The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-18
EDMOND ABOUT.
Death of the Famo us French Novelist, Edi-
tor and Politician.
PARIS. Jan. 17-Edmond Francis Valentine
About the well-known author, is dead,

| About the well known author, is dead,
| The deceased was ifty-se years of age, and
was, last year, made member of the French
| Academy. About went to Paris as a boy, to be
educated, having shown his literary propensities
and capacities before he had left home, and won
the prize of honor when he was twenty at the
Lycee Charlemagne Three years after he
attended the French school at Athens,
where he studied archaeology with diligence,
| and also the customs and manners of the people.
On his return he published his first work, "Con-
| temporaneous Greece" which was very clever,
though SO satircal and often unjust that it eic-
tied vehement denial and comment in Athens,
but was effective in establishing his reputation.
Few initial efforts have been more prosperous.
He Immediately took rank as one of the most
promising young authors of France The was
twenty-seven them, and his fame has increased
ever since.
So much has been said in censure of his rela-
ton to the late Emperor that it may be well to
mention just what it was Some years after
About had written (l860) the New Map of
Europe" and Prussia in 1860" inspired, as it
was thought, by the government, he was pro-
| posed as the private adviser (conseller intime)
of Napoleon III, and accepted the delicate offer.
| his duties were to communicate daily or weekly
| confidential reports on the movements of public
| opinion, and whatever sovereigns are most likely
to remain ignorant of. He evidently did not
relish the position, and invited Prevost-Par-
adol, man of fine sensibilities and great con-
| scientioUsness, to share the responsibility with
! him; but the invitation declined Provost
Paradol, who it will be remembered. committed
! suicide in 1870, in Washington, where he was
minister from France, wrote a letter subse-
| quently in which he acquitted About of any dis
! honorable act or intent in accepting or filling
the office The private adviser remained but
| brief time in the place. making no reports of
| any consequence, although it was undoubtedly
| q mistake for him to have taken it.
| He believed, or seemed to believe, in the ELI
| pire up to the declaration of war against Ger
| manv-Louis Napoleon had won him over by
| treating him with so much distinguished con
| sideration--but being in Alsace at that time,
and seeing the province oyerrun with Prussians,
| he relinquished the cause of the Bonapartists.
/ His sympathies were really with the Repub
| licans but he attached himself for a while to
| the Orleansts, and when he Quilted them, to
| their great disappointment, he became involved
| In duel with Edward Herve, of the Journal de
Paris, and was slightly wounded.
Socially he was very much liked He had
plenty of small talk when it was wanted, and
ment to the salon, where he was always most
welcome. 1t must be allowed that he had a way
| of making even his friends ridiculous, which
| Smacked of illnature; but his admirers say that
| it was simply his inability to repress his ever
| bubblng wit His kindheartedness was shown
| in many ways and his old associates were deep
| ly attached TO him. In his own home,
whether in his handsome apartment
in the gay capital or at his