The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-21
THE TWe FATHERS OF JEAN
LOUIS.
TRANSLATED from the French

Translated from the French.1
In 1856 three events took by sur
prise three different classes of society
each remaining mystery to the
class it interested directly, but COM
bined furnishing the key to the three
enigmas.
The fashionable world of Paris
learned one fine morning that the
Marquis de L. c., one of the most
dissipated men of the age, had re-
turned To the Monastery of La
Trappe. ~"
The artistic world occupied Itself
for month with the adoption Of
Jean Louis. who had been the lion
of the saloon, by Mr.. Charron.,
And lastly, the little town of Tor
cy-sur-Aube exhausted itself in Cos
sip about the purchase, for 10000
francs, of the farm ofAndelys, by
the papa Charron, an old inn-keeper
who could hardly make both ends
meet at the end of the year. The
sporting world occupied itself only
with the Marquis, the artists with
the freak of Jean, Louis, and the
peasants with the good luck Of old
Charron. But these three events
formed three chapters of history
we are about to relate, simply dis
guising the names.
The winter. of 1926 was a severe
! one. Charron, little farmer, thirty
years old, had just bought the inn
of Torcy-sur-Aube, and had succeed
ed SO poorly that he had to borrow
upon mortgage the sum due for his
last payment.
1t was night, when returning from
the notary's, who dwelt two leagues
off, he saw in the middle of the road
a package. He was in situation to
take anything he could find and a2-
preaching examined the object, but
recoiled when he saw it move; but
gathering courage he advanced again
and found that it contained a new
l.. al g RI b.
he raised it and took it home to
his wife. She scolded d little, but as
during her eight years Of marriage
she had remained barren, she un-
wrapped the package, and disclosed
a fine little boy, kicking and cooling
like brave fellow, who asked only
for a chance to live. Upon the wrap
per was pinned paper with the
name Jean Louis. % q
She laughed caressed the child
and resolved to keep it. The COM
ing years, the inn had custom enough
to enable the little family to live.
Jean Louis grew tall and handsome
learned quick, and passed his play
time in drawing figures upon the
covers Of his copy-books,
The celebrated painter, Des Camps
who was then at the hight of hi
reputation, came often to pass thu
summer in the environs of Torcy.
sur-Aube, and always stopped at thu
inn. He gave advice to the lad
encouraged his attempts at drawing
and recognizing his vocation for art
one day declared to the parents tina
there was perhaps great painter j,
that little gamin. They told him tn
story of the boy, and of their ow,
property, whereupon he agreed t.
take charge of the Lad and to assum,
his livelihood. The agreement wa
made. The boy was then but fifteen
In year he obtained the prize of tn
department, which was 1900 francs
for six years, and 600 francs thereat
ter. In those days it was fortune
| At nineteen he had his final success
at the Exhibition and enterinI
upon the struggle with firmness. an
taking the evil with the good forum
Of artist life, at twenty-five his nam
was among the score of those men
toned when cotempofary art wa
spoken OF. He knew his own histo
ny, and did not forget those who1
he had been accustomed to call Pap
and Mamma. He sent money some
times, secretly, to the old dame &c
tho INV Eocy,ax xr,oe ,,ro,,1 ,r1 x1,o,,l