood is Infected witn guUto.? cannot perform Its natural work of nourishing tne rz aEd tj perature and preserving Its normal softness. piiaDw 4 Instead It Irritatas and Inflames the delicate fibres i at iu g( gores and glands and-produoes some of the many .,0D5arR The itcamg and stinging so often accompanying ska n tfi bjktha deposit from the blood of the.acrld hJi oa3 Into tha sensltlTa mambraooos flesh lying Just teneai and surrounding tha countless serves, pores na g- hi3g scratching tha outer skta affords no relief irom fl oo. o. cures aa-m uiseases ox every tuw"' vVmors ors"-" goes down Into tha drautatlon and removes the cui" priB3 causing tha trouble, buflds up tha weak, acrid blooa. gvly every variety of skta affection. Local PP!icnnss s. F never cure because thev do not reach the blood- $t a cironlatlon. nuhu tha tranhla and cures It by nta- I on Dlaaase. and any 1' ., iSX lOa onu w HOTEL MEN TAKE The Rockingham- Hotel, recently ocriip"d v- ' frAni f 1 1ay Liquor Cure Co to bow for rent. A s tinl man ,. .vi-utl The MeKanna -Day IJauor Cure to. -- thv tr i elegaat home oa South Main street. dmS Mt" J ministering the only cure for the liquor an j Write i for information. rtTfRX THE M'KANNA,3-DAY LIQU0B ,cu Bor'Ko; S,ooo. there fc. ?ssa-sati' ? Men aw !? Sl wrested l- . uiaT."- month. aU J1 Claudia ' 1 PHxe and Mra u Z J test held K,.recpt Tork. V . . . f It aLIT ftf i . - - Mrs n. e econdVT.,h tha , Jses -rj"Mti verier med hv tK. ,r1" senu to . ""re tn, Mrs. fl"ll. Mass ..i.:. F- Sobi. , marl-. nil, . - 1 ; n a-W w.... ,er' 10 HA, . "ti ... oiisbioji nr x- " i orn - i.n J Ida ' Falho-L vlsor of pi,r--', celebrated her uay. gh. lovea. as .u . " u- tn. nam of the omer '' ay me plr.ner f ' ' "um.. r education 0' , , rlt ! and after r. . ,,,. ' BJ acies gamor, aim;,' n,u.i sny. where .n " "MhtJ uated. K was a tea, her ln M or Copenhagen "" 1 in 1903 to be,-om. . Jp t of Puolir- c. h '" ! man in -ma:M;, is T aI CASE AFTER t PfonfT Vfste-tf. Ml.. . , ITUs to rvJ ocore. of Charlotte P0B,. 1 juu aooj: Dean. K ,-,... !C sa. nannv cit i . r r j uteii rnSKO a n-nt of his case of :,. vna! j ; wj merit ran h. h. i ,v. . r PI such j nent .' D. L. Mrfora xi - In nril... rtf r..- .. . j-. .... ... wuttii from th.'in T L. ... g" Of all kidney reiT.edi-i AJ "4 ha, surcerinp; rrom k!il::e this Iatrer -rnr-;' ""'" niy Kid:;es !0 ber inure nisinerrr! I riferrt ntim psi'if iii t. tnd a'n from i n s:i nf mj through rm creilnn.s we: 01"' Th J:1J e-rv unnaiur: in ana .,. ,j v a nurninn n-r.fa.t'on whrol voided. R'-ac:-,t ,f ; oj..-n ruts and I eif-.-lpg that thnl neip me. I p.-ori:.-f.fl a noi t- Jordan & ' . f rjr siore tornea me prorr.p! r-;, mji I had taken the conier.-s of j boxes. I was r;rej f h. rrl entirel'. free !iom 1 kidney since and ran nr to Dnin Kidnf, F.::j For sale f ail iie..-..e.-j cents roster-Milbj.-i i"o.. New York. sn!e ,ignts for the I Stat. Rcn-ienitr-- the r..me Doitil take no oth-r. FASSIFER MM Ol.NTOY C A Irriarat:rt S hool lor 1'ertltn.iTe H'lmit." '. iaaii lees in '-r:'i a r- Una ami N'lreini.i Superior nrisi--! anan:ajea I'rincip.i ! MISS KATi: (Cambriiie 1iii-i.-:i Musical I'iri.l"! MISS i'Hi:i.l Vs- V tl'Hris I'"'1 l-;i- siilf Dip! Fatigued! Tk. rA out md rcn (Jam, 'II l 1 J .. riKllT It that will DUi.a you , Whkey. It both a "- Four Full Quarts, W-OODH Eiprej. chaija pr? ,i . n i..,w mill ie r of a e CT " ji u m to is and STRAUS-GUNST Rk-hmond. irf Mtken o the Fr CURES fj DISEM I 1 -. . : , '" ! -' i. c.v '': : :.-'"" " - V rv-i
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 6, 1909, edition 1
18
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