The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-05-16

hundred pounds sterling year for life
A hundred and sixty pounds a year
were promised to his niece if she surviv-
ed him. The royal cocks and coaehmen
were put at his disposal He was lodg-
ed in the same apartments in which
SAKE had lived, when, at the hight OF
power and glory, he had visited Prussia.
Frederick, indeed, stopped for a time
to use the language of edulation. He
pressed to his lips the meager hand Of
the little grinning skeleton, whom he re-
garded as the dispenser of immortal re-
nown He would add, he said, to the
titles, which he owed his ancestors and
his sword, another title, derived from
his last and prudent acquisition. His
style should run thus Frederick,
king of Prussia, Margrave of Branden-
burg, Sovereign Duke of Silesia, Posses
sor of Voltaire." But even amidst the
delights of the honeymoon, Voltaire's
sensitive vanity began to take alarm
A few days after his arrival he could
not help telling his niece that the ami
able king had trick of giving sly
scratch with one hand while patting and
stroking with the other. Soon came
hiuts not the less alarming because mys-
terious. The supper parties are de-
licious. The king is the life of the
company. Butt have operas and
comedies, reviews and concerts, my
studies and books. ut-but-Berlin
is fine, the princess charming, the maids
of honor handsome. But -
This eccentric friendship was fast
cooling. Never had there met two per-
sons SO exquisitely fitted to plague each
other. Each had exactly the fault of
which the other was most impatient !;
and they were, in different ways, the
most impatient of mankind. Frederick
was fruga!, almost niggardly. When hO
had secured his plaything he began to
think he had bought it too dear. Vol
taire, on the other hand, was greedy
even to the extent of impudence and
knavery; and conceived taat the favor
ite of monarch who had barrels of
gold and silver laid up in cellars ought
to make fortune which receiver gen.
eral might envy. They soon discover
ed each Others feelings. Both were an
cry, and war began in which Frederick
stopped to the part of Harpagon and
Voltaire to that ofScapin. 1t is hunil
iating to relate that the great warrior
and statesman give orders that his
guests allowance of sugar and chocolate
should be becurtailed. 1t is, if possible, a
still more humiliating fact that Vol
taire Unidentified himself by pocketing
the wax candles in the royal anti-cham-
Der. Disputes about money, however,
were not tho most serious disputes of
these extraordinary associates. The
sarcasms soon CALLED the sensitive tenn
per of the poet. D'Arnaud and DAT
gems, Guiccard and lie Metric might,
for the sake of morsel of bread, be will
ling to bear the insolence of a master ;
but Voltaire was of another order. He
knew that he was q potentate as well as
Frederick; that his European reputa-
ton, and his incompatible power of COW
erinS whatever he hated with ridicule,
r1ade him an object of dread even to
the leaders of armies and the rclers of
nations. In truth, of all the intellectu-
al weapons ever welded by man, the
most terrible was the mockery of Vol
taire. Bigots and tyrants who had new
er been moved by the wailing and ours
ing of millions, turned pale at his name.
Principles uuassailable By reason, prin-
ciples which had withstoed the fercest
attacks of power, the most valuable
truths the most generous sentiments,
the noblest and most graceful images,
the purest reputation and the most au
gust institutions, began to leok mean
and loathsome as soon as that withering
smile was turned upon thom. To every
opponent, however strong in his cause
and his talents, in his station and his
character, who ventured to encounter the
Great Scoffer, might be addressed the
caution which was given Of old to the
Archaugel: .--- -p..-
sIforewArn thee shun,
His deadly arrow neither vanity hope
To be invulnerable In those bright arms,
Tho tsmper'd heavenly for that fatal dint.
Save Him who reigns above, none can resist.
We cannot pause to recount how Of
ten that rare talent was exercised against
rivals worthy of esteem-how often it
was used to crush and torture enemies
worthy only of silent disdain--how of
ten it was perverted to the more nox-
ious purpose of destroying the last solace
of earthly misery, and the last restraint
on earthly power. Neither can we pause
to tell how often it was used to vindi-
cato justice, humanity and liberation
tho principles of sound philosophy, the
principles of free government. This
is not the place for full character OF
Voltaire.
Causes of quarrel multiplied fast
Voltaire, who, partly from love of mo,
neg and partly from love of excitement
was always fond of stock-jobbing, be
came implicated in some transactions Of
at least dubious character. The king
was delighted at having such an oppor