The Washington union., 1857-08-15


cnes of his heart amid the struggles OF youth are adj
mrably depicted in the following passage Of one of his
letters M
~ was so poor! The smallest particle of pleasure
forced me to live for week panado, which made
myself while png rhymes upon rhymes aud full of hope
of glorious future AT the mere mention of this merry
period of my life in which, without support, without
liable bread and without Instruction. dreamed Of fu-
tre yet did not neglect the pleasures Of the present. my
eyes are filled with involuntary tears.
How happened 1t that such life should be 80 worthy
OF example life passed in loving Lsette and glory in
which found place the simple joys of the heart never soil
ed by any selfish vice, by ambition, coyetousnes
fiatery this without his ever proving false this
quite simply, quite unafectedy, without any pretenson,
and without his aspiring the least in the world TO pass for
a Brutus Beranger is the sage of modern times. lie
does make show of the austere virtues of great
sefdenal but, in order that HIS life may be mild and
pleasant he only asks for love and gloy he sings inn
mortal songs His courage, which is without ostentaton,
has sought but one blessing free and unknown exist
Nevertheless they grossly deceived who have only
in him amabe and selfish epcurean. If he sang
the pleasures which need neither fortune power and
which cost tears he was always ready to strip
himself of the little he had to give it to Others.
II he always fled from political contests, If he
never party man, he was nevertheless great citizen,
and aided with his verses the modern idea. tf a.
Benger is popular because he is full of heart When
he sings of his mistress, of his woes of his pleasures and
of liberty the people recognise themselves and when he
says to them: t@
iItis shade Of indulgence
That | have found hbery,'
the people listen to him. because Beanger is of the peo
pie 1t may be said of him, as has been said of Manuel
Arm, head, and heart all people with him"
Beranger sincerely loved the people he is profoundly
moved at the spectacle of their he seeks all his
glory among the people he would rather hear the rough
voices of of the people repeat his choruses than
to hear the skful academicans eulogize his poecal
talents.
Beranger wanted to be nothing but song-writer
profound observer comic author Astounding in wit a
writer of the first order he only made songs But the
song of Beanger is not the smutty chorus which is hum
med it is poem of intellect of sensbility of unaffected
grace, of phlosophic meditation, and of style Most
especially is it poem of heart Beranger throws his
heart into his most lively gaiees His mouth is to
smile maicous but his broad and thoughtful forehead
wears the divine and sympathetic sadness of genius
thousand facts prove what we have said of the good
ness of his heart We have mentioned of them and
here is another which have related elsewhere but
which repeat here:
Beranger living at that time in the faubourg st.
Gemain He had often met on his flight of stairs man
towards whom he felt attracted by magnetic sympathy.
This man had an intelligent but afflicted countenance.
His clothes, of strict cleanliness attestcd, nevertheless,
the constant and painful of the poverty which tried
to present proper and dgnicd appearance. Beranger
at length entered the of this man. in whom he felt
interest His heart afflicted at the spectacle of
the most heartrendng restitution He generously sought
information and learned that his fellow -lodgcr was
physician without thNt extreme prevented
him from making himself known and that he belonged
to wealthy family with whom he had had difficulty
account of his political opinions The family pursued
him with its hatred, and this what mpeded him in
all his attempts.
few days afterwards Berangers fellow-lodger met
him. and said to him 'You not of it, but my
family disposed to be humane they have sent
me provisions ham, loaf of sugar, bag of coffee,
linen, &C. Come and my wealth.
Beranger enchanted he congratulated his new
friend and hoped that this supply proof that he
would not long be treated with severity.
However every week the supplies were renewed -nu-
supplies suciency of provisions which put the
poor devil out Of the reach Of want but nothing ndca
ted desire of making up with him, and he still
treated with severity while he still continued to hope
This lasted eight years During eight years suffciency
of provisions reached Beangers elowodger, but his
family seemed unwilling to do anything else for him.
At the end of eight years. exhausted by the struggle
the lodger died in Beranger He died blessing his
cruel family. Fl
eight years it Beanger who had adopted this
of administering to the necessities of this unfortunate
for eight years he had furnished this unhappy be-
ing with provisions and clothing, without his having
suspected it. Beranger never said anything any one
of this act of sublime charity modesty and perseverance
One solitary person knew it, from whom derive this
story, and who employed by Berangeras inerme
dae agent for sending his presents to his ellowlodger
without his being able to suspect whence they came.
In letter which Beranger wrote in April, 1929 to
NJ Montandon find the following very Characteristic
remarks
"a subscription has been raised for Rouget de pIse
Berard at my request took the lead in this patriotic
work After more than year, 1t serves to keep alive
the national Trt@us and the subscribers have bound
themselves to pay annual contribution. viii you
unite in it on your individual account for don't want
to hear of your Office in subscriptions 1t is there that
you have picked up the ugly maxim of IwW Longer
lend gpe expression which suits neither your for
tune your heart and which must not be repeated,
especially before me- who, poor as am dlpays lend and
gioe.
If anything could add to the glory of Beranger Il
would be TO say that he not member of the Acad
envy, member of the Legion of Honor nor a mem
Der of the Sappgs Of Momns.
1t is known that the Academy took official step to
induce BGranger to accept chair of membership but he
refused.
Although Beranger sings well the praises of ruby
wine, his sobriey that of anchoret One day. at
dinner at the house of jacques Ltte lady eynced her
astonshment at this.
''How is it, Mr. Beranger that you who sing so well
water r.
What can do, madam ?" replied he ''my muse
drinks all the wine. !"
Bemnger wrote to the president Of the Capeau Mone,
who offered to receive him into that society letter
tanning the following passage
~ ought to inform you that am altogether unworthy
of figuring in this society, composed of gomaads ad-
init, to my shame that drink nothing but caer and that
eat nothing but plainly cooked beef. This will dishonor
me in your eyes, as am well aware i have sung the
praises of Bacchus and Of Comus like neither the one
nor the other. II is an inconsistency.
Poets have never been compelled to be very consist
ent SO much the worse for the gods, demigods, and
goddesses who have allowed them to sing their praises
hn 30