New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-16

top. were retr~nched and the simplest instructions n
religion and domestic economy were substituted in
their place.
The giris soon became 20 innocent that one Of the
teachers remarked 20 Madame dc Maintenop, % Con
"soe yourself, Madame; girls have no longer
"common-sense" But time modified these extremes,
and eventually the education at ST. Cyr became chef
Souyre of experience and reflection.
Radical changes were introduced into the colstitu-
ton of the House. Temporal motives induced IL
founder To place the institution on monas6c bass,
IN order 10 secure the greater permanency. The
teachers took 10 perpetuy, and the schooi De-
cane contrary TO the primitive desire OF Madame de-
Msntenon, ike other convent schools
Independent of the intellectual and rehg,oue VAN
ing the sir~ were taught 10 work with their hands
They made al the linen Of the house, of The nhnsTy
and the chapel beside their costumes and those OF
the teachers Madame de haintenon, who was never
without bit Of work in her hands, whether IN the
carriage Of Tie King OF at council Of his hinrens,
gave the example TO all this industry. The magnih-
cent tapestries which adorn the boador Of the En-
press at the Palace OF Industry, were executed by
the girls Of ST. Cyr for the apartment OF Madame de
Manteron. What strange anomaly is-theu present
adaptation
Beside sewing the girls were obliged to assist the
teachers in class duties and finally corps was always
Neither were the girls by any means spared nom
the grosser household duties. Employ then" says
Madame de MatenSn without serupe, IN ths hs ser
~. Cyr will be little in comparison with what they
must do hereafter. Let the mi-tresses omit nothing
to render their pupils hardy; obhge them TO eat what
eyer.is given them, but promote sobretyi let their
beds and seats be hard; permit them never to rechne
allow them seldom to approach the fire; let them serve
each other; LEI them sweep and make beds and clean
the kitchens and dormitorles-they WI be stronger
more adroit and more humble for it,"
Kitchen work and humility became the hobby, a.
paror talk and Wit had been. In the classes there
were no prizes or places Of honor-neither there
other punfshments than private or public reprmands
Mime De Mantenons instructions TO her teachers we've
full Of wisdom: "Have reason yourselves, says she,
"and YOU viii inspire IL in Others Speak to child
"seven, as to one of twenty. IL IL by demanding
"nuch Of reason that its development r hastened."
With all this proprety of reason and severity OF
discipline, st. Cyr was still an agreeable home and
pleasant school. The girls were happy and gay.
Nine De Maiutenon unwearied In rendering their
recreation. pleasant. While the little once played
under the trees in the garden. she was exhaussss IN
her resources to hghten their sports. Nothing,
says she, sis more dear to me than my girls at 81
A" Cyr | love all about them, even to the dust they
make She was playmate, sister, mother patron
and servsnt of ALL The older girls were delighted to
assemble around her during their moments OF recrea-
ton TO listen her charming conversation, while she
related episodes of her own history or snecdote. OF
the Court the King and Versailles. The education
at ST. Cyr seemed to have arrived at degree oil per-
iecon compatible with the epoch which gave II
ORIGIN Religion and secular training for time MAN.
taIed their proper balance, but soon the former
showed signs of Madness wit had done at an earlier
period of the school. The charming young widow,
Nine Guyon, the apostle Of 2uieti'%' had been beer
Feneon was her confdant and friend. The
cool head Of Nine de Maintenon could scarcely
resist the two. Besides, st. Cyr seemed the natural
asylum Of Quietsm. The young nuns and older pu-
ps oil nourshed BY the nobest sentiments and eager
or perfection were seduced by the charms of pure
love, and passonately embraced the ideas OF total
abandon and inert resignation TO the Divine, AMI IAN
guished for absolute union with It, They were all TOO
happy to be consumed by this precious new and per.
feet love- "Shorty" says Mine de Mantenon, "al
the house, even to the REDS lthe smallest cle~ and
Servants, became quietsts; nothing was talked OF
"but pure love and holy Indifference, which they 80
accommodated TO their comfort as to trouble them
"scNes about nothng-not even their salvation"
Finally Mme de Maintenon and the Bishop OF Char
ire were alarmed Nine Guyon was invited to
leave 81. Cyr. Her books were condemned by
commission in thirty four articles, which Fenelon
Signed "no from persuasion, but from Difference.
Soon after this F6nelon was named Archbishop OF
Csmbray. aud to testify his gratitude to Nine de
Maintenon desired to have the ceremony OF his IN
stallation performed at st. Cyr
Bossuet gave him the confirmation there. But soon
the Archbishop of Meaux was employed TO bring back
TO ortLodoxy the flock at St. Cyr Fentlon cst this
precious domain of his principle. A hot contest en-
sued between the two ilustrous Bishops, aud the
world knows the result. Bossuct triumphed, and
Feuelon was condemned by the Pope because be
loved God too much." Jesuitsn became synony
nous with distraction Sister after sister was exiled
from St. Cyr account of her religious principles and
such was the excitement il produced that the King
himself obliged TO act preacher among the nuns,
10 persuade them to renouncc what he considered er-
roneous Doctrines.
Scarcely had Quietism become quiet than another
passion as profound famed TO flame in the lnsti
futon. Nothing could be mediocre at vt. Cyr. Pat
iotism was the mania. The disastrous war
which closed the reign of Louis XIV. had just com
menced. The girls Of 81. Cyr had been rocked to
martial songs They all from noble families,
active IN the service Of the King.
Their fathers and brothers heroes or victims Of
al the recent battles. Louis XIV regarded the in
mates of the House of St. Louis his household g0d,
and at the commencement and close of each campaign
never failed to recommend himself to the prayers of
"the angels Of 81. Cyr."
The revocation OF the edct of Nantes occurred at
the close of the war The enemies of Nine de Main
tenon did not fail TO mpue 10 her all the evils which
succeeded this most unpopular act. You would con-
sider bold in attempting TO refute these accu
sations. Yet much in her private correspondence in
duces the conviction that she was always really a
Protestant at heart, and her .ympahies actually in
clined toward the oppressed Huguenots. Nothing but
motives Of policy could ever have induced her TO
seem to approve 30 odious act.
Ia ms St. Cyr was in mourning for the King.
Mime de Maintenon had already reachedher soth year
-Four years longer sbe kept herretreat at st. Cyr then
her soul found rest, and her dust awaited It's place in
The humble monument before which our reflections
commenced.