The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-08
NJ PIGEONNEAU.
Nv ANAroLE FR ANcE.

~. I.,rptian archaeology. / would in
,,.. an.rateful to my fatherland, to
-.. and TO myself, if 1 should regret
-. baen led. since my youth, into the
d., which have lived with honor
i an wears. My labors have not been
.sr shall say, without fiattering
'l.rf that my Memoir on a Handle of
rrvptian Mirror in the Museum of the
|.r-,.s 90 can still be consulted with bene-
.. ,r+bough it dates from my outset. As
!. ,ba rolera bly, volminous study that |
...r,vard consecrated TO one of the
80 weights, in 1851, in the excavation
" The Serapeon, it would ill become me
.inL no good of it since it opened to me
bs doors Of the institute.
Encouraged by the flattering uwelcome
,.,+ M, researches in this direction had
..,1sived from several of my new col
LINES was tempted for moment to
Da-5,,9cp in one work the weights and
s'sssIIres in use at Alexandria under the
r5ign of Ptolemy Athletes (S0-52). But l
.oan recognized that subject so general
oonld not be treated by a real scholar,
and that serious science would not know
Sary IN approach it without running the
r.5 of compromising itself in all sorts of
adventures. felt that, in considering
several objects at time, l would depart
Srom the fundamental principles of
archaOlogv. If | confess my fault to-
Sav if l acknowledge the inconceivable
enthusiasm which inspired me with
IRA sning ambition, l do it in the interest
of Young people, who win learn, from
NV example, to overcome the Imagination.
Il is our most cruel enemy Every
eqvant who has not succeed in sitting
if in himself is forever lost to learning.
tremble yet in thinking of the abysses
into which my adventurous spirit was
about to precipitate me. l was two
fnger-lengths from what is called history.
What a fall! Twas going to fall into art.
For history is only an art, or at best a
false science. Who does not know to-day
that the historians preceded the archaolo-
gists, as the astrologers preceded the as
tronomers, as monkeys preceded men
Thank God l was freed from the fear of
it.
My third work, l FASTENED to say, was
wisely conceived. 1t was a memoir en-
titled: "On the Toilette of an Egyptian
Lady, in the Middle Empire, After an
Unpublished Painting" I treated the
subject so as not to go astray at all. /
did not introduce single general idea. 1
guarded myself from those considera-
TONS those complications, and those
views by which certain of my colleagues
spoil the disclosure of the noblest discov-
cries. Why must a work so sound have
so odd a destinyl By what jest of fate
must it be, to my mind, the cause of the
Ngsfv S~tp DIT IL
not anticipate facts and mix up dates.
My memoir was designed to be read in a
public meeting of the five academies, an
falls rarely to the lot of productions of
such a character. These academic as
jemblies have been much frequented for
some years by people Of fashion.
The day that l gave my reading the
Dom was invaded by select public
Women were there in great number
Pretty faces and elegant costumes shone
rightly in the galleries. My reading
was listened to with respect. 1t was not
Interrupted by those thoughtless and
oisy manifestations which literary pieces
excite. No; the public pre-
erYed an attitude more in harmony with
he nature of the work which was pre-
ented to them. They showed themselves
erious and grave.
AS, to better detach the thoughts, put
,auses between the sentences, had leis-
Ire to examine the whole room attentively
,ver my spectacles. / can say that no
light smiles were seen to play upon their
Ups. Far from It'll The freshest faces
Ook an austere expression. 1t seemed
hat l had matured all minds by enchant-
nent. Here and there, while l was read
ne, some young folks whispered in the
ars of their neighbors. Doubtless they
on some point specially treated
Il my memoir.
rom % to "A years, seated in the left
ngle of the north gallery, listened and
oOk notes. Her face offered delicacy of
eature and a mobility of expression
ruly remarkable. The attention which
he lent my speech added charm to her
strange physiognomy. She was not alone
A tall and robust man, wearing like the
ASsyrian kings, a long, curled beard and
Ong, black hair, kept near her, and
spoke to her from time to time in low
voice. My attention, divided at first,
among all my audience, concentrated it.
self, little bV little, on this young woman.
She inspired me, | confess, with an in
IereSt which certain of my colleagues may
consider as unworthy of the scientific
character which was mine, but | affirm
that they would not have been more in
different than |, if they bad found them
selves at such an entertainment. In pro-
portion as | spoke, she scrubbed on lit
ue pocket notebook; evidently she
passed, while listening to my memoir,
through the most contrary sensations,
rom contentment and joy to surprise,
and even uneasineSS. | examined her
with an increasing curiosity. Would to
GOD had noticed only her that day un-
Ger the cupola!
l had nearly finished; 1 had only
twenty-five or thirty pages at the most
!glt 10 read, when my eyes all at once met
inose of the man with the Assyrian
beard. How can | explain to you what
passed then, since do not understand it
m|Sel1! All that | can say, is that the
Eale oil that parsonage threw me instantly
t NV an ncOnceivable trouble. The eyes
;LN' looked at me were fixed and green
- T. could not turn mine away from
a 'i,eiA' remained silent, my nose in the
S en- AS l was silent, they applauded.
a .'L.elIce being reestablished, | wished
sl an 10 take up my reading. But, in
SpiVe Oh The most violent effort, did not
T,,'1 &c. IN removing my eyes from the
t t"G living lights to which they were mys-
s'I.i' fastened. That is not all By
a phenomenon still more inconceivable, l
r Dule" myself, contrary to the custom of
~ 55nJlre life into an improvisation.
G Goo Knows If it We're Involuntary! I'm
~ Vne influence of a strange, unknown,
ar{ gslsuole force, l recited with elegance
o anO y warmth philosophical considerations
! Tu me dress of women through all ages
n, Srg5nl'erallzed, l poetized, l spoke, God
G pa' t, me Of the feminine eternal, and
t.r 'ne desire wandering like an inspira-
WIZ VIII around the perfumed wells with
b ,uilh woman knows how to screen her