The morning call., 1893-03-12

My asser tions were useless, for the honest
inhabitant OF Argentenil continues to boast
that the great dramatist sleeps In This little
cemetery beside Madame MOliere.
In the Latin Quarter one finds many
historical buildings threatened with de-
StructiOn. For instance, in the Rue de
JussIeu is the Sale de PErmitage, a hall in
which Gambetta made his debut as an
orator, In which Tiffereau, the alehPmist,
told the secret Tor making gold and Roche
fort enlightened the students of the Latin
Quarter a. to his plans and aspirations, In
few days this Sale de rErmitage will no
longer exist, because the Rue de Jussieu Is
to be improved AMI all old buildings must
disappear.
In the Rue NIcole. little street parallel
to the Rue Saint Jacques, is a very pretty
chapel in Louis XIII style, called La
Vallere Chanel. 1t Is in this chapel that
Nine. de la Nalliere made her devotions
after she became CarmPlite, and was called
S@ur de la MlsericO!de. This chapel is
also threatened with destruction, but be-
cause OF its entrance. Its beautifully decor
ated door, its elegant roof, the chapel should
he TRANSPORTED To some public garden. the
Luxembourg, for instance.
This chapel was built in the beginning of
the seven teenth century, when the Car
melite convent, founded by tile Princess
d'Orleans de Longuevilir was inaugurated.
AT that time the chapel had finer or
naments than any church in Paris:
twelve marble steps led to the high
altar, and this altar was surrounded
by balustrade OF gilded bronze The
tabernacle was OF massive silver, and all the
vessels in solid gold. The dome had been
decorated by Philippe de Champagne, and
the walls by Lebrun and Labire. But those
who lived In the el0isters wore serge ate
the simplest food, never changed their linen
and tortured themselves TO obtain pardon
from God. In June, 1914. Louise de la Val
lIere entered the convent and became cook
and servant for all kinds Of work. Every
night for thlrty-siX years she prayed on the
cold stones of this chapel, and in l7lO she
died and was buried in one of the cloisters.
The bones Of one of the most famous W nmen
OF Louis AlN's reign now lie under this
saue little chapel, soon to be given over 10
the hands of the destroyer.
During my visit 10 the Latin Quarter l
saw the house, A Rue du Cherche- Midi,
where The Abhe Greg"ire died. Very soon
a commemorative inscription will be placed
on the front Of this house, where passed
away an 'fronhead," lay priest who
said, II can be broken. but not bent"
The Abbe Gregoire was priest in a poor
little village when he was sent to the Etats
Generaux. lie preached equality of rights
for Catholics, PrOtesrants aud Jews, but he
also proposed the abolition of royalty, and
said that kings are in the moral order VIII at
monsters are in the physical order. The
history OF kings Is the marlyrology of
natl ions, and courts are workshops where
all crimes are fabricated
But the Abbe Gregoire did not vote for
the death of the king. This wonderful
priest defended all the oppressed, and the
lsraeites prayed for him in their syna-
gogues. he was one OF the founders Of the
Institute of the C0nservatoire des Arts ct
Meters and OF the Ecoles Centralss.
During the consulate the able was in the
Senate. lie voted against the elevation OF
Bonaparte to the position OF Emperor and
against the re-esta blishment of titles of
nobility. When came the fall of the En-
peror, he asked that the BOurbOns be re-
stored only IL they accepted a constitution
voted by the nation. The restoration never
pardoned the abbc, and at first he was de-
prlved OF his pension and his name removed
ION the Institute. AT last. however,
through the intereession of friends, the
Abhe GrePoire's pension was restored, and
his last years were passed at "A Rue du
Cherche- Midi. In 1881 the abbe knew that
his days were numbered, and asked for the
sacraments Of the church The Arch
bishop said "Retract your oath for the civil
constitution OF the clergy"
The able refused. but the AL bbe Guillon,
almoner of the Queen, thought that hu-
manity should be stronger than discipline,
and, without the consent of the rchbishop,
gave extreme JUNCTION to the dying man.
More than 10000 people followed ths Ahbe
GregoiIe 10 tue grave, and the funeral