The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-26

NEW 1Ol
TINS morning on a member OF the Frenca govern
ment to learn how 1t had happened that they had
let this interesting prisoner escape rom CUSTODY.
"Ah," said the politician, smiling, svoHs u0ut~
tout sapotv p0us dutyes; al btes Uows S'en saures
rien.u Somehow or other II slipped out In CONVEX
sasion, however, shat the government had been
almost pestered out OF its wits by demands to par
don NJ Rocnefort Ladies were the most perse-
vering applicants with whom Ministers nad TO
DEAL lor Roche.ort is q hero Of romance. HIS ire
mas been full OF adventure, and he made most
poeticai marriage, II not two OF them 30 the
ladies would take no denial Then M. Victor Hugo
wrote US letters four pages long on the same sub
ject; and we were obliged TO read what he wrote,
for the great Victor Is an awful correspondent"
Now continued the politician, 1--WE could not
pardon NJ ROchefort without pardoning other per-
sons who were much less guilty, and that would
have let loose whole host OF enemies upon us;
aud enemies are much more agreeable subjects Of
contemplation In custody than ut large. Do you
understand ~
~ understand that Rochefort has escaped"
said |.
Eyes, replied the government man, "Rochefort
has escaped ana win tell you story If you viii
promise to 90 away in peace afterwards. Once
upon time, In the reign OF Louis Philippe
country gentleman Of good family wanted to be
made count. This well-born blockhead pestered
the King to make him q count every time he got
into the royal presence, and as the Queen liked his
wire, that happened incon veniently often. so at
last his Majesty could not come home to dinner
without being bothered by tine man who wanted
to be count. So said the King, viii not make
you q count; but do not the smallest objec-
ton to yOur making Yourself One.'r
(which means to say that you would not set
Rocheiort at liberty, but that you let him run
away
''rnat is a precise way Of putting it, observed
the Official parsonage, dryiy
THE TRUTH OF THE STORY
The fact Is, had got at the truth OF the story
The French government have been teazed about
an amnesty, which they are In no numor to grant;
and they have reasoned that II Rocheiort, Paschai
Grousset, Jourde and the other prominent political
prisoners, who have just escaped together. were
suffered to 60 free there would be much less noise
made about the rest; and, II necessary, the es-
cape OF the men above mentioned would Justify
more stringent precautions being used 10 detain
their followers.
HUGO AIDS R0CHEF0RT.
Ii seems that NJ Rocheiort went, In the first
instance to sydney, and as soon as he arrived
there telegraphed to NJ Edmund Adam, who is his
agent in Parts; for S., 900 to enable him and those
who had escaped with him to return to Eu-
rope 1t Is said that N. Edmund Adam
had not got the money and did not know
where to get It,; but in this difiicuty
he appealed to the large heart OF Victor Hugo, who
looks upon R0cnefort as SON. Victor Hugo I'M
mediarely headed subscription with s., 200; NJ
Edmund Adam found $1,000 more, and the rest OF
the money was made up by smaller contributions
from other literary men OF more or less distinclon
who were formerly friends or colleagues OF the
witty and brilliant jour nalst.
ROchetort's confinement was merely nominal
his sentence having only provided that he should
be detained in q fortress, and If any one were
curious to inquire into the morality or the thing
his escape might be construed into q breach Of
parole; but on the other hand. 1t may De urged
with equal force that had the French government
thought proper to deprive him Of every chance
OF escape they might have imprisoned him,
and therefore, he was not bound to
take nicer view Of his case than
his opponents bad done. Certain ii Is that he got
away in broad daylight, with four companions
Grousset, jourde, Regere and veriiere-and took
refuge under British colors, on board an Englis
merchant ship. No serious effort was made to re-
cover him, aud the weasel remained for fifteen
days or the coast, after his escape before she set
sail Tor Sydney. n Rochefort and his friends
arrived at sydney on the 3Oth OF March and took
up their quarters at Courvoiser's Hotel. II is
ported that they have been invited to lecture in
America and, If So and they accept the invitation,
their story will doubtless be very well and brightly
told.
N. Rochefort is q very clever man. with q
great command OF words l was going to
say, but it would be more correct to
mention that words have q great command
over him. He is carried quite away by them In an
irresistible torrent Of invectve but IL Is not dull
stupid abuse, The talk OF M ROchef0rt ID as lively
as champagne; and to converse with him Is like
drinking repeated draughts of that frIsky and
agreeable wine. His political squlbs are certainly
among the most brilliant political fireworks ever
displayed to the light-heade1 people OF Paris, who
are judges Of exhibitions His LGnteTne sold in
tens OF thousands and he might have been rich
man If ne had not maintained a court OF lit
erary sycophants while in exile in Brussels.
During his brief tenure OF nominal
power NJ Rochefort was honest, generous and
impracticable Indeed, he knew nothing OF poll
tics and his colleagues, with the exception Of
M. Jules Simon, knew little more. They were noisy
they were argumentative, they were quarrelsome ;
and when NJ. Rochefort mad discovered, as he very
soon did, that of1cal position does not necessarily
signify authority, he threw up his hands and went
into opposition. While in opposition he did things
for which he himself has publicly expressed his
regret; and, as his errors are more OF the head
than o. the heart, it Is better to forget them He
will probably create some sensation among the
French residents at New York, should he visit the
Empire City; but in France his influence for good
or evil has passed away, and the French are more
likely to have new empire than q new commune
at present.
TIE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS