The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-13
Lanfrey, the Historian.
saturday Review.1

lodturldy REVIEW
Lanfrey was quite capable of a kindly and
playful humor in his dealings with those whom
he loved and trusted Nine. Jaubert told him
on one occasion that, so far from calling him
rosebud, as a pretty Englishwoman with
whom they were both acquainted had done, in
reference to the extreme youthfulness and
ruddiness of his personal appearance, she
would call him by the far apter name of Zero
cino. Lanfrey accepted the implied rebuke,
promised that he would suppress his satirical
vein in conversation in future, and ever after
ward IN writing to her signed himself Feroci-
no. The jest pleased him, and on one occasion
he left little bronze Japanese tiger cat which
he had expressly purchased at Nine Jau-
bert's door, by way of a carte de uisite.
Of the many interesting passages in her
"reminiscences of this most interesting and most
notable man, perhaps the best is the account of
their long railway journey together from Paris
to Switzerland, in company with Nine. Jau-
bert's niece. Lanfrey became ELUSIVE and
confidential In the small hours of the morning.
and told his friend good deal he had never
told anyone else about his early life. He was
expelled from the Jesuit College at Chambery
where he received his education, for the fol-
lowing reason: Lanfrey had already devel-
oped strong taste for history and made an
audacious Jesuit pamphlet, which he had
found in the college, the basis for historical
essay in REPUTATION of all its assertions. He
was watched and suspected and ordered to ap-
pear before the Father Superior.
"Then began a singular contest between the
boy just fifteen and the chief who united to the
authority of his position all that the Jesuitical
quintessence of u trained intellect could sum-
mon SO its aid to overcome the pupils strength
of resistance. When the competitive examin-
ations came round, the college used to be very
proud of my numerous nominations. The
time was drawing near, and the Superior did
his BEST therefore, to draw confession of
crime from me along with sufficient express
tion of contrition to justify indulgence. Irri-
itated by my obstinacy, he tried threats.
should be sent hack to my mother. All, that
was tender point. knew all the sacrifices
that this would involve. To keep myself from
giving in, kept repeating to myself that,
Roman matron that she was, my mother would
approve OF my conduct. Once more persua-
sive mildness replaced threats. MY child. you
must think of the future. Your brilliant
studies would be continued here -.
Then suddenly the chiefs anger burst out at
the continued obstinacy of the pupil Calling
to one of the minor brothers, he ordered him
to fetch couple of the college servants, and
turning to me he said: You have concealed
about you, placed on your chest, the wicked
document demand. If you don't give it up
at once, l shall have it taken from YOU by
force. Now choose!'
L could not come out conqueror from such
struggle; contest on such terms was too ig-
nominious yield to brute force, said,
giving the manuscript What has be-
come of it, wonder. Some day it may turn
up, perhaps"
Such was the boy who was to become the
most uncompromising of historians, and such
he remained through life. OF the history it.
self Nine. Jaubert does not tell us much that
is new. Very interesting, however, is Lam
frey's account, given to her, of a too brief con-
versation with Theirs. Nine. Jaubert asked
Lanfrey, one day jokingly:
Have you really forgiven him your terrible
dissection OF his work on the Empire? Theirs,
L am sure, owes you no grudge for it. The in
capacity fol- rancor is one of his most precious
qualities as statesman. But should like TO
know whether, when you are together, the
historian never makes his appearance"
your question, my dear friend,' replied
Lanfrey, is singularly propos. Three weeks
ago happened to be next him at the dinner
table. All at once he leant over to me, and
for the first and only time he said: "Ah, mon
cher! II had only known you when wrote
my History of Napoleon" He continued
speaking, but could not distinguish the
words OF Napoleon, said I, to induce him
to repeat what he had been saying. saw
the lips move, but not sound passed
them. Painfully moved by this mel
a anS n, symptom of the approaching
ing from his expressive pantomime that
he was trying to say something which would
have the effect of surprising me, I articulated
'C'est fort curieuxP' proposing myself to
resume the subject another day. An
bered; once more he came to my house, and
that was the last time'