The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-22
A Nonogenarian Heroine.


1850, lived to see the opening of 1851.
When we read few weeks ago, that Mad.
anne Larochejacquclcin had just paid the
debtsof nature at Orleans, i'll France, we
confess to have experienced feeling OF sur
prise, c,amounting almost to incredulty. We
had supposed that there existed no human
link connecting our own latter half of the
nineteenth century with those turbulent and
accouts OF all concerncdin the awful bloody
days. We thought that the struggle be-
tween tyranny and liccntiousness had long
since been settled, and the books closed un-
til the dread day of final audit. Yet We
now learn that one of the most active
participants in the dangers of a period to
which we look back through a long historic
perspective, after witnessing the melancholy
downfall of the House of Bourbon to whose
fortunes she adhered with hcroism unsur-
passed in all time, after watching the career
OF Napoleon from his brilliant appearing in
Italy to his sad extinction at Longwood,
like that of a meteor through tho sky and
hearing the shouts of "Vive la RepuLiique p
again and again succeeded by Vivc le roi y
and "Nive l. Empercur !" did survive to be-
hold her native land, after lapse of nearly
seventy years, under the despotism of par
vcnu to whom the Capct was mild and
lncrciful ruler. What an extraordinary SER
les of great events did not that one life en-
brace! The rise and decay Of families and
States ; the most sanSuinity shocks of arms
,hat'the world has ever known; the admin
istrations, peaceful and violent, of monarchs
and Presidents, the wiscst and greatest of
whom history makes mention the culmin-
alton Of the brightest lunina,ies in modern
literature, and rapid movement of uncxam-
pied power and prosperity of the United
States OF America-it was remarkable
privilege for one human being to have seen
all these, and yet Madame Larocciacuuelein
did see them after she had reached woman
hood and maternity. When we first hear
OF this lady, in connection with her carly
lnls!ortunes as wife and mother DR.. Samuel
johnson was still living in Bolt Court, Byron
was an infant, Napoleon was schooiboy,
Frederick the Great had just been commit
ted to the tomb, the imperious Catherine
yet occupied the throne ofthc Cars, George
Washington had newly entered upon the
duties Of his Presidential office. The maeni-
tude and Importance of the events which
have occurred since that time almost opprcss
the memory.
The same reflections might in deed come
up to us upon the death of any nonoeenari
an, but while there are small number of bu-
man beings who SO far exceed the average
term OF existence, there are fewer still who
survive by full half century the period at
Which they became historical, and who hay-
ing thereafter passed out of the worlds
view are considered by the world as belong
ING to past shutup forever from our senses.
Samuel Rogers and Miss Berry are the only
two instances that we can now call to mind
OF distinguished people OUTLYING by more
than one whole generation their youthful
contemporaries, and Rogers had never es-
capped the public attention, but lived to the
last in the sight Of everybody, his books, his
pictures: his bon mots, his poems and his
breakfasts occupying no inconsdcrabe space
in the literary journals down to the day of
his death.
Madame Larochejacquelein was twice
marrled-ller first husband was NJ. Lcscure.
one of the most gallant leaders of the war in
ia Vendee, that memorable episode in the
french Revolution in which a simple and
loyal people, living afar from the contaoion
OF the capitals republicanisln, made brave
but Intellectual stand for the King. Her
earlier years had been passed in the proud
palace OF Versailles, but after the royai oc.
'cupants were involved in tho thick com;np
troubles which ended for them only under
the guillotine, she retired to the counIrv
estates OF her father on the Loire, in the
midst OF that little territory known as La
'endee, and there she underwent long
series OF the saddest distresses, having seen
her husband andsall his friends and colleagues
elmer killed in battle or cruelty put to death
ny theaKepublican authorities. BEARING IN
under all with gentle fortitude almost sup
crhuman, she escaped the nearly universal
late OF the Fendeans, and, upon The res
torat'on OF public order, married M. De
l.arocheJacqueleip, brother of the generals.
simo OF the loyalist, forces whose :conspicu-
Gus daring and heroic death had won,the
admiration even o: the Clubs of Paris. Nine
years later, she wrote out the recollections
OF her revolutionary experiences with asim-
pi'clty and pathos which belong to but few
memoirs in any language. The work has
been freely used by Alison. in his History
OF Europe, and it were we'll if the sources Of
that writer's information had been all rs
truthful, for no trace of bitterness is to he
found in the unpretending narrative of her
sufterings, while the faults of her friends and
the .4eroism of her enemies are recooniyed
with perfect impartiality. 1t equals in
,'@'cefe and ,womanly feeling the fictitious
DAIRY of Lady Willoughby," and is not sur
passed in interest By the memoirs in Which
Mrs. Hutchinson has recorded the fortunes
Of her gallant husband.
On the occasion of Madame Larocbeoue.
icins funeral, which took place at Orleans
in the month. Of February, there was very
generalnanifestation of Prospect for the mem
o.rysofo9e who bad seen such strange vicis-
s'tudes OF fortune and ehibited ,stch1 lofty
tra,is o.: character. Among those who unit-
ed .t id, nth. the mor.uary solspniiies were soma Of
the local fanctionaries 81 the, Governn,ents
and Their saperiors conceiaing that thew
had thereby shown favor towards tbe cai,se
OF the, Count de Chambord, fHenry w m.
moved them from Office. This act created
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