The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-05-05
TIE LOVE OF ELEANORE DUPLAY.
,l,'a4!ls'f i
How Robcsplerrc Appeared in, the
Eyes of HIS Betrothed..;- .,.4, I

Eieauore Dupiay, the beloved Of
Robespiere, wrote thus to a female
friend concerning her lover, under date
OF jan. S,'1794: pee va su.4stf slT
"Perhaps you would be surprised if
told you thought him only too con-
|scientious-so afraid to do wrong that
he sometimes takes too long in making
uphis mind. Yet so 1t is. Do not think
of him as a hunter of priests, for he is
nothing Of that sort. He does not like
their impcstures, of course. remember
how angry he was last time he wrote
to Arras, when he heard them pretend
to the poor country people that they
wrought miracles on certain towns
man, though they did not dare to men.
tion it to his fellow towusmeu, who
knew no miracle had been wrought at
all. And lie does not care for the triv-
ial dogmas with which religion has
been overleden. Did you not care
about them either, Jeanette, in tho old
times; but 1 believe you like anything
which is getting heuten, and dognas
certainly have had bad time OF il
lately. But, if you put aside dogInas
and impostures; just as in politics you
must put aside personal details which Of
ten obscure principles. In the true sense
Of tho word there is no more religious
man than Maximillain. His has al
ways been a religious family. There is
u tradition at Arras that they fed from
Ireland for religions sake 200 years
ago. MaXimillian was always friend
iy to the chapter of Paris when he was
in the constituent. He spoke, too, in
favor of larger pensions for the humble
clergy. He hates the idea of the feast
of reason Clancy worshipiug woman
he would not even speak to y and all
the other Herbertist excesses.
$50, if you could hear him. l some-
times fancy him priest himself. He
is TO me what the priest used to be
when 1 was little girl. He is always
proper when others are wicked-dresses
neatly when Others siouch about like
slovens. He has his old Statement
Racine, Corneille, Voliaire and his gos-
pel-Rousseau. He reads them to us
sometimes, not as the false priests used
| to drone their gospels that they were
| paid to preach, but so beautifully that
| ia the pathetic parts we sometimes ali
| burst into tears. He believes it all Sc
thoroughly; he is so conscious of mis-
sion to teach it. The crowds gather
round him in the Jacoblns, as round q
great preacher, to hear his text and his
sermon. He says ii so one cannot dis.
believe. Do you know, / sometimes
carry the thought further, and ask my
self whether one 50 good and so pure
can become husband 10 me. think
he ought TO be ceiibate as priest! Bu,
If l told him 80 be would be shocked
poor man! 1t is contrary 10 the civil
constitution of the clergy.
"Then you call him cruel. | am sure
I have never seen him so. When VIZ
are walking together in the Champ:
Elysee with his dear dog Blount fol
lowing u5. we sometimes sit down ant
the Savoyards come trooping around
and never saw him send them away
without giving them something. Ant
he is so kind to us all, and so thought
fui. l can see your look Of horror, yot
little proselyte of La Roche Jacquelil
and the Chouans! You point me Il
the guillotine and ask me, is not tha
his work?
"No, jeanette, / do nor think it is
l will allow this much, that / some
times wish be had done more TO keel
: back the Others. L fancy he does no
always realize things that are done un
der cover of his reputation. He think
SO much of principles that he som,
times forgets facts. I have never toi
him so, for wnen we are alone ;ogeti
er (it is not often-every morning he
at the committee OF public safety, ev,
ry afternoon at the convention, ever
evening at the Jacobius) The aiwa.
tries to escape from these terrib
things, and to give play to his fancy