The weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1872-1882, 1874-03-21
4 REnZNISC CENCE or JULES
- M7CHELET "

During the Eranco-German w
= many Frenchmen left Paris, 70,
seeing the horrors of the sic
, which subsequently befel th
r beautiful city.
Among this number was Mich
lot, who being too old to- use b
sword in the defence Of his countr
devoted his pen to her seryic
While in Florence, whero he spe,
some months, he wrote a master!
pamphlet called sFrance befo,
Europe in which with eloque1
patriotism he attempted to prov
that almost universal sympathy {
European nations OF Germany
this contest was not only an inius
tice to France but grave polite,
blunder for themselves.
This brochure was translated fron
the authors manuscript by Miss Is
Blagden, vivacious and charmin,
English authoress, who was a muc]
beloved member OF that little Brit
ish coterie composed of the Brown
ings, the Trollopes, Walter Savag'
Lanaon, and George Eliot, who's,
brief sojourn in Florence is neve,
forgotten by the Italians, who alst
gratefully remember the arden,
sympathy for Italy's independence
while these foreign liberals felt anc
showed in the days of her struggle
against the denomination of Austria
and Rome.
Our Lady of Bellosguardo." as
Kate Field felicitiously called Miss
Blagden, was as ardent a partisan
OF France against Germany as she
had been OF Italy against her enc
mics. and naturally she and the
Michelets became fast friends,
AS l CHANGED to be in Florence at
the time Of the residence of Niche
let in that city, I was therefore only
too happy to accept Miss Blagden's
invitation to accompany her, on one
OF her many visits to tho illustrious
Frenchman and his charming
young wife. -.
It was at the close Of a balmy
Spring day-and nowhere ore
Spring days SO balmy as in Italy
that I first SOW Michelet.
The little apartment which he
occupied overlooked tho Arno and
ronted the West, end the setting
Jun filed the upper room where he
us with a flood of radiance.
The parlor was very bower of
'erdure, plants crowded every !
;vailable nook and corner and |
zero almost too numerous and |
on tho narrow limits of |
he apartment, though their BIOS
oms and fragrance brightened and
erfumed tho homely little room.
Jncaged canary birds few about in
he most unceremonious and init
late fashion, alighting on the books
nd papers heaped up on the centre
able, and chirruping to us with the
'iendliest of greetings.
The famons historian-poet as he
It in the waning glory Of the sun
1t which surrounded him like q
alo, seemed q fit figure for the
'ntre Of this picturesque interior.
He was rather below the medium :,
sight, very slender and a little ,
'wed, either by age (for he was in
s seventies) or by the long habit
bending over his writing-table.
ut this slight stoop was almost the
lly sign Of age about him. His =
'undant and silky grey hair fell ::
about his face and soft =
ed the lines which the years had .
rrowed in his temples and hollow :
in his cheeks. His features were =
cd but not noticeable, with the :,
ception Of his eyes, which were
ry beautiful-dark, clear and !"
ight with the fire OF perpetual y
nth. |"
His manner was gentle, unaffect-
and cordial. His voice was soft II
d cultured in tone; unlike most sf
his countrymen he made but few II
'tures in speaking. His hands m
re those OF the poet, small, soft a
/ white, with taper fngers-they m