Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-21
GLE ROI S'AMUSE. +"
BIowitz, the POIo-Franeo-AnElO Paris
Ian Correspondents of the Lon.
don Times,
Does Not Successfully Defend the Mem
DRY of Francis 4, whom Victor
Hugo Paints So Well.

IOHDOE, December S.-Tbe 1f1tth puDllsnes
the following: Since Mr.. Whitehurst disap-
peared into space, no more wonderful Paris
correspondent has appeared on the scene
than NJ. Blowi'z, who each day favors the
world with his fluctuations in the London
Times "by telegraph" Like Mr.. Whitehurst,
his main object seems to be to create an
impression that he is hand-snd- glove with
eminent statesmen and royal personages.
Regardless that those whose names he takes
in vain utterly deny and repudiate having
had anything to do with him, he dismisses
their protests with a sneer, and roams off in
search of new political and royal victims.
Last week lie Roi s'Amtse was played at the
Theater Francois, and NJ. Blowitz seized
upon the occasion to devote = column or two
a. explanation OF the plot OF the drama,
which appears to have come upon him with
all the charm OF novelty, and then to favor
his readers in that Polo-Franco-Englis of
which he is go great master, to sort OF
parsphrase of the sage of chivalry is passed."
of Burke. as it not" asks the Polish
chevalier (for NJ. Blowitz is decorated),
"a melancholy sight-this ardor of the
Paris public TO be present at the representa-
tion?" Here" he walls, sis a public COM
posed OF Frenchmen, who are going 10 their
national Iheater to see performed a product
in which one of the greatest and most
glorious of French historical personages is
trailed in the mud of the most degrading vice
and corruptionl Francis / ranks with the
grand figures of French history; he is the
property OF no party, but ID part OF the
glorious patrimopy of all Frenchmen. The
very first lines in the play uttered by Fran
els show the poets determination to travesty
history and to depict a shameless and un-
scrupulous wretch who would forever have |
sullied the race 10 which he belongs. Men |
bearing the greatest names of monarchical
France are grouped round the king in this
shameful scene. 1t is like the gold book of
dishonor of the old French nobility. In the |
midst OF the throng of debased courliers is
'Tribouei,' the kings fool, the willing butt |
of his royal master, deformed, ugly, as ready |
for any infamy as for any hatred, and fling |
ing mud in the faces of the MOBILES" "It is |
necessary" continues the Indignant Blowitz, |
"to speak out on this work of Victor Hugo, |
now that half century has passed over his |
mistaken and misleading drama" Blowitz |
TO the rescued
Let us see how the great and good king ar
rived al his ends with the ladies who took |
his fancy. Diana of Poitiers Was for years
the mistress of his son, who subsequently,
reigned as Henry ii. When Francis was
alive the father of Diana was arrested for
and condemned TO death. Diana
threw herself at the kings feet. He offered
her the life of her father if she would yield
TO the royal solicitations. In despair she ac-
cepted the terms. The courtiers OF Francis
the chivalrous mobiles who, Blowiiz COM
plains, are traducsd by Victor Hugo-were
On par with their master. Not only did
The king collect at his court all the grands
seigneurs of his kingdom, but he insisted
upon their bringing with them their wives,
heir sisters and their daughters. "Desormais,"
'ays Brantome, "dons eette eour, trequentee de "a
relies ct honnctes princcsses, grandes danes ct de-
on poupau S'dpproprier dun amour
ooint saland, nais genti, net ct pur" What
hese Gnours aets ct pltrs were may be dis
covered in the Danes GalantSs of Brantome
ind in the Cent Contes of Marguerite OF
Navarro. The court of Francis was
n fact one vsst ofgie, where the wife who
Yielded was extolled and the husband who
complained was laughed at. the men spent
III that they could beg, borrow or steal in
eur das teurs mouths, leur forets, ct LaTs pres,
While the same authority informs us that the
women had to look TO the generosity of their
overs TO pay their milliners' bills. AT the
ead of this unprejudiced troupe Francis
eigned like sultan in a harem. When
yer he heard of a beautiful wife in a pro-
incial castle he ordered her husband at
nee to bring her TO court. FRANCHISE de I
foix had married the Count of Chateaubri- | /
mt. The count, knowing the kings procIiv- ,
lies, lived with his wife al their chateau in !
Brittany. An order was received TO come at
nee with his wife TO court. The husband 1
anne and left his wife behind, having !
greed with her that she was only to follow !
I'm on the receipt of ring. Having dis e
overed this, the king sent her q ring like |
nat which was IN the possession OF her hus- E
and. She came to court and became the /
ing's mistress, while the count retired in 4
isgust TO his chateau HIS reign was brought a
, close by Aune du Pisselieu- whom 1
rancis created Duchesse d'Etampes-sup- q
lanting her. But it must not be supposed L
rat the monarch confined his attentions to n
lese two ladies': "Libre. jeune, tout puissGnt a
rOi ainlait," said Brantome, fort ct trop; IL n
lat, sans difference, enlbrassant qui Pune qui n
IspTe 81 bien que ceLs de Ia pieiUe n'etuit jdais
lie du teademain." The kings ladies were a
Illed Ia petite bande, and Francis used TO re- g
re- with them 10 one or other of the royal Ii
stes, where he would remain for two or "
rec weeks. Here is another story OF this II
odel Of all the domestic virtues, according b
Blowitz. take it from Brantome, and it sc
lght to be remembered that Brantome is no 7
'stile witness, but recounts what he saw, Ii
Id saw with admiration-for his moral per-
ptious were those of the coUrtiers of
'ancis-those noble beings who have been a
,duced by Victor Hugo: IL
r'ai oui parler Que lie Roi Francois une fois, II
ulut alter chez une dame de la cour qu'n aimait p
trouva SON mari, repee p1ing, pour Paller 81
r. mais lie Roi Iui porta repe la gorge, ct lui a.
nmanda sa vie de ne lui faire sncun NAL, ct a.
e sill lui faisait La monindre chose du monde, IL
ii la tuerait gun lui ferait trancher Ia tete.
ant a1nsi pris sa place, IL Penvoya dehors ct bt
Ia ayec la dame J'ai oui dire que plusieurs y.
les DANES obtinrent pareille sauvegarde du Roi. ~
Blowitz would not be himself did he not, ~
his defense of Francis, introduce as an in 10
entail episode conversation between him al
and a royal parsonage. He concludes OF
wonderful Telegram" characteristically. In
1872, after having seen the Count de Us
ambord at Antwerp, had the honor of ru
yelling with the Duke d'Aumale to Yer 81
lies. / repeated to him the Count de II
ambord's words: Il will not be a crowned SIC
NIX, but cannot forget that l am a de- la
ndant of ST. Louis'" This interesting me
is dragged in because the Duke We
.umale was at the play, though what the In
of Blowitz having, 10 1872, repeated to mi
Duke d'Aumsle remark of The Count de mt
,mbord has to do with either Francis, en-
tor Hugo or lie Roi s,Amuse, Biowifz per- De
,s may know, but it is not given 10 in fnl
or fufrffects- uuzfersiand. ~
l mir