The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-26
III. DE LAAfARTINE.

There is no sight moro pitful or more hum iliat-
ing than genius OUTLYING ITSELF and recording its
| own imbecilty. This OCCURS every now and then =,
| furnishing wholesome check to our tendency to
! horo worship. The world, generally, is very in:
dulgent to these enfdnts gates and listens, with
well-bred amiability, to their querulous COM
plants. Their past virtues and merits entitle
them to this consideration and it is literally ac-
corded to them But endurance has it's limits,
and human nature is capable only OF certain de-
gree Of forbeararce. This past, the continuous
grumbler, growler or beggar becomes an object
OF common contempt To this pass has long since
ccme the once illustrious author, poet, orator
historian and statesman (2) whose name heads
this article.
LAnIARTINE has been spoiled child for a great
many years. He was worshipped 30 much and so
long, till it became quite natural to him to think
himself the national idol. And being an idol, he,
Of course laid claim to the quantum Of offerings :,
golden and silver, usually made at such shrines
The sacrifices were oheerfully brought. Sr. PAUL
says, San idol is nothing,"-it, therefore, has no
wants, and golden trinket or silver censer is a
lasting gift. Not 80 with NJ DE LAMART1NE. On
the contrary, his wants are very many, and his
debts have become proverbial, both for their
number and magnitude, and more especially for
the regularity of their periodical recurrence.
Those debts have been paid again and again
princely sums have been subscribed for wor thess
romances, or romancng Memories" with a view
to relieve Monsieur Of his embarrassment It
was all in vain The disease is iucurable-a
cancer gnawing the old mans vitals, growing by
what it feeds on. We read, in the last Paris
papers, articles headed "Les en.barras de M. de
Ldmdrtine." ..r "
The old gentleman, our readers will please re-
collect has recently been converted to the Bona
parte faith: After having been a Democrat and d
Republican all his life, he now, in his dotage, has
gone over, soul and body to the "Manifest D es-
tiny' creed., Accordingly he is to be rewarded.
There is now project before the French ministry
to award M. DE LAntARTINE a pension, to enable
him to pay his debts. The poet is to assign to
the State all his lands revenues credits, and per.
sonaI property Of every description In considera-
ton Of which tho Corps Legislat1 is to vote him
an annual pension Of 10000 francs,-about $4,000.
But we are told M. DE LAMART1NE is unwilling to
receive the pension on the terms proposed, and
threatens his beloved France that he will leave
her, never again to return; that he has already
turned his eyes to Sicily. he will leave behind
him 100000 francs Of debts.
But why does he propose to leave France2 Be-
cause he is weary Of the innumerable ann yances
put upon him by some Of his extrem ely incon.
slderate creditors. Tho greater part of them
never trouble him. Bailiha, constables, hutsiers,
etc., are not the congenial companions re tired
poet would choose, and NJ. DE .LAsARrINE very
properly leaves an ungrsteful country that will
not protect him from such desagrements. .u.
These unappeasable creditors just referr cd to
| are the winners OF Maconnais, who have furnish-
cd the poot's cellar. These, he says, he will pay
as no can. He makes one last, generous proposi-
tion however, viz: all his creditors will pledge
themselves not to molest him, he will remain. 81:
NJ. DE LAMART1NE refuses to receive the 40. .0oo
per annum offered him by NJ. RouHEn, on the part
Of the Emperor, because, 1t is said, his nieco is