The Portland daily press., 1868-09-04
The Boy Cavaignac-Young France
Erect

The Boy Cavaignac-Young France
Erect.
An incident has just occurred In France,
which has caused an unusual commotion.
The annual prizes of the Colleges and Lyce-
ums OF the University were being conferred
M. Duruy, the Minister Of Education, pre-
sided, and the Prince Imperial, hopeful
child of twelve years. stood by to assist in
the distribution of prizes, and confer them
with his own hand. Young Cavaignac, 1.-THE
son Of General Cavaignac, who at the time of
the coup ID etst of December 1851 was ar
rested by Louis Napoleon, and imprisoned in
the Castle of Ham, and who died some wears
ago. had the first prize Tor Greek compost
ton. The calling of his name was greeted
with great enthusiasm. What followed is
briefly told as follows:
Young Cavaignac was called upon by the
Minister to receive the crown which he held
in his hand. The youth who is, believe, fit
teen years old. did not move from his place.
A professor of his college, thinking he did not
hear the summons, made signs to him to come
forward. He hesItated for some time then
rose from his place and made movement as
if to answer the appeal; but at that moment a
lady,. understood to be his mother, Madame
Cavaignac, half rose from her seat, and made
sign with her arm, forbidding him to STIR
Another burst of applause followed, in the
midst of which the young man, who appeared
much moved, and did not seem to know " hat
he had best do, resumed his seat The Minis
ter remained standing for some minutes, wait
ing for him; but as nobody came forward to
receive the prize, as well as the cOngratula-
tons of the Prince Imperial, he requested that
"the pupil Cavaignac being absent" the next
prizeman should be called up.
The spectators were greatly interested in
this Incident, and the college youths were up
roarous in their applause. One OF them,
nv xuhn anfIa 6a1
expelled from the college.
When General Cavaignac was arrested he
was engaged to marry Mdile Oder, a bank
er daughter. Efforts were made to break off
the match,bu in vain, and he was followed to
Ham by his betrothed, whose face was the
first friendly one that he saw in his imprison-
ment. A lew days after, he was released,
when he married Mdlle. Oder. This is the
lady. his widow, who instigated his son to
show his recusancy in the marked manner
described above.
The incident has greatly moved the
French press and people. The Presse "will
moi attempt to depict the emotions" with
which young Cavaignac, at the bidding of his
mother resumed his seat. "1he pride of the
soul defes analysis and discussion, and when
this pride is associated with the memory of
man who was great citizen, it is entitled
to the most profound respect" at was
great fault" says the Journal de Paris Ito
have placed the sons of Napoleon and of
CaVaignac lace to face, exposed to the plau-
dts OF youth who ever guard the souvenirs
of great men," eff General Cavaignac was
grand citizen, and defender of order, why
did you seize him in the night and send him
to Mazas in the common prisoners van ?"
asks the AUenir National.
Here is a new entant terrible, whose prop
er punishment is a perplexity to the powers
that be. 1t will not do to imprison him, and
fine would only deprive him of pocket mon
ey. The government has been able to sup
press the opposition Of men, but what can it
do to school boy? The London Star says:
"The worst of it is the severity of any punish
ment that can be inflicted on the young col
legian must necessarily be in inverse proper
ton to the magnitude of the atfront he has
put upon the imperial patron of learning."-
Frenchmen are sure to attach immense
Importance to an act that seems to spring
from an almost instructive repugnance, and
those of them who do not like the Empire
will have no difficulty in seeing in this soiita-
ry recusant OF imperial favors the represent
alive OF young France-the France of the fu-
ture.