New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-02


dition of France during the eighteenth century, which
eliminated in the Revolution at its close Me Tame
belongs to the school of history which traces the
character of nation to antecedent influences IN us
surrounding circumstances. Thus, the Revolution
Of $50 was not an isolated event, but the natural
growth of previous ages. The development OF the
French monarchy reached its crisis soon after the
middle of the century, and prepared the way Tor the
new era which was inaugmated amidst scenes OF
blood.
In $780, the clergy, the mobiles, and the king, held
the most prominent position in the state. During
succession of ages they had gradually constructed
the three principal foundations of modern society,"
The most ancient of these was the work of the
clergy In the first four centuries they constituted
religion and the Church. They preached the spirit
Of the beatitudes to world of barbarians, whom
they gathered into a society governed by laws and
discipline Down to the middle of the thirteenth
Tentury. they furnished the ideal element in period
Of corruption and violence Through their Legends
of the saints through their cathedrals and statues,
they rendered visible the Kingdom OF Cod Ike
magnificent golden pavilion at the end OF miry
morassn The popes for two hundred years were the
dictators of Europe They organized crusades de-
fbroned monarchs and distributed Kingdoms The
clergy held in their grasp third OF the ter
ritory, one-half of the revenue, and two-thirds
of the capital of Europe. Military service gave rise
TO permanent order of mobiles. Each petty chief
tain stands firmly on his domain. He no longer
keeps it in trust but as property. 1t is his own
manor his own village, his own earldom. Each
canton possesses its armed men, capable of resisting
nomsdic invasion. The community is no longer
prev TO strangers. Every taste IS subordinate to
military service and thanks to the armed chieftans
and their vassas, the peasant enjoys protection lie
ventures to plow and SOW and to rely upon his
crops He is no longer to be slaughtered, or LED
captive with his family. In case of danger ne finds
an ASYLUM in the circle of palisades at the base OF
the fortress A contract is thus established be-
tween the lord and the cultivators They do his
work. and retain portion of the products. But he
soon takes more than his DUE Ii he assigns them a
plot of ground, merely permits them TO
encamp on it, it is on conditions prescribed by
himself They are to become his serfs, his
mortmains for the sake Of the security which he
gave. The king, who was chief of the mobiles, con-
animated their work. and laid the third foundation
of France His rule gradually encroaches on the
province of the MOBILES They become simply his
officials or his cOurtiers. He dominates the 6gnl-
taries of the Church. The StatesGeneral are not
ronvoked The provincial assemblies continue
to do nothing but apportion the taxes. The par
liaments are exiled when they risk remonstrance.
iIe is absolute master, and his ancient rivals have
few Of their prerogatives left in exchange for which
they enjoy the royal favor and marks of preference
Such were the foundations of society under the
sncien regime which was the precursor of the Revo-
mtion.
The habits of social life at this period may be
typied by military staff on furlough around
.ommander-in- chief who gives fashionable enter
tainments. The court is the substitute and shadow
of the feudal military service In the early times
the mobiles served the kings with their own hands.
One provided for his house, another brought dish
TO his table, another disrobed him at night, and
another looked after his falcons and horses. Still
later they formed an armed escort for hun, and a
retinue of ever-ready swordsmen. Pompous parade
sfterward took the place of efficient service The
pObles were for ornament and not for use, acting
along with the king who was himself an actor.
The dramatic display complete. Versailles,
with its population of $4,000 souls. was simply
roval residence occupied with the life of a single
man. Here and there inns, stalls, taverns,
bowels for aborers and drudges, for worn-out SOL
aiers and serve menias, the necessary appendages
Of the magnificent state. But the rest consisted
Of sumptuous hotels and edfces sculptured faeades,
eorniees and balustrades, monumental stairways
and segDiorial architecture, disposed around the
vast and grandiose place which was the central
point of the pageant Here were the fixed abOdes of
the nobest families. The hotels and buildings at
Versailles devoted to the private service of the king
and his attendants numbered by hundreds. No
human existence since that of the Caesars has so
spread itself in the sunshine. The kings guards
consisted of over 1000 men, costing annually more
than T. 800 900 hvres 81 800, 600. -Four companies
Of the French guard, and two of the Swiss guard
paraded every day in the court of the ministers In
the drives Of the king to Paris or FOntainebeau,
four trumpeters in front and four behind,
with the Swiss guards on the one side and the
French guards on the other, formed line as far as
the eye could reach. The officers of the various
corps, the trumpeteTs and the musicians covered
with gold and silver lace, were dazzling to look at ;
the kettle-drum suspended at the saddle bow
loaded with gold and silver ornaments, sight
to behold; the negro cymbaplayer resembled the
mltan of a fairy tale. Alongside of the carriage
were the body-guards with sword and carbine
wearing red breeches, high black boots, and blue
coats with white embroidery. There were 200 in
all, every one gentleman selected from the mobiles
according to size. The kings stables contained
nearly 900 horses, with 1900 men, whose liveres
eost $4,000 francs CS1Os,O00 a year. Horses TO
the amount of 100000 francs were purchased
yearly and there were stock stables i'll Linousin
and in Normandy to draw on for supplies. The
whole cost of the stables in 1873 was 100000
francs, and in 1857 had reached the sum of $780,
300 francs
The table service was on similar scale of luxury.
The wine-merchant furnished wine to the amount OF
100000 francs year, and the purveyOr game,
meat, and fish, at a cost of 1000, 900 livres. The
personal appointments of the king were of the
daintiest character. Two principal dignitaries
presided over his sleeping apartment, and each had
under him about hundred subordinates. Some OF
them comb the kings hair and dry him after bath,
others fold and put his cravat, others fetch his
u. IL ,1o.x,