The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-11
BI T q A & Y.



BY cable from Europe comes the announcement
OF the death OF NJ Jules Michelet, the historian, in
the seventy six tn year OF his age.
Jules Mchelet was born at Paris the 21st OF
August, 1898. AS pupil he devoted himself, with
brilliant success to historical studies. He became
public teacher. and was, in 1871, alter sharp
competition, called to "a chair in the College Sante
BarDe, where he taught the ancient languages and
philosophy until 1926. During these years, and
indeed, from childhood, Mlchelet mixed freely
with the people Of Paris. He has himself said that
he was born, like q weed without sum- on the
streets Of Paris. His ancestors were peasants
and shopkeepers before the Revolution. His
grandfather was music master in the coun-
try. His father was employed as printer OF
Assignats-the paper money OF the revolution
Micheet, the father, set up little printing ONCE
within the walls OF what had been church. Here
Jules Mcheet rrst drew breath In infancy, his
eyes looked upon the tall windows and the long
aisle and the Gothic arches Of what had been
temple for the worship OF Cod In the nave
OF the old church was his 1ather's printing
press-not long worked-ior, when Bonaparte
came into power one OF his first measures was to
put down o great number OF small newspa-
pers. Ten years later, during the midst OF the
Imperial rule, Napoleon limited the number
OF printing on1ces-imiting Paris to so few as
sixty Among those cut of was NJ Michelets
The son was then only twelve years old. The two
books which most interested him alter he could
read, were the "Heathen Mythology" and the
Limitation de Jesus Christ" that most remarkable
book, written by Thomas Attempts, early in the
I fifteenth century Between these two books, as
between the old and the new myth which they sew
orally represented, the youths mind was COM
petely exercised. There Is no doubt that these
works greatly Influenced his heart and tended TO
form bis picturesque style. The parental idea was
to make comrositor Of youns Jules, but he got a
term of study at one OF re governments colleges in
but took to verse making very kindly. Very
harshly treated by his schoolfelows because
streets after school hours ne became sOrrOwul ih,-
his early teens-a sort OF juvenile Tmon w,..n Z
ment turned to resentment and hs.. rcd The IRON,
/ OF poverty entered deeply nj Ms soul The Coz.
lege sain1e-BaIssSs, now better known as the Col
other would suit Michelet, who had once been in
4is youth o. poverty and care, regular gam,n de
! Parts He constructed and published IN 1925
octave volume containing Comprehensive table
Of modern chronology, and also in quarto volume
s s 81 o nss0r hso1 1871 Hs
adopted and extended the new principle Of
yS the
which nrst enunciated those views. Condorcet and
Montesqqieu had previously adopted these prin-
cples. In 1927 Michelet was appointed Maitre des
Conferences In the Normal School of Paris. The
lively. instructive and original spirit Of his
Revolution Of 1886 took place and Michelet was
placed IN charge Of the national archives. Soon
after, IN his thirtyourth year. he was selected by
| Guizot whose political pursuits encrOached his
! professional duties, to act as his substitute and
continue his lectures on history in the Faculty Of
| Now began the afiuent raptdity of Micheet's
authorship. In 1881 an introduction to Universal
History" and mis- "kOman History believed by
many to be his chef-d'Gupre; III 1885, 1.-The Precls
the introduction ' 10 mis- History Of France" Early
IN 1888 Michelet was decorated with the cross OF
the Legion Of Honor: Soon after was published
'Memors OF Luther" In this book. without
serve ne gave the private lie of the great religious
reformer, exhibiting its worst traits and particu
larry denouncing and exposing Luther's marriage
with Catharine de Bonren and Its motives.
In 1887 Micnelet published "Orgin OF the
French Law" to be found IN the symbols and form
ul of the universal law. In the following year he
was elected as successor to Daunou, to the Chair
OF Morals and History, in the College de France,
and ct the same time was admitted to the Acad-
envy Of Nora and Political Sciences, occupying the
reached mis- iortieth year Jules MicheIet had OBJ
tanned very high posltion-the prOfessorship,
Of Honor-maklng a total OF great distinction
His place as man OF letters was high. he re-
solved to enter into a new path. Like the Greek,
he wanted to conquer other worlds.
Scarcely was he seated in his professors chair
in the College OF Paris than he commenced cru
SADIE against the Jesuits-a crusade which he con-
tnued on the Spanish principle OF war to the
knife" He attacked the Jesuits in his lectures on
in general to make more pointed his Remuneration
OF the details OF their constitution and action He
IL
present as well as past, only in a history. Early
In 1872, when these lectures were drawing great
, crowds, he attacked the Jesuits for having, he
said, sent young saints from the College Of France
to stifie his words with murmurs and salute them
with Kisses In ls43 he visited switzerland and was
nearly persuaded, at the convocation OF Lutheran
Ministers in Geneva, to become Protestant. At
the close OF that year appeared his WORK "Des
Jesuites," consisting OF hs own lectures, mingled
with those OF NJ. Edgar Quinet. In 1874 was pub
lished work all his own, priests, Women and
Families" TRANSACTIONS Of which have been very
largely sold in America and England. In 1886,
while yet his campaign against the Jesuts was in
boldly philosophical book, crammed with the
broadcast doctrines OF democracy. The daughters
Of Louis PHILIPPE, who were among the most
France, received their lessons n history
Waa the papn he most UVea
after the, revolution OF ls4s, Michelet was rein
~ MS sS m to ms pro-
the Ministry OF Guizot Jules Micheet may be said
to nave falrly beaten his enemies, who were prin-
cipally the clergy ana their adherents. He con-
tlnued his lectures in the College of France until
March, 1851 when the government annoyed at his
Micheiet remonstrated without effect, in the news
papers. After the coup detat Of December, 1851,
the National Archives, declining to take the he
required oath TO support the new regime;
| profit for conscience sake, Michelet, VINO was a
widower, married a second time, and continued,
his works-chieny his History Of France" 1sas-
1851, and his "History OF the French Revolution"
b. was with a %ns Wns he y%
bolcal poetry, LOtsedu. published in 1856, and
LInsecte, 10 1857, both OF which have gone into
! numerous editions. He also wrote several reports
OF the Academy OF Science in Paris articles In the
| Repue des DeuL Aordes, in the Encyclopedia des
| Gems du NOnde and in other publications. Like
| most other men Of ability who have taken pen in
hand, Michelet has written great deal.
1t is known that M. Michelet married young
wife in his old age, and that his work LA Femme"
Is to a great extent made up OF the results OF his
experience of married life. Nine. Mchelet
made her dfbut authoress. she was gov
erness and for some time lived in that capacity
with the family OF Prince Cantacuzeno at Bucha-
rest
tirement.
Hippolite Castelle, French biogTapher ofMichelet,
gives a favorable view Of him, and respects him
Tor mis- great regard for popular rights and for his
great sympathy with suffering humanity in al
sa