The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06
THE CURE OF ALFRED F0NTEs.
The Opinion Of NJ Renan on These Man.
ifestations from Above.
DOCUMENTARY PROOFS.
The Argument Of the Roman Cath
Ole Church as Set Forward
by the Vicar General.
RHEIMS, August 10, /


merchants OF Rheims, In Champagne, or what Is now
called the Department Of the Marine; and 1t Is here
worth noting that French merchant has very
little in common with an English merchant. When
an Engishman goes into trade he con-
tracts the manners habits and prejudices
OF the class to which he belongs, and to
which he has either risen or descended. / say
descended, because have no sympathy whatever
with that worship OF Commerce which is q part OF
the national 1aith OF England and we have very
ancient authority THAT OF Jesus son OF Sirach) for
the belief that merchant can hardly be an honest
man. Let him have by all means the things which
belong to him. all the commodities which can be
bought by money, substantial houses overfur-
nished, fast tr0tting horses and greetings in the
market place from those who have need Of him.
But he Is entitled to no respect and should be
taught to take on his hat before scholars
and men of science, who might have been
richer than he had they deigned to sell
their souls for money. 1 am writing only Of
THE BRITISH MERCHANT,
at present deal too much pufed up by peerages
and penny papers; for the fact is simply this: an
Engishman who condescends to trade In any shape
well knows that he means to amass money BY
roguish methods, and he does it with his eyes open
to the consequences. They are consequences which
ought to make him an object OF good-humored
contempt to honest people. The fellow has chosen
q short road to riches. He believes tx them. Well
let him enjoy them and keep his distance from
those who have higher and purer objects OF devo-
ton.
But
THE FRENCH MERCHANT
Is very different sort Of person. He is possibly
ex-Duke, upset by revolution, who has turned to
earning his living. Perhaps he has sacrificed him.
seffor an elder brother, or to provide portion for
an orphan sister. There is generally some romance
at the bottom OF his mind, and he conducts his
trade upon chivalrous principles, quite astonishing
to the British mercantile mind, with peerage in
full view of it.
THE RHEIMS MERCHANT
with whom am dining traces his descent in an
unbroken line from French lord, whose harness
shone at Ivry near the white plume of Navarro.
Men OF his ilustrious line hewed down the English
archers before Orleans and broke the Saracen
ranks at Tours. They rode size by side with Bar
barossa and sat in council with Charlemagne. His
father was an oficer OF the body guard Of Charles
K, and when the Bourbon throne crashed down he
had to do as he could. So he laid aside his titles,
put by his sword and took to cIphering till better
times. Better timess Suppose we say, what ne
thought better times.
VICAR GENERAL
OF neighboring diocese has been asked to meet
me and a famous ecclesiastical lawyer, and we Sit
down to table laid in garden to talk OF the
anairs OF the Church over good wine, lat capons
and the royal barbel OF the Marine.
measure the size Of the ecclesiastical lawyer
and ind him about five feet two inches in height.
HIS forehead Is square and hard his hair Is OF that
neutral tint which never turns gray His face is
dry and lean. He has not an ounce OF flesh about
MN rom head to heel He has the compact self
contained look OF man accustomed to deal with
facts and to waste few words even upon Them
Monsieur" say to HIM, after q glass Of that old
Madeira-which has long since disappeared from
the wine market-has put vivacious comma III
was the Greek note OF Interrogation, What's the
next dish y to our SOUP Monsieur, am here to
represent the greatest newspaper In the world.
What am about to write upon the grand national
pilgrimages OF France will be hotly discussed and
c0ntemptuously ridiculed. / shall, indeed address
large Roman Catholic population; but even they
viii not be disposed to take my statements upon
trust. Whatever write will be examined, sifted
disputed. denied. Icannotput my trust in flowers
OF rhetoric; they would be despised and laughed
at am writing for people deeply, perhaps pas
sionately, engaged in what Is called
THE BUSINESS OF LIPE.'
I must not tell them old wives fables. What !
want are the NAME the date the proof which always
surround fact. dare not state II barely unless
can add that l saw IL with my own eyes. Now,
have seen no visions; ! have witnessed no mira
cles.v
41Monsfeur,s answered the ecclesiastical lawyer.
.the profession OF an advocate would be impossible
he could only deal with facts within his personal
knowledge. He must rely upon testimony which,
judged by the rules Of evidence, IL satisfactory"
We had by this time got rom the soup to the
peaches, for, remembering swtft's excellent
maxim, "Never speak FOR more than
HALF A MINUTE AT A TINE"
had given him my discourse In small doses.
Monsieur" replied you have answered me
by an epigram. Forgive me n / add that am not
convinced by n SCORERS are very fond OF saying
that you can never drive miracle into close quar-
tiers, and deal with 1t face 70 ace.n
"Ah!" said the ecclesiastical lawyer, and he
raised one OF his rigid eyebrows then let II fall.
IVhe "'cay Genera looked placidly st me over