New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03
DESCENDED FROM A SAINT.
BARON DE CHANTAL AND HIS ILLUSTRIOUS
KIN.

FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rRIBUNLl
Paris, July Is.
An ilustrious old Burgundian family has become
extinct in the death of Baronsde Chantal lie
was descended from the Baropess de Chantal,
the last FrenchwOman raised TO the honoB Of
santship by the Church of Rome, and the grand
mother Of Madame dc Scvgne, whom she reared
Baron de Chantal was a qulct-mannered old gen.
ileman, who had outlived his wife, three children
and an only grandchid. lie had, however, reia-
tiyes on his mothers side, in whom ne TOOK an
interest. The de Chantal estate with It's antique
residence, was SOLD by his father To the lats
Madamc Erard widow OF the great plan0ione
manufacturer. She restored the castle, when had
fallen 10 ruin and gathered in il numerous reHcs
Of the brilliant leter-writing Marqulse' ana
few Of her santed grandmOthcrs Through tHe
kindness of VI. Spullcr, late Foreign Minister VINO
is a Burgundian | was enabled some years ago
to visit this interesting castle, which is in tha1
billy and wooded part of Burgundy, the Morvan
district.
Bourbilly is the name Of the de Chantal estate
II is between Avalon and Semur, and the castle
stands on the edge Of a picturesque and fast-how-
ing stream the Sarin. Madame de Seyignc did
not live much here as child. But one can
understand that the beauty OF the place Induced
i'm her ancestors taste for that picturesque which
50 often comes out in her letters. She was IN the
early years of her life taken 10 the Convent OF the
Visitandincs, which Baroness dc Chantal founded
near Grcnoblc and educated there under her grand
mothers direct care. Saint Francois de Saes
WAS the spiritual director of Madame de ChantaI'
whose bright wit, activity and strong prac'lcal
sense were Inherited by Madame de Sevlsne.
The castle of the de Chantals is lordly. were
IT, in Scotland il would be described as baronal.
II is square mass of buildings with an inner
court. turrcttcd AT the four angles. and having
wide ond narrow windows projecting IN corpeiS'
The hall is vast and imposing. and the staircase
and gallery running round il have ballsteH OF
forced iron, of great antiquity. The armorid
ouarterings of the family for long course OF
generations are carved in the oak wainscot and
coIored in the hcraldic manner. In the chapel
there is "A projecting pew OF carved OAK COM
municdtL1g by passage WIN uhe D'"IoDh !" -
Saint Marie de- Chantal used TO sleep IN pelote
she took the veil She used 10 pray III thls Pw'
Her life at all times was one Of plety ana useful
nes, She could not understand religion unless
as a purifier of the heart and an incentive ~
unselfish daily efforts 10 promote Hod 2loTy anu anu
tie welfare of our fellow-crcatures AecoroalnS
10 the portrait of her in tie |lsitandiheS Chi
vent near Turin. she was a lady oil Il sweet anu
pobe nrcseucc of a stout figure. n fresh COM
pivps one the impression of woman essehuaIIy
Iovabtc and intel gent, and does not express any
kind of disappointment: leI Sossip'ns '1.onarni
Count de Busy Robutln. who was IN gehrrai
scrptcal on the score of human virtue toiu
Madame de Seyigne that when her grahGiaolfits
was campaigning her grandmother EaNT nr1syd
entirely 10 God, but that when her bnspanu
came back she seemed 10 find heaven IN MS soce'S
She was a charming mother. and The cGmpahlon
OF her children from their infancy uhtli sho IL Ie
cdel 10 lead u professionally religious ne ,ca
sou Madame de Sevigne's father ana her tture
daughters had no nurse but their mother on n'
was their teacher also. She spun teA'les wl i.
made their clothing, watched after tnelI ne9l.l'
and above all taught them to he Industrious,
charitable and patient with the fads, weaknesses
and bad qualities OF their iellow-creatures, ho,
The prison OF the castle exists rs ~ was III IL ~
ti,uc II is a crypt with vaulted ceiling. Inc
arches rise from a central pillar, IN Whlch tueIe
are iron rings Madame de Chantal constantly
stole into this gaol to BRING coni.Or. ~ rniqiop
ives and To lead them 70 honesty ana Irnsi,n,
She often caused those who she lPH were .vo
Larshly treated to be taken nightly out OF .he
dungeon to sleep III good BEDS One sum rei,bbors
and her pharmacy. in which she dccocted >ihlples
for their use and dispensed medicines one eau
realize at Bom6y how she spent eagh hSi rode
the day. and follow the paths ON winch she roue
and tie forIs She crossed The memory OF the
baroness still lives there The wood OF VIC IS
also still in existence. II was tlere s"sS ouid
tragedy occurred which made her sesolve' snouln
God enable her to bring mp and sete an her
children. TO devote the rest of her llie IN an
especial WY ~ HIS service pHe u'N 'c 10
went ont 70 shoot. lie was dressed IN slllt o.
Wntorned buckskIn. \ near-Slghted rrlatlVe
and neighbor taking him for Wild animal fired
A. him and shot him dead The wife had given
birth TWO days before Ia daughter On earn,
in, If the tragedy she Jumped mp. dressed and
ran 10 the wood WHERE she was In time 10 ~
farewell t, the Baron Her charity, after ms
death became unboIrlcl When all fhe children
were settled She resolved ~ found an order winch
,yas to devote. itself 10 The education Of young
lis and 10 begin with the little Marie lie
Cha,ital. whose father and mother were stiI alye.
Thry threw themselves on the threshold ot the
iT - orrvenf her leaving the castle. But she
was a rcsoluic woman. and stepped over them.
Rourhillv Castle is in wild country and deserves
10 rank among the holy places oil the worm p'u
,,,ris,s "a Furopo know little about IT, and have
never met an American who went I'll a pilgTlma9e
there