The New York herald., 1869-03-02
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Ai.hs..e Sr I.smarsLse.

Aiphsase Dr. Ismarsis~-
Twelve or fifteen years ago had the death of marie
Louis Alphonse Prs. De Lamartine been announcer
thc n erary world would have been asifaied by The
loss II received On yesterday The great poet passed.
away nom earth. as We are informed ~ despatch
from Paris and even IN France there VII BE- less ef
mourning than his great genius deserved. u n noi
because he mad outiiyca his talents Tor Nc hsi not
But the traits OF character exhibited BY the deceased
the frequency with whsch he virtually begged
money and the lack OF pride ant ssifEespcct which
marked his career during the iasi years or hls
life had completely nearly - destroyed all sint
ration for his genius ana respect Tor his person We
may seem harsh IN speaking thus of the dead but a
must b. remembered that We owe duty - hunx
poets and authors IN general WHO may be DISPOSED
was LaInartine TO indulge In the widest extrasa
eanoes, and then, beneath the cloak " sleragare
play tho part OF q mendcant.
Alphonse de I.amarflne was bora Al Macon On the
21st OF October. 1890 and had therefore passed ms
seventy eighth birthday. lie was descended fron
family OF note. his father the Chevaiief de Lam
tine being one OF the lew brave adherents of Louis
XVI. who mustered AT the ruileries on the ioth of
August, 1892, to defend the royal person. nappiiy
escaping the butcnery which followed. ne w~
confined In prison until Robespierrcs death
opened the prison doors Of thousands. Fearing
cided upon retiring from public life, and 10 carry
out this purpose chose for bis retreat the Chateau Of
Mily tnen almost lost in rude and neariy unclyiL
zed part Of the country. In this secluded spot TIE
future poet passed his early years under the tender
care OF pious mother. At the age OF twelve he Was
removed 10 an institution under the charge Of the
Jesuits at Bellay, the frontier Of savoy. For four
wears ne renamed there, and then graduated WIN
high honors. At this college he also Lrst wrote
verses which. though crude and lacking In power
"A a.
some months were idled away, his parents
being undecided as 70 his future career. a.
chateau and make o tour through Italy under the
guardianship OF relation. who. II must be stated.
nia society OF the young His liie IN Itay full
Of intrigues and love adventures one Of the latter
Of which resulted IN the death Of Grazeila the beau
tiful granddaughter OF Neapolltan fisherman. VINO
fell desperately In love with Lamartne and ~ said
TO have died from mere distress when be left her. u
is due TO his memory TO state that he ever denied
having encouraged her passion For several years NJ
led wild purposeless life. AT Rome he was =
republican, at Paris he was alternately Bonapartist
and legltmist. He enrolled as one OF the body
guard OF Louis XVIll., and upon the hight OF thai
monarch to Ghent left France and revisited Italy.
Lamartine recrossed the Alps and near the place
where the br0ken-nearted Grazieila first knew and
loved him composed the greater part OF tue nrst
he vainly sought publisher for this his first import
ant work. But the Parlsian publishers. with the
prOverbial blindness OF their brethren all over the
world could not the unusual talents OF the young
poet. Finally one OF the craft, named Nicolle con-
Sented ae favor to print the young authors manu-
script. He made fortune by II. In less than two
years copies OF the first series Of the 'Medita
tionsn sod. The reputation Of the author was
established by this book OF poems. Some time after
its appearance, being In Florence he met an English
blonde oil great beauty named Miss Birch, and two
months later made her his wife, In 1928 second
series Of the "Meditaions appeared. For some time
he served in the diplomatic corps Of France, being
successivey secretary OF the French Legation at Lon
don and ambassador TO Naples. On the outbreak OF
the revolution OF July $780, ne refused serve under
LOUIS Philippe and retired to his manor or st. Paul,
which, with an immense fortune, had been left hum
to obtain a nomination to the Chamber Of Deputies
and failing, embarked on voyage, the result Of
which he gave In the "Voyage en- Orient" While
absent he was nominated by the electoral college OF
Dunkerque for legislative nomination. In lS47 his
s'Hlstory Of the Girondlnsn appeared. 1t would be
impossible to give the titles of all his poetic pro-
| ducti0ns In q brief obituary notice. Sufnclent
| TO say that as poet he ranked first
| in France. Almost fabulous sums were paid for his
productions and yet he was ever IN need Of funds.
The best literary work OF note by the deceased is
ssIhe Life OF Byron" as told by the Countess
| Ginccioli. II Ia particularly noticeable for the
| sensuaiity with which the narrative Is adorned.
| Lanartine, perfect weathercock on politics, ap
plauded the expedition to Mexico, and from being
| 1eIce republican became the fierce monarchlst
| anxious TO witness q combination OF European
powers against the United states for the purpose
destroying tine republic.
said. We have already referred to his extravagant
habits. Every lover or poetry Id France taxed
to aid him pecuniarily. He descended to the most
questionable means OF procuring money, until he
was better known the civilized world literary
beggar than as poet OF great genius.