Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-08

AN AMERICANS CAREER IN FRANCE.-After
the terrible financial crisis of 1887, John L..
Appleton, of the Boston firm of A. D. Appleton
& Sons, went, with the remnants of his fortune,
and accompanied by his wife and his only son,
a boy ten years of age, to France in order TO
restore his shattered health in the balmv eli
mate of Montpelier. He was very sick when
he arrived there, and, after lingering for few
months, died in the arms of bis disconsolate
consort. The latter, woman of uncommon
energy, and animated by the true spirit of Amer
lcan enterprise was not long in perceiying that
she might invest what means her husband had
lett her TO great advantage in real estate at
Montpelier, and 50 she purchased there scyera
houses. She sent her son, George D. Appleton.
to the Montpelier lyceum, where he was class
mate OF the iamented prevost-parado who met
with so Wretched an end in Washington, two
years ago, and of the Duke de Noailles, who
now represents his country as minister plenipo-
Tertiary at Washington. Nine years afterward
the three young men graduated with distin-
gulshed honors, and were sent by their parents
to the university of Paris, where they
studied law. Thenceiorth their paths went
widely apart. Provost Paradol became a Jour
nalist; the Duke de Noailles delighted in writing
political pamphlets attacking the government of
Louis Philippe, and George D. Appleton entered
the service of the French government. In 1919
ms mother died at Montpelier, leaving him
fortune of six hundred thousand francs.
After the coup detat of December 1. 1871
Geo. D. Appleton became an ardent Bonapartst
Inc Duke de Morny appointed him in 1858 sub
project of the Vienne department, and in 1858 he
was promoted to the important and lucrative
poSltlon oil project of the same department
During the whole of his official career he was
noted for the acrimonious zeal with which he
prosecuted the members of the liberal party in
ms department, mOlested the newspapers on
posed to the imperial government as much as he
could; and took conspicuous part in manag-
ing the elections in favor Of the Bonapartists.
lie was often called TO Paris; the emperor re-
ceiving him repeatedly, and in 1868 made him
cheyalier of the legion Of honor.
Mr.. Appleton, in 1870, was one of the French
projects who wro.3 to the emperor that the peo-
pie oil his department were unanimously in favor
OF war TO the knife with Germany, and he dis
ungulshed himself by the zeal he DISPLAYED in
raising volunteers for the Franc tireur 6attal-
ions. ''''"'
The surrender of Sedan and the overthrow of
me empire threw Project Appleton out of office.
ne was threatened with arrest but managed to
escape 10 Italy In August last he returned TO
ms estate IN the Nienne department. but upon
showing himself in the streets of Anglers he was
met by one Nj. de DereuX, an ardent legitmist.
Wh0m he had once caused TO be i'm
Prsoned on account of his ardent anti
Bonapartlst principles. M. de Dereux
upon catching sight of him, rushed
at him and struck him several severe blows in
the face. Mr.. Appleton defended himself brave.
ly and knocked his assailant down. Next
morning, in accordance with the usages of
French society, he sent to NJ. de Dereux a friend
with challenge TO mortal combat. Dereux
had the choice of weapons, and decided in favor
OF swords. Mr. Appleton rejected this, and in.
sisted that the duel should be fought with
pistols. Alter some hesitation his adversary ac-
cepted this, and, on the morning of the Nth of
September, the duel came off in a small grove
near the celebrated bridge of Anglers. -Four
witnesses and a surgeon were present. Al the
first fire Appleton was shot through the heart
He leaves widow and four children.