New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
PINEL AND voLTAIRE.
rATUEs IN PARIS

FRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRrBUNR.
PARIS, July 23.
France will soon have statues enough Of her great
men to be in herseslf Pantheon-the enemies Of
the Republic cay to resemble necropolia NJ lee
than four have been erected since the morning Of
Ls Sante Bastiile, the popular pame given 10 the
14th of jug. They represent Voltaire, Pinel the
Abbe Gregoire and Beranger Every one knows
who the former was and nobody w6ll acquainted
with modern French literature 10 ignorant that
Beranger was chief among tho writer's of gay and
often sarcastic songs species Of poetry which has
been carried to great perfection here. and one in
which the national genius best appears. Pnel's
glory is Of different order II was said of Vol.
taire. and with truth, that his heart was In his
head. Bat the saying would apply still moro to the
humane, seeing and courageous French doctor
who rev olutionized tile treatment Of lunatcs.
Before his time the madman was out Of humanity's
reach. He was not only himself mentally alianated
from his species, but he was regarded a. danger
0us animal and given over to the care OF brutal
keepers who did not spare the lash well a. the
douche or strait In trying to bring back
his reason or frightening him into doce submission.
George I'LL. albeit King, used often to be foggedi
and. shocking to relate. his often stood by to
witness the chastisement to which he subjected
| for his minds health. Pinel In his statue 10
represented holding broken shacktes. madman.
whose nenrosis Is well indicated In tho drawn
expression of the face 10 sitting at his feet and
with the sentiment of gratitude one might imagine
reason is again beginning to dawn In his beclouded
brain. At the base Of tho pedestal are figures Of
Science and Benevolence. the latter personi6ed by
sweet and smple-l0oking woman who though
young is motherly.
One OF my very early recollections 10 about
conversation which heard between relative and
Maria Edgeworth abo1t Pinel He saved hcr
fathers life IN the Reign Of Terror when old Lowell
Elgsworth was in Paris and taken for Spy OF Pitt
Pinel saw in him man who carried originality to
the point OF eccentrcity and claimed him as meet
inmate for his hospital His claim being allowed.
Mr.. Edgeworth was released from political prison
and hanled over to tho mad-doctor. wonder do
not find this anecdote in any biography Of Maria
Edgeworth. When George III. became insane the
Edgeworthstown squire went to London TO talk
about the wonders which humane AMI rational
treatment effected in tanning . wild spirit In
nnatc. But the English physicians Of his Majesty
were welded to their methoda
Like most men who have risen to moral and INTEL
ectual prominence. Pinel underwent great hard
ships in youth. He was from tho South OF France
and of singularly ardent temperament For
mathematics he had nothing short of gcnius His
passion to know everything led him far in natural
history and physics after he left Montpelier with
a degree and came to practise medicine In Paris
He was one OF the set who used to meet ut the houo
Of Madame Helvetius at Auteuil. before aud after
ths Revolution. The other members of the oe1acls
were Condorcet, volnoy, Carat aud Casauas. who
becoming Administrator Of Hospitals named Piuel
head doctor of the Bicetre. which was at once
madhouse and . Jail. ani perhaps more q hell upon
earth than even tho Bastile. There were some
luaatics there who had beca chained In dungeons
young and had grown old in them. His heart blcd
at their wrctchednes& But as brutal treatment Of
the patients part of the routine Of the Bcetres
ne vainIy tried under the monarchy to effect .
reform. When o Communal Government wa
established in Paris in 1892 Pinel went before u
and pleaded with eloquence the cause OF his
wrotched patients. His heart overaowed with
emotion when he saw that he hal gained most Of
his auditors. While he was speaking Q slip Of
paper was passed on to the chairman by rival
doctor who In it denounced pspei Of harborins
arstocrats. Il was passed. from hand ~ hand L
member of the Communicable terrible COuthon-.
said to him: Citizen mean to 60 to inspect the
Bcetre tomorrow, and woe bcttde you II una
enemies Of the people hidden there" Next day the
Conventional paid his visit. He was very sds-
piclous and wished to everything aud ntcrrogats
the Iunatics aud idiots Everywhere he found in
the ward of the former infurated demoniacs.
They yelled at the visitor and tried TO jump ut him.
what it is, Citizen. you must he crasy yourself to
propose unchainins such wild beasts as these"
"Cit,zen Couthon," answered the doctor. am
convinced that these poor creatures may be tanned.
and that they are now ntractable because deprived
Of air and liberty. have the fullest faith In .
contrary system"
aWell, do what you please with them. The
Republic loves virtue and humanity. Bat am
afraid you will soon q vet victim OF your % daring
lnulgated which would enable him to overcome the
opposition of dis subordinates M Soathon sent it to
lost in emptying the dungeons of their inmates aud
in bringing the mad people into garden where
soft music was beng, PLAYED to soothe them; a
new was begun. Kindness became the rule 10
The unveiiing of voltaire's statue was brightly
the ansalse space on the oua Maaqaais formed By
tho juttug out of tho Palace OF the Institute Tho
weather was cool though sammsry. 9f course
velvet drapoi rostrum set round with flowers: The
back of the statue is to the Institute. When was
ths nose the projecting parts Of the cheeks the lips
and the chin, Voltaiie faces west But his head ie
slightly turned and his eyes look at the window as
TX, set a murierous example to his fanatcal cub
iects by blazing away with carablne on Protes-
sens Ths H
made tho Revolution inevitable. appears to jeer 81
tho Louvre. That den of poisoners and tyrants 10
world. On. almost fancies that voItaire is mentally
rejoicing over that fact. He wears his ample
crimson velvet dressing gown lined with sable
which tho Empress Catherine scnt him. and the
wig that he dressed hmsclf nearly every morning
for sixty years The shoes are square-toed aud
easy. V0ltaire could not abide tight and high
heeled shoes. He appears to have ceased walking
with the gait Of old ago Just to cast bis eye across
the Seine at the Royal Rookery which 10 did 70
much to puI! down. Tho face and head are
intensely intellectual.
CaiIl6. sculptor Of great talent, was the author
of this statue which has been lying In shed ever
snca 1 lS77. when tho Due de Broge Overrulod tho