ca, the other in Ireland--which
islands, by the way, were constantly striving to achieve their
independence.

Both were born into large families. Napoleon was a fourth child and
Wellington a fourth son. The father of each is described as an
easy-going, indulgent man, without force of character, while the mother
was the moving genius of the family. But between Napoleon and his
mother existed a lively affection; while Wellington's mother never
seemed to care for this child, and constantly spoke of him in terms of
reproach.

Both boys attended military schools in France, far away from their own
home and friends, and consequently drew apart from their comrades,
lived their own lives, and carved out their own destinies. These are
but a few of the early parallels of two famous soldiers who were
afterward to decide the fate of Europe at the points of their swords.

The family name of Wellington, before he received a dukedom, was Wesley
or Wellesley. As a boy he was known as Arthur Wellesley. His father
was the Earl of Mornington, his mother a daughter of Lord Dungannon.
The Earl is spoken of as a lover and composer of music. Arthur had
three brothers who were all destined to do noteworthy things. His
oldest brother, who bore the title of Lord Wellesley, aided him no
little in choosing his profession of soldier.

The boy's birthplace was Dangon Castle, Dublin. Almost nothing is
known as to his earliest years, beyond the sorrowful fact that his
mother was not fond of him--almost had an aversion to him--and spoke of
him openly as "the fool of the family." From this we infer that Arthur
was a silent, reserved lad, who did not shine at his studies, but who
nevertheless did "a heap of thinking." Being misunderstood at home he
withdrew more and more into his shell--thus forming a crust of reserve
which was to be more or less a handicap to him all through life. For
the Iron Duke, as he came to be called, never threw off his diffidence
nor won the hearts of his soldiers, as did that other recluse,
Bonaparte.

Arthur Wellesley's first school away from home was Eton, that great
"prep" school of so many English boys. The fact that he attended there
helped to give rise to the proverb that "Waterloo was won on the
cricket fields of Eton"--but as a matter of record the boy was not
interested in this sport. He preferred the fiddle to the racquet, as
he had inherited his father's love of music.

"I was a player of the vio