The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-12-23
The Monthyon Prize.

1t is exceedingly consoling, after a
man has saved several people from
drowning, rescued babe or two from
the flames, or risked his life to save a
train from being wrecked, to be patted on
the back and told that virtue IS its own
reward. A misery man, once rescued
from watery grave off the pier at Green
ock, a seaport town in Scotland, rewarded
the gallant sailor who brought him safe to
land with sixpence. "Never mind,"
remarked the poet Burns, who witnessed
the shabby transaction he values his
life at its proper worth" Prof. Aytown
relates story which appeared in Black
,oood some years ago Of a Highland chief
1.-THE Great McGowl''-who, having
saved the life of young lady, received
the thanks of her relatives, accompanied
by pressing invitation to visit the family
in London. Profoundly impressed with
the idea that he had rendered a favor
which could never be sufficiently repaid,
the great man, accompanied by his piper,
set out for the English metropolis. With
the full expectation of receiving q vast
reward he lived at the finest hotel, and fed
his piper on luxuries, common at home,
but expensive in the English capital.
Great was his amazement when the En-
glish host, who was of course delighted
TO see him, instead of writing out check
for several thousand pounds, merely in
sisted upon his g staying to dinner"
The only place in the world in which
virtue in the eyes of the general public
deserves more than its own reward is
Paris. In that city they have an institu-
ton or foundation known as the Monthyon
prizes. These prizes are given by the
k:ropo1 coIor,1r IN lot, 81,
for conspicuously brave or virtuous ac-
The 18th of last month was a great day fos
the virtuous in the French capital. TWAS
the day upon which the academy delivered
its awards. Annette Breuil, one of the
prize-takers, took service in 1882 with q
Polish music master named Tarnowskii,
who at that time Jared well in the world.
Misfortune, poverty and old age coming
upon the man, he became entirely de-
pendent upon Annette, who sold out her
little savings to support her old and much
loved master. She now wears the blue
ribbon Of virtue, in addition to prize of
1000 francs. Another Of the fortunate
ones was Sebasticn Basques, who, being
left fatherless at sixteen, not only brought
up his little brothers and supported his
mother, but rescued drowning men, men
from burning houses, and an acronaut
from perilous position. The academy
also crowned NJ. Daudet for his novel; NJ.
Des Movies Torres received G12O for his
work on Voltaire; NJ. Wailly and NJ.
Pcsoneaux prizes for translations. The
beauty of the Monthyon prize is that no
one is made aware Of the decision before
hand. Perhaps the vlrtuous Annette never
heard of the institution in her life. 1t is
something for honest poverty, who hangs
| its head and a that" to receive, IN addition
to the pleasure of satisfied conscience,
the appreciation of its tellow-countrymcn
supplemented by reward which may
serve to keep the wolf from the door, per-
haps to help others, in continuance Of and
in accordance with the promptings OF an
unseltish heart.-Inter- Ocsan.