The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-12

| SlSIlcu.
The appearance of the 7th volume of
his history of France was a painful
surprise. He came back upon every
sentiment he had ever expressed. The
middle age, which he had 50 eloquent
ly gloritied, now became the object of
his crosses, insult, and religion, which
he had hitherto venerated, became the
subject of bitterest sarcasm. His
enemies had called him with some
justice) the renegade historian, and
certainly no Weather-cOck ever turned
more completely than he in every ap-
probation of moral and divine law.
He was so false to himself as he was
to others for at heart he was no more
a demagogue than was Edgar Quinct,
whose book against revolution is, after
that of Carlyle, the most solid, the
best reasoned, and most terribly con.
elusive ever written. Critics are I'M
just when they accuse Michelet of hav-
ing Systematically worked political
and religious decentralization. He was
impressionable, highly imaginative,
and violent in his conclusions of the
moment. He had loved Charles X; all
the royal family were sympathetic to
him, and yet he turned to each
succeeding sun as it rose, making 9TH
ers believe, and trying to believe him.
self, that had never respected what
had gone before. In 1880 Michelet ap-
plauded the revolution which resulted
in placing Louis Philippe on the throne
and in 1881, after a years reflection,
he approved accomplished fact in his
''Introduction alHistorie Univer-
selle, - saying they were the @scournne.
ment natural de Phistorie de France"
1t was during the time that Edgard
evinet taught history and literature in
the French colleges, and Michelet NOR
al sciences, that they united (abusing
Query means in their power) to crush
the Jesuits and everything appertain-
ing to their religion and order. They
pushed this so far that both church
and state were obliged to intefere, not
IN time. however, to prevent riot
and manifestation on the part of the
students, who made an ovation to their
dethroned professors; and. being join
ed by the idle, tuboulent, and factious
mob, ever ready for, revolt, and self.
designated ''clerks Of free.thinkers,'
''soldiers of free religion ''pries.
eaters,' &C., they organized an anti
religious party, which, guided by
Michelet and Quinet, became the first
cause of Louis Philippe's overthrow.
Michelet's second marriage was a
romantic and happy one. His wife,
much younger than himself, was an
excellent mother to his children,
showing impartial affection to them
and to their own. They were not
rich, and certainly in the higher and
better feelings-they had both gore
sadly astray, but their domestic life
was as calm and peaceful as his politi-
cal and literary life was agitated. He
was good friend and a bitter enemy.
Sometimes the two changed places in
an inexplicable manner, as suddenly,
indeed, as his political theories.
For instance, he disliked George
Sand she smoked, and he did not he
hated her novels, and criticised them
severely. After the war she wrote a
book which acted like magic on her
| prosecutor. "Voila de Ia yrai his
torie - he exclaimed, and henceforth
they were good friends. =
But to return to Michelet's comedy
of impiety. When he assisted at a
funeral which attracted the attention
of the crowd he always drew aside on
approaching the church, showing by
his ostentatious irreverence that he,
at least, was true to his anti-religious
ideas. Out of Paris all this mummerv
disappeared, as the following pretty
anecdote will abundantly prove.
1t was during his stay in retired
watering-place on the Brittany coast
that Michelet one day met man who.
as he walked sadly along made the
sign OF the cross. Thinking he recog-
nized. guardian of the lighthouse.
Mlchelet stopped, and asked the cause
OF his sorrow. I have been uniustlv
| dismissed, replied the man. ssand
was praying God to send me help: for
my wife and children have no other
resource.
After some further conversation.
| feeling convinced of the mans hon
esty, Mlchelet promised to use his in
f1uence in his favor, assuring him of
probable, success. ''Oh, monsieus -
exclaimed the grateful man, "God has
indeed heard my prayers. Would
monsieur go with me into 'sthe church
and offer up one of gratitude p ssCer.
tainly,' replied Michelet,-and those
who know the, story say that on that
! day, and on many succeeding, the har-
dened froe-thinker offered up as earn.
est prayers as the simple and pious
| lighthouse guardian for whom he had
done so good an action. But this
could not last; he had thrown him
self into the vortex of ideas without