The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18

greedy In ite pursuit IMAM the majority OF those
who had equal opportunities to acquire It; he
pushed his own fortunes with %unremitting
vicof and he is not the only man In high POSI-
tlon who has been guilty Of that offence. II the
u%nprejudicod historian does not ind In him a
statesman OF the capacity OF Richellou. or q
patriot OF the purity OF Lafayette. he does
show him to be q man OF unusual ability and
not n man OF unique badness. Our author has
been able to find no reason for lamenting his
tenure OF oflce ns q degradation to France.
Few OF the statesmen who controlled French
affairs In the eighteenth century have left .
more creditable record. Dubois was neither
q trifler like Calonne. nor an imbecile like
Brienne. II in character no was inferior to
Fleury. in intellect he was his superior. 1t Ia
true that the news OF his death was received
with pleasure by tho court and with
out regret by the people. but the same thing
could be said OF tho death Of Mnzarin and Col.
bort. although each Of them had dono great
things for France. Even those who bore no
love for Dubois were forced to admit that In
his high office he had wasted no time on sen.
sual pleasures; that he had shortened his life
by unremitting labor: that he had tolerated
neithor fools nor flatterers: that he had Sc
cured poace for France. and that her position
in Europe was moro influential when tho
apothecnry's son died than 1t had been Mt the
death Of Louis the Great. 1t is significant that
the price OF stocks fell when the death Of
Dubois was announced. and those who had
most hated him acknowledged their aprro-
tensions OF the grave complications that
might ensuc in Europe.
Mr.. Perkins etrectually refutes tho worst
charge brought against Dubois. namely. that
he obtained the favor OF his pupil. the young
Duke OF Orleans. by corrupting his morals.
mil .,.ot.- lana l>,an npnntal Iy ItcfNri-
ans from voltnire to Henri Martin. But our
author points out that tho charge was never
mad. until Dubois had become n powerful
Minister. His infamy was not discovered un.
iii no had bccome famous. On the other hand.
his actual relations with his pupil appear
clearly enough from the testimony OF those
who knew him when he was only ar humble
retainer. Dubois was appointed under-pre-
ceptor Of the future Regent in 1854. -Four
years later died the rreceptor. st. Laurent. a
man OF the most upright character. He
recommended Dubois for his own place. and
tho appointment was made by Louis X1N..who
had then reformed. and ruwnedu upon the faint
est suspicion OF immortality. We may be sure
II thore had been auHht to c%riticiso In the con-
duct of a low born man like Dubois. 1t woul
have been reported to tho King. 1t is true
that tho future Regent early became known as
one OF the most absolute OF the young no.
bility, but surrounded as he was By debauched
associates and exposed to the temptations
which lie in wait for n prince. he Ind no need
OF n middle-aged pedant as a teacher In the
practices OF dissipation. Then. again. there
was n person who kept tho closest watch OF
the Dukes conduct. and that was his mothor.
II his preceptor had been, as Voltaire called
him, the purvcyor Of his pupils pleasures. the
fact could not have been concealed during n
long term Of years from an anxious and Keen
witted parent. Tho letters which the Princess
ralatine wrote to Dubois. extending over AIN
teen yenrs. are the best evidence that he WINS
faithful to his trust. ard that he endeavored to
restrain his pupil from the dissipation in
which he plunged. "Iassure you.' she wrote
Dubois. OF my gratitude for your endeayors
to make an upright man OF my SON." and
again: "1know right well that the bad con-
duct OF my son is in no wise your fault. and |
assure you Of the continuance of my esteem."
It is true enough that much lutor in the abbc's
career. when no had become q power in the
State. the Princess Palatine became un-
friendly to him. aud denounced him as a
rogue and u trickster. who had sold his coun-
try. but she never com planned OF his conduct
in reference to her son. because she. best OF
all the world. knew that there was nothing to
com plain o.
Not even yet has Mr.. Perkins exhausted the
evidence in favor OF the upright discharge OF
tho duties Of preceptor by Dubois. He points
out that Louis XIV. was always informed Of
the conduct Of those connected with the court.
and took an excessive interest in what seemed
q minute system Of espionage. The behavior
OF the able therefore. could not escape his at
~tention. but he found nothing in 1t to forfeit
his favor. On tho contrary. he bestowed on
him a modest living. and in 1893. fifteen years
after the function Of proceptor had been as
sumed. he entrusted Dubois with n diplomatic
mission. Another witness In behalf OF Dubois
is Fenelon. for whom his admirers claim the
reputation OF the most upright man OF
the time in which he lived. Fen6lon was
the preceptor Of tho Duke OF Burgundy
and in q position where he must have known
the character Of Dubois thoroughly. He
would have recommended no one for an
ecclesiastical preferment whom he thought
to DO nm evil liver. Yet in 1901 he urged the
appointment Of Dubois rs prior of Drives, and
twenty years later he wrote: THE Abbd
Dubois. formerly preccptor OF tho Duke
OF Orleans. has been my friend for many
years" In view OF all this testimony. Mr..
Perkins deems it idle to assert that Dubois
began his career rs n dobauch5 or that he
gained his masters favor by assuming the
functions Of a procurer. Undoubtedly no
mado no claim to any remarkable %sanctitv OF
character. but lod such q lifo as many another
abbI Of tho times. paying very littlo attention
to tho religious career upon which he had
nominally cntcrcd. This was not commondn-
bic. but 1t was far from unusual. Dubois was
by no means n conspicuous example OF i'm
morality. Ito never participated in tho suppers
OF the Palais Royal. ho had no taste for the
rouGs, he did not seek to base his fortunes on
tho favor OF some mistress OF the Regent.
Durin: the years that he occupied an i'm
portant Office he lcd q life Of unusual abb
stemiousness His enemies said that past
excessos compelled him TO refrain from further
Indulgence. 1t might be said with quite rs
much truth that his prodigious industry
and restless activity left him no time
for dissipation. Indeed. tho vices OF Du-
bois were OF another nature. lie lustcd
for power and n conspicuous position before
the world far moro than he did for the pleas
urcs Of the senses. 1t WAS the envy excited by
his remarkable fortune that filled his con-
temporaries with horror ut the spectacle OF
his delinouencips Az he said himsolf the