The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-07-28
suicide Of the French Minister

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On Wednesday morning of last week
NJ. PREvoSr PARADoL, the newly ap-
pointed Minister from France to this gov
eminent, committed suicide in bis own
house in Washington city. by shooting
himself through the heart with pistol.
1t was most sad and melancholy affair.
The deceased had only arrived in this
country from Paris about ten days before
the commission Of the terrible tragedy,
and only on the Saturday previous to his
lamentable death had he presented his
credentials to President GRANT. NJ. PA
RApoL brought with him to this country
his young son and daughter, both of whom
were sojourning at Newport, Rhode Is,
land, at the time of their fathers tragical
death. Young as they are, and strangers
in a strange land, their sad bereavement
appeals to the warmes. sympathies Of the
American heart. They and the remains
of their honored but unfortunate father
left New York for France in the steam
ship Lafaye cite on Saturday last. He was
one Of the most prominent men in France.
His literary attainmen;s were of the very
highest order, ard it was peculiarly in
that department that he achieved his great
est success. His melancholy death is TO
be sincerely regretted.
In commenting on this lamentable af-
fair the New York World throws some
light on the causes which led to the COM
mission of the terrible act and furnishes
glance at the inuer life of the unfortu~
nate man which will be perused with pain
ful interest by all our readers:
"He found himself exiIed from the land
of his birth the very moment of one of the
grandest struggles Of her marvellous history
He found himself surrounded in the land of
his faith by passionate distrust which panied
as deeply as they surprised him. All this
might have been easily borne by man
trained 10 the Oily m plan indifference Of dip
lomatic life. The surge of the sea, which is
so appalling to the landsmen fresh from for
est, and fell and quiet upland homes. ma axes
Only music in the sailors ear. But NJ. Pre-
vOsT PARADOL was new to diplomacy, new
almost to politics. lie had never filed any
public position, save as a Member Of the
! Academy. He knew nothing and bis nature
shrauk from learning anything of the tor
tuous, troubled and irritating practical ext
gences Of public affairs. Had his initia
/ ton INTO these new and dire necessities come
uoon him at a more favorable season, hUwe
ever, he might have passed through it calmly
and successfully. For his nature, though
sensitive as a woman 5. lacked neither fibre
nor muscle But his whole constitution was
shaken and enfeebled by the sudden strain
of our dessicating atmosphere and the stress
of our 'suubeams like swords He began to
complain of the dazing and disturbing effect
/ Of the great heats upon his nerves and his
+ brain almost as soon as he reached Washing
! ton, and he made haste TO send his young
/ childrep away from that fearful furnace oi
( fire to the hreczes and the bland air Of New
/ port. They had scarcely reached their sum
mer home when the measure of his cup ran
| over-the silver cord was snapped, and his
/ self-commaud gave way. The dismal story
/ in oil its pathetic details, we leave it to our
/ correspondents at the Capital to tell. One
! thing. however they cannot set forth-onC
/ thing every feeling heart must shrink from
dwelling upop-the Infinitely piteous hap
of the dead Minister'S poor children thus Sc
suddenly and SO terribly orphaned in {
strange land"