his sword was not for
France. He pictured himself as her conqueror! One of his favorite
books was Plutarch's "Lives of Illustrious Men." He devoured the
"Iliad" and the "Odyssey" whole. "With my sword by my side, and Homer
in my pocket, I hope to carve my way through the world," he wrote to
his mother. Another well-thumbed volume was Caesar's "Gallic Wars."

We read of more than one instance of ill-will showing between Napoleon
and a clique of aristocratic classmates. But we do not find that he
was ever afraid of them or that he ever acted the sneak or the coward.
Morose he often was, and sullen, but it seemed born of the spirit of
misunderstanding which still lurked within his breast, against the
world at large. He had simply not found himself.

One anecdote related of these school days reveals him as the potential
leader, and shows that the other boys, despite their ridicule,
recognized his ability. During one unusually severe winter a heavy
fall of snow visited the school. Napoleon suggested that they build a
fort, and drew up plans for a complete series of fortifications. The
others fell in with his scheme, and upon its completion a battle royal
ensued which lasted for several days and put more than one of the
participants into the hospital for repairs. In charge of one of the
two armies, now attacking the fort, and now playing the part of its
defenders, was Napoleon Bonaparte. He was in his element at last.

By the time that he had completed his five years at Brienne, he was
made commander of a company of cadets. His first official report card
is worth reproducing:

"_School of Brienne_: State of the King's scholars eligible from their
age to enter into the service or to pass to the school at Paris; to
wit, M. de Buonaparte (Napoleon) born the 15th August, 1769, in height
4 feet, 10 inches, 10 lines, has finished his fourth season; of good
constitution, health excellent; character submissive, honest and
grateful; conduct very regular; has always distinguished himself by his
application to mathematics; understands history and geography tolerably
well; is indifferently skilled in merely ornamental studies and in
Latin, in which he has only finished his fourth course; would make an
excellent sailor; deserves to be passed on to the school at Paris."

Two points are especially interesting in this report--the first that
Napoleon had a "submissive character"; the second that he would make
"an excellent s