The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-20
OBITUARY..
LucIen AnatoIe Provost-ParadoI.

morning, at Washington, OF Nj. Prev0st-Paradol,
the French Minister, will create profound SEN
sation not only in this country, but, in view OF
the struggle going on in Europe throughout the
civilized world. Such an event is unprecedented
in the history of this country, and perhaps in
that of the world The possible causes which
led to the tragedy are discussed elsewhere, and
it only remains for us to refer, in this connec-
ton, to NJ. Provost Paradol's career. On the
11th instant we published long and elaborate
sketch of his life, but the manner of his death
was so sudden and summary that a passing in
terest demands repetition of its leading points
Lucien An1tole Provost Paradol was the son
of French naval engineer and talented lady
connected with the Comedie Franchise Theatre,
and was born at Paris on the Sth of August,
1929. His education was commenced at the
College Bourbon, where at an early age he dis
played distinguished abilities, and succeeded in
gaining a number of the highest prizes. After
wards he entered the Ecole Normale, from
which he graduated in 1851, securing, when but
twenty-five years old, the prize for eloquence
from the Academic Francaise for his ''Eloge de
Bernardin Saint-Pierre." The degree of Doctor
in Letters was conferred upon him in 1855 as a
qualification for professorship, and the same
year ne was appointed to the chair of French
Literature at the University of AK, in Pro-
vence
Having a decided inclination, however, for
journalism, he abandoned his professorshp in
1856 to become an editorial writer on the Jour
nal des DebGtS, with which he remained in con-
nection up to the time of his appointment as
Minister to the United States, with the excep-
ton of few months in 1860, when
he occupied an editorial position on the
PreSSe. At the time he became con-
nected with the Journal deS DebdtS, which
&c nr1o orfx
that party was struggling for existence, one
writer after another having attempted and failed
to keep it afoat by waging as bitter a warfare
upon the Napoeonic regime was possible
without subjecting it to fatal attentions from
the Government. The new editors position was
therefore one of extreme difficulty, but he en-
tered upon it with such earnestness that his
success was complete. With consummate
skill he assaulted the Government and all
its belongings, yet in such an adroit, in
sinuating way that his attacks were all
the more CALLING, because they were too care
fully phrased to present tangible point for
warning from the Government. He became a
contributor also to other journals, especially to
the Courier du Dindncbe, Sunday journal,
in which he was given freer hand, and at
tracted great attention by the violent and sar
castle vain in which he combated the preten-
tinualy under the displeasure of the Govern
ment, and was warned eight times, suspended
twice, condemned once, and finally, not longer
ago than 1866, suppressed for publishing an
article by NJ Provost Paradol entitled lie "Pdle-
.frenier" or ''Stable-Boy," in which occurred the
following remarkable passage-
"France is beautiful court lady, beloved by
the most gallant men, who has run away to live
with stable boy. She is despoiled, beaten, debased
more and more every day. But it can't be helped !;
she has come to like 1t, and cannot be wrested from
her worthless lover"
His articles in the Journal des Debats also at
length became so vexatious that it is said the
Government resolved upon its suppression with
out preferring any specific charges, but simply
for reasons of state" This desperate course
was not resorted to, however, as the proprietors
preferred modification of its policy to its an
Inhalation.
So for long time the name of NJ. Provost
Paradol ceased to appear at the end of the
political articles, his contributions being re-
strcted to literary subjects, but displaying such
a high order of ability that there was sufficient
demand for the reproduction of the greater por-
tion of them in permanent book form. Indeed,
throughout his journalistic career he found time
to write several works. The most noticeable of
these was political pamphlet, given to the
world in 1860, under the title of ''Les Anciens
recklessly that he was subjected to o prosecu-
tion by it, the result of the trial being months
incarceration and the payment of fine of one
thousand francs. In 1857 he published
work entitled "Du Role de la Famile dams
rEducation," which was crowned" by the
French Academy, and on the 7th of April, 1865,
he was elected a member of that body the
highest goal to which literary man in France
can attain. In May, 1867, he received still
another substantial recognition of his literary
standing and abilities by being appointed one
of the committee of five members of the Aca-
DENY to superintend a new edition of the ellis
torical Dictionary of the French Language"
His position as permanent chairman of this
committee he resigned just before his departure
from Paris.
Although obliged for time to relax his politi-
cal efforts in the Journal deS DebdtS, his repu-
tation and fortune as a writer were so we'll
established at the time he was forced into purely
literary labors that he gradually resumed his
former line of writing, and by the combination
of elegance, force, and truth, contributed in no
small degree towards bringing about that
healthy sentiment in the public opinion of the
country which eliminated, at the close of 1869,
in the elevation of his warm personal
friend NJ Olivier to the Premiership.
The progress of 'liberty under the empire"
caused the gradual disintegration of the Orlean-
list party, and at the same time threw NJ. Pre-
vost-Paradol into the following of Olivier, in
whose peculiar views on constitutional liberty"
he had professed to acquiesce for some time
past. The advent of the Tiers Parti to power
found him, professedly at least in full harmony