The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-11
OBITUARY.
HenrI Recbefort.

Of M. Henri Rochefort, the celebrated French agt-
tator who has occupied such large share OF public
attention during the past two years.
Henri, Count de Rochefort-Lucay, son of the
Marquis OF the same name, bore title OF nobility OF
no modern creation. He was btrn in July, 1882. As
child, he was exceedingly timd, and was AFFLICTED
with an awkwardness which never entirely left him.
Gifted with prod'gious memory, he erammed his
head with poetry when at school, and wrote verses
himself while mere lad. His mother had belonged
to high arisocratic family, but in early life she had
broken away from the traditions OF her caste,
and proclaimed her adherence to democratic prin-
cipes Young Rochefort, who dropped his title OF
nobility, followed her example, and In 1s4s, while
still schoolboy, started upon his revolutionary
career by heading a school riot About the same
time he brought out manuscript magazine called
the College, upon the cover OF which he wrote the
following profession OF faith:-
"He who accepts command, even OF children, is
tyrant; for he arrogates to himself the powers OF
found in the laws OF nature"
This platform he maintained to the day OF his
DEATH and to its ridicuousy extreme tenets he
wassindebted for career that is quite unparalleled
In 1850 he took his degree and returned home from
school, His father, who had been literary man,
wished him to study medicine, about which task he
went with little enthusiasm, devoting most OF his
time to the writing Of plays in verse. love affair
with distant cousin led him into duel with Sar-
dnian officer, who was severely wounded In the en-
In 1851 the Rochefort family was reduced to
poverty, and Government position was sought for
young Henri. He became accordingly an auxiliary
clerk in the Patent Office a salary of twenty-five
dollars month, on which he and his family mau-
aged to live in a fashion. But he neglected his
duties, and was 80 imperious in his manner that he
was soon removed but received higher and better
paid position in the Imperial Audit once, which he
contrved to retain for five despite the grossly
careless way in which he manipulated the figures OF
the books.
Meanwhile he had been aspiring to art-criticlsm,
well as writing plays, and in 1856 was gratifed
by seeing his name on play-bll for the first time,
part author of farce styled Welldressed Gentle
man, for his share in which he received thirty dol
lars. In 1858 he became regular newspaper writer,
but was dismissed in six weeks for 'incapacity."
He next ventured upon dictionary of converse
ton, and finally, in 1859, made his entrance upon
the legitimate field OF journalism as a writer in
Churiuari, the leading comic paper Of Paris About
the same time he fought his second duel with
impertinent person whom he detected in reading
letter his shoulder In this encounter he sus-
tanned slight scratch.
He was soon discovered to be brilliant and forci-
BILE writer and Baron Haussmann, then Prefect of
Paris, sent for him and offered him the position OF
Sub-inspector of Fine Arts on q salary Of $500
year; but he refused the place when he found he
was expected to write in Haussmann's in
terest, and thus became entirely dependent
for support on his literary labors. He
passed from the ChdriUari to the Main Jdune, and
then to the Figaro, on weekly salary of twenty-five
dollars, commencing his career In the chTontqte OF
that sprightly sheet with an attack on
the ex-Queen of Spain. He gradually
established reputation as being
one Of the keenest masters Of satire in the French
capital. The Solei at the end Of the year. took him
away from the Figaro by the offer OF liberal salary,
but he gave such an impetus to the former journal
that the proprietors of the latter, at the end or
another year, tempted him back again, on salary
of s4OO per month for two articles per week. By
this time he had become famous. He assaled
! the Empire and everybody and everything apper-
tanning it in mercess style and again resorting
to the SWORD acquired additional uotoriety by fight
ing duel with Prince Achille Murat about the In
| famous Cora Pearl. Soon after, he was engaged in
another duel, this time with the quarrelsome Paul
| de Cassagnac, who put bullet in his side.
In the beginning OF 1865 the Figaro received a
warning from the Government on account of the
scathing severity Of Rocheforts articles, and his
connection with the paper was severed to avoid its
suspension. In june 1868, the adoption OF new
! press law gave him chance to make venture OF
| his own, and he commenced the publication OF La
Lanterae by the severity and scurriity OF his art
cles In which he attracted worldwide attention, and
| brought down upon himself the wrath OF Napoleon
and all his tools. The aggregate circulation OF the
first nine issues of this sheet reached 1856, ,0OO
COPIES and the su description list being rapidly
sweled, when heavy sentences imposed upon
him the necessity or conducting ltS puOllcaJlOn Sc
crety, and eventually OF taking flight to Brussels
where he continued to publish his paper for some
time. resorting to the most ingenious devices tc
smuggle it into Paris.
- In November, 1869, he announced himself as
car didate for the Corps Legisatif and was elected
In the First district OF Paris. He suffered K
return to Paris and took the oath Of allegiance
the empire, but failed to create any sensation unit
he commenced the publ cation OF new journal, III
MarseilIaise, In which In January, 1870, he made
bitter assault upon Prince Pierre Bonapartea cousin
OF the Emperor This resulted In the killing o
Victor NoT, one OF RochefOFts assistants, at Whose
funeral Paris was thrown into great excitement
The Corps Legislatif finally, January IT, ordered
him to be prosecuted for outrages against the Em
peror and exciting disorder and violence. Immens
crowds OF people surrounded the hail. and on comn
forth, Rochefort was made the recipient of gran,
ovation. The trial resulted In a sentence to pay
| fine OF 5000 francs aud undergo an Imprisonment O
six months. On the evening OF February 7, Roche
fort was arrested in the Bellevle quarter his arres
leading 10 grand outburst of popular indignation
which was OF the most threatening character.
The fall OF the Empire at Sedan found Rochefol
still in prison. But he was at once released by tn
reactionary mob, and, by virtue Of his position a
one OF the Paris deputies, he became q member q
the Government OF National Defense. BY th
efforts which he then made In behalf OF order h
soon disgusted his admirers, ana their ingratitud
led him TO withdraw from the Government, whIc
he did early in November. On the eth OF FebrHar,
however he was elected member OF the Cor
stltuent Assembly from Paris, and commence
the publication OF new journal styled the M
GpOrdre. In the Assembly he failed to create any