New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-26
LIrTRES HOME AND HIS DAUGHTER.
R.om The Pal Val Ga-eitc.


Madame Iittres dowry was inconsderahlc The
dictionary brought fortune, but II was not completed
until lS74. NJ. Lttrc's country house AT Mesnl
was bought with part of this dover at the low
price Of 1000 francs II was PEASANTS cottage.
One thousand francs was expended IN turning 2 loit
IN which hay and grain had been stored into q
couple of bedrooms The sittng-room on the ground
floor vas used for many years as Kitchen. Nine
LItrcs riom in which there religious pictures,
prle-dlCu chair and cruclilX. was on one side ana
Madcmul,, llc ON the other garden OF niue more
than rood produced the fruit and vegetables used
los the house hold. The rare flowers IN the borders
were hardy and common. LIttrc was fond of the
flowers Of the woods. fields. and orchards. but IN
sensible 10 the magulhcrncc OF those when win
prizes az horticultural shows. lie often botanZed
in bis walks IN taking which his pockets were hlled
with books. There were some r0st bushes near the
house. Mile. Littre planted them. She Is her
fathers imagr, and has his taste for Necliison.
Mrsiil, where Littrc resided when he was not a
member of the Assembly eight months out of the
twelve. j. close to the Seine aud on the verge OF the
forest of ST. Gcrmaln Ii Is an ont-olthe-~ay
place. unknown To Sunday crowds, and inhabited
hy hcwcrs Of wood and charcoal burners. The fur
ntup of the philosophers cottage was homely and
solid. few mahogany armchaIrs setting up to
bourgeois Ventllity, were covered with needieWoTk
tapestry done by Nine. Llitrc, whose needles ana
knitiiug-uccdlc. re always going when she was
not at church or engaged IN looking after the de
cunrr and dinner. For years abe had no other ser
want than woman who was hrrd by the hour 10
scrub a laior,r and Nile. Littre attended to the
garden. Madrmoisclie was also secretary 10 her
father. who took charge OF her proiane educati"n;
When she was child and young girl She never had
any other teacher. II is neXplicable that with ms
convictions hr did not try "a lnstl some of hs PHI
u>oph, inro her head. She only understood So much
of u a., h,r spiritual director chose 10 explain to
her. The nature of his explanations may be m
lrrrrd from the Inccssaut efforts she made IN con
junction with her mother Ia open her fathers eyes
90 wi hat appeared Ia her the light of true religion
Work, of supc'crOgailon were undertaken Il" IA
surr bCucdlctiuu Ia her attempts. Mic. Lltlr' pc
lougd 10 a kind of Law sstcrhoOd known rs The
Association of the Rosary which met AT stated
times Iu tine church OF Mcsnil. NJ. LltIc WAS ionIly
tf.t ~ , ref
affection With alteration. They called him SAINT
who did not believe ln God. When NJ. LIttrcs
working power began 10 Tan hr rev conscious mat
hc Was diuu" lu Ia, own household Ills Loneliness
profoundly ~aadrurd HIM. \ melancholy tlnge per
Vadcd hl, letters and CONVERSATIONS with intimate
disciples who recommended hlm 10 BRING at least
BIS daughter nearer 20 him los attacking her dog,
matte Roman tathollc,m But hi- tolerant ana
geutlr spirit shrlnk from controversy which
might aruu,- bitter feelings
A4thr evening of ms existence was darkcning into
the night of the tomb hr Thought frequently OF hi,
mothrI a woman whose soul wa- cast lh an hrfoi'
mould. The void which her death had caused ln ll~
lllc be- found time hal not ullrd up She had 30 far
adopted the view, OF her husband, Who was an
apl,ut Republican and lrcr-thnkcr, "a, not Ia have
h,r,h.llr,u baptized; but, being religious minded,
she Ioincd group Of Broad Church lrotc,tints.
some Of her ancestors bad been prosecuted ~ Cal
yIui,t-. and attachment to her own people Was
strong 100 her 90 Oh" last. They were LA"nnai7
Whom she felt the hand Of death vas upon her, sine
said Go NJ Llttrr " II l- time tor me to rJoiu ~ r."
of ms kindred who have gone before me- lie had
been an aNrrtouatc and 'crluV son to her ~ her
long WIdoNhpod. Tier appreciation "t his au~t"re
and -tudIou, youth be- ,ald. not many MrcAH before
Ir al.d. brought hlu more happiness than any Of
tie brilliant prizes Do, learning Won Tor MN ia
alter Ilr. On tins occasion Ar also SAN; me
recollection of my mothers words ana looks be-
comes >o vivid aS sometimes 10 ease the hedrdchc
from which ! suffer When began ~ think Ot her
and ~ i~ Der near NE.
VI Linz. inhabited in winter Hat in the Rho
q A,-a~. II WAS plainly furnished the floor was
carpriIr-- Al meals there wac 40 white cloth on
the Glnug-room Table. VI. Little himself often