Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-25
Biographieal
From the New York Evangelist.
Louis Philippe, King Of the French,
HIS PERSONAL AND POLITICAL HIS.
TORY.

BY REV. J. s. C. ABBOTT.

ges and combinations so wonderful, as are con-
tinually open to US by LIES kaleidoscope. These
truths are abundantly established in the strange
ly chequered history Of the present monarch of
France. Deeply as we may be interested in the
biography Of. those who have influenced the des-
TIMES Of past generations, we have a peculiar
and far deeper interest in minds now active, form
ing the laws, guiding the armies, and moulding
the manners Of the age in which we live. And
perhaps there is no one now on LIES busy thea.
tire, who from his personal character, his event
ful history, and his important and %perilous posi-
ton, is more deserving the attention of intelIi-
gent minds, than he who now strides the crater
of the French volcano, endeaVoring to smother
or control its turbulent fires.
Louis Philippe is now about seventy years Of
age. He was born in his fathers %princeIy resi-
dence, the Palais Royal in Paris. HIS father,
the Duke of Orleans, the notorious "Egalite,"
was the richest man in Europe, and Of royal
blood. He devoted the resources of his bound
less wealth to the most unbridIed yoIuptuousness
and profligacy. The mother ofLouis was as dis
tlnguished for her piety and virtues, as was his
father for his shameless libertinism. She, sur
rounded by more than regal magniicence, saw
all her hopes ~ofearthly happiness b%lighted, and,
,broken-hearted, as the only remaining solaee of
life, devoted all her attention to the culture of
her children. Louis Philippe was her eldest son,
and the influence of this good mother has been
the controlling genius of his c%yentuI life.
He was early placed under the tuition and
care of the celebrated Madame de Geulis. She
was unwearied in her devotion to him, and Won
derlully successful in giving him a highly cult
waited mind, strong moral principle, the power Of
selErestraint, and a vigorous physical c%unstitu-
ton In %allusion to the trials and privatious of
his subsequent life, Madame de Genlis remarks,
show often, since his misfortunes, have | applau-
ded myself for the education | had given him
for having taught him the principal modern Ian
guages, for having accustomed him to wait upon
himself, to despise all kinds of effeminacy, to
sleep habitually on a wooden bed, with no cor-
ering but mats, to expose himself to heat and
cold, and rain, to accustom himself to fatigue,
by daily and violent exercise, and by walking
ten or fifteen miles, with leaden soles to his
shoes and finally for having given him the taste
and habit Of travelling. He had lost all he had
inherited from birth and fortune nothing re-
NAMED but what he had received from nature
and me-"
One of the modes by which Madame de Cen
. lis Taught her pupil to examine his mind and
regulate his character, was by keeping a very mi
mute daily journal. This daily determination
was, conducted with great fidelity, as the follow
ing questions, which he every evening answered
in writing, will testify:
/. Have | this day fulfilled all my duties to-
wards God my creator, and prayed to him with
fervor and affection?
2. Have | listened with respect and attention
to the instructions which have been given ine
with regard to my christian duties and to the
reading of works of piety
3. Have | fulfilled all my duties this day to
wards those | ought to love most in this world
my father and my motherl
4. Have | behaved WIN mi!dness and Kind
ness. towards my sister 3 brothers?
5. Have l been dAfIe, grateful and attentive
to my teachers %"
6. Haval been perfectly sincere to-day, dis
obligiIg no one, and speaking evil of no one!
Z. Have Ibeen as discreet, prudent, charita
bic, modest and courageous as may be expected
atmy age?
s. Have | shown no p%roofof that weakness
and effeminacy which is so contemplate in
man?
9, Have | done all the good | could?
10. Have shown all the marks of %attentio
ought to the persons absent or present, {
whom | owe kindness, respect, and affection ?
Every evening these questions were read t
Louis Philippe by his teacher. and he recorde
an answer to each in his journal. This exc
else was followed by a Season of devotion,
which the young prince ~implored ofGod the pa
don of his sins, and besought divine grace an
assistance for the future. This was the mort
religious and intellectual training of a youth
sixteen. In the midst of the most v~oIuptuoI
court of Europe, surrounded by the most da
cling aIlurements of gilded vice, with the moi
rious Duke of Orleans for his father, your
sanguine, rich, and of exalted birth, protected
this discipline, he moved un~contaminated th
all these dangerous scenes, and has through
the temptations and vicissitudes of more tn
haIfa century, sustained a character of the M
irreproachable and purest morality.
Insohe passage Of his journal, when s%evente
years of age, lie exclaims, 80 my mother, he
Iblessy you for having preserved me from tho
'vices-and misfortunes into which SO many you
snen,3all,, by inspiring me with that sense Of r.
gion which has been my whole support"
And well might he be grateful for that sle
less care which had thus, watched over and P
tected him. Had he fallen into the practices