The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-03


lniSeences.
Renan died in the College of France, a
little way beyond the new building of Sor-
bonne. His children were present at his
bedside. No priest attended the dying man.
De Freyeinet. Minister of War, General
Fevrier, Pere Hyaeinthe. III. le Conte de
Lisle. Nj. Puvis de Chavannes, and other
personages celebrated in the political, artis-
tic and scientific worlds of France. called at
the College during the day and inscribed
their names on the visitors book.
Joseph Ernest Renan was born at Ire
quier, Cotes-du-Nord. France. on February
27, 1928. and was left an orphan at an early
age. He was destined by his family, simple
sailor folk. for the ecclesiastical profession.
Ills grandfather Renan. sailor OF the coun-
ty of Goelo, had with his bark secured
small fortune. which his son-sailor, alas,
unfortunately risked in trade. AS he un-
derstood nothing Of business it resulted IN
July, 1898. in financial ruin and. a fearful
catastrophe!
charming books. ''our fathers boat, re-
turning from ST. Mslo, entered the port of
Treguier without him. Tie crew, interrO-
gated, declared that for several days
they had seen nothing of him. A whole
month my mother sought for him with
ineXpressible anguish, and at length
learned that corpse had been found
on the coast of Ergin. a village situ-
ated between st. Brieux and Cape
Frehei. 1t was proved to be that of
our father. What was the cause of his
death? Was he surprised by one of those
accidents so common in the life OF sea.
farers? Did he forget himself in one of
those long dreams OF infinity which in these
Briton races border on the endless sleep?
Did he think he had earned repose? Find
ing that he had struggled enough. did he
seat himself on the rock saying: This
I'LL l.1f 49, 49,. If.
nifty; here will i rest. | have chosen it?'
We know not. We placed him In the land
where twice day the waves come and visit
him."
After the fathers death the family was
reduced to complete destitution; the eldest
brother OF Renan, then 10, started for Paris ;
the sister, Henrlette, aged IL, would cer-
iainly have embraced religious life had
she not had this little brother, 10 whom she
was devoted. TO whom she devoted her
whole life, and who she felt had need of
her. Renan was then z. 1t was for him
and her mother. to supply their needs that
the young girl courageously undertook to
give lessons in the neighboring towns; poor
and ill-Daid lessons; for him again that she
made sacrifice a thousand times harder
still. that OF quitting her country and her
people and losing herself in great, inhospi-
table, appalling Paris. The young Remains
education was at first undertaken by the
TO study.
His abilities having attracted atten-
t1on, be was chosen at the close OF his clas-
sical studies to follow the course of theol-
ogy at the seminary OF Saint Sulpice, where
he showed a taste for the study of languages
and philosophy, devoting himself to He
brew, Arabic and Syriac. But his indepeD-
dence of thought did not accord with the
necessary qualifications for the priesthood
and he quilted the seminary in order to be
better able to pursue his own course.
In 1S47 he gained the Vo!ney prize for a
memoire upon the Semitic languages, which
has been published under the title of "His-
toire Generate ct Systemes Comnares des
Langues Semitiques," and In 154S he car
ried off the prize for his paper, 'Sur
lEtude du Gree dams POccident Pendant le
Moyen Age" In 1849 he was sent to Italy
on literary mission by the Academic des
Inscriptions ct es-Lettres; In 1851 he
was attached TO the department OF manu-
scripts in the BibliotheQue Rationale, and
in 1856 he was elected a member OF the
Academic des Inscriptions In place of Mr..
Augustin Therry. 1t was at about this
time that he married Mile. Cornelie Schef-
fer, daughter of Henri Scheffer. His sis
ter, to whom he was also very devoted, had
come to live with him six years before ihis
and though Renan loved Mile. Schetfer ar
dently. yet so great was the sisters grief at
his announced determination 10 wed that
IcUuuuCcu HIS luttutuU tUu
informed Mile. Scheffer that the we'd
ding could not take place. The sis
ter was touched by this atnega-
tioD, would not permit the sacrif e,
and the marriage took place. How much
delicate tact. what exquisite goodness was
needed on the part of the young wife who
broke up the warm and ardent tete-a-tete;
but she had the necessary tact, the sweet
ness and the patience to excess and her
love and devotion trinmphed over all diff
culties. The birth Of little boy, AIRY,
aided again 10 the pacifcation of the home.
introducing into II new happiness. A
/ little girl was TO appear few years later
Nine. Renan returned TO Paris while Renan
completed In Phenicia the scientific mission
confded 10 him in 1860. His sister had ac-
companied him and remained with him when
his wife returned to Paris. On the steap-
est summit of Lebanon. as In the deserts of
Jordan, she followed him step by STEP
The terrific mountain roads and privations
inseparable from these,sorts Of explorngs
did not friglten or intimidate her. Death
alone could arrest her death which at
Amschit. near Byblos, In Syria, carried her
away, while Renan himself struck down by
one Of those fits of fever, which In these
climates rarely spare, lay In delirium by her
side and perceived not that the devoted CON-
panion Of every hour OF his life was no more
Renan returned TO France. and In 1862 was
appointed professor Of Hebrew In the Aca-
demie, but did not permanently occupy the
chair for fear OF q renewal Of the manifes-
tations which occurred at bis opening lee
ture In February. In 1863 he published his
n N nVn m a 10 III Ao