New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
A GRAND OLD MAN OF FRANCE
NJ BARTHFLEMY ST. HILAIRE's LIFE
WORK IN POLITICS AND LITERATURE.


WORK IN POLITICS AND LITERATURE
Paris August %.
NJ Barthelemy St. HIlairc, who has Just en-
tered his ninctieth year, may be justly counted
among the grand old men who have courted
public attention during the last eighteen years
Theirs, Mol;ke Chevreul, Gladstone. Emperor
William l. head the oand who fought to such
good purpose agans the deadenng influences
OF age NJ Bartheemy st. Hiaires great liter
airy work has been a full translation Of Aristotle 8
writings a task he set before himself when he
was young extra clerk in the Ministry Of FL
nance at a salary OF 200 francs a year. He was
born in the first year OF the first Empire, saw
NAPOLEON return to the Tueres from Elba, and
Quit that palace to meet final defeat at Waterloo.
He has a distinct remembrance of how the allied
sovereigns and their suites looked as they rode
into Paris in 1914 They entered by the Champs
Elysees Two tail, serious-looking lads were on
each side Of the King Of Prussia They were his
sons. One Of them. Prince William. was der
tined to be crowned German Emperor, in the
palace OF the Sun King, Louis XIV, which Louis
Philippe dedicated to all the gories Of France
NJ Barthelemy St. Hiare has never got over
the drunkenness Of the Russians and the bar
barism OF the Cossacts. who looted all the
street lamps to have oil to drink They also made
raids on tallow chambers. He saw those VINO
were bivouacked In the Flower Market near
Notre Dame throw pounds Of tallow candles into
a camp-kette filed with hot water to make
greasy soup In which they soaked bread and
which they Seemed to take with relish.
NJ Barthelen'y ST Hilaire's greatest task was
accomplished unseen by all who were not In the
inner tracks Of the Government headed by Ihiers
at Versailles. NJ. st. Iiaire had been on terms
OF close intimacy with the greatest OF french
Presidents Of the Republic from 1890 lie threw
himself with s,oical firmness OF character into
the work on aiding his eminent friend to reor-
ganize France which had been torn asunder
by a successful invasion and was on the eve OF
being further rent by civil war. NJ. Barthelemy
ST. Hilaire was In Paris during the siege. He
was elected n Deputy for the Department OF
Seine-et-Oss for TIE National Assembly that
met at Bordeaux to agree to peace. When that
body named Theirs to negotiate with bismarck,
X also appointed two Royal!st Deputies 10 accom-
pany him. Ono Orleanist. the other
Chambordst The M narchical parties were be-
ginning 20 mistrIst Theirs, who. divining their
suspicious state Of mind and their wish TO APP
point men watch over his conduct at YER
sailles. asked that such persons should be named
1t being impossible for him 10 assume the indi-
vidusl responsibility and perhaps the odium, Of
agreeing to conditions which 1t might be impos-
sible TO reject When the assessors were named,
Theirs asked ST Hllaire to enter the mission to
Versailles as It's chief secretary. As such he was
to be present at all tho conversations with Bis
marck and to sepa -ate In the minutes he drew
I'D what might be confidential from what might
be of1ica
Tit IL, tha hoa
OF the mission but the incarnation OF national
feeling lie had been elected a member OF the
Assembly by twenty-seven different departments
and had the prestige Of great oratorical power,
parliamentary experience. high social standing
and literary fame II. and At. Hilaire defeated
the different irtrigues TO restore the Empire and
the monarchy Bismarck told them plainly what
they were. The Comte Do Paris he said.
wants the Republic 10 wash the bloodstained
garments and to wear them himself when they
are nicely laundered The Empress has made me
cffers They are the ces,Ion OF Alsace Lorraine
and the payment OF six milliards The King OF
the Begans wants to get him-elf elected King
Of France and Belgium. Ike Is ready TO effect
union OF the country he reigns over with
France This. he has pointed out. would recon-
cie the French 10 the loss u the two provinces
and enable him TO reign quietly. ! am loath TO
let France gain the Belgian side what she
loses on her eastern frontier. But must come
10 terms with somebody. and II the ENJOYS OF
the National Assembly are too hard to deal with'
shall be obliged TO apply either 10 the Empress
Prince Napoleon. who has also been making
offers. or the King Of the Begians."
Barth6emy 81 Hha!re was let into every
secret But the assessors were not Bismarck
believed that Theirs Government alone could
secure the payment Of heavy war Indemnity.
and TO strengthen that Government he agreed TO
take five. instead OF seven mards. and waived
the claim to Belfort which Moltke urged. II
Bartheemy St IIila.re had not been true as
steel to his chief and TO the Republican cause
restoration probably " the Empire. would have
been effected During the three ensuing years
St Haire was the manstay OF Theirs. He was
chief secretary 20 the President. rose at O'Clock,
went to bed after midnight and worked as
party whip a party manager, saw ambassadors.
French and foreign received Mayors ana pre-
fects. looked over diplomatic reports. consulted
with generals about the steps to be taken 10 SUP
due the Commune and. before eighteen months
were over put a new and promising face upon
French affairs In general. and those OF the ke-
public In particular. lie accepted no salary ior
his herculean abOrs. His hatred OF shady men
led to the crisis Of the 24th of May which
obliged Theirs to retire. The Royalist party might
have been temporarily weakened II portioho
I'm the Ministry formed on the I'D had been gwen
10 the Due Decazcs But ST. Iiilaire would not
hear Of a man who had been mixed up in the
launching Of bubble companies ana the Wreckihs
OF sound ones. He threatened 20 gun Ih, S,l II
ne complied with Decazes's demand for Minis
terlal post The smrched Duo commanded
few dozen votes They were turned against
Theirs the oath of May This led to nus resg-
nation and to MacMahon's election by the Ma
tional Assembly to succeed him.
NJ Barthelemy st. IiilaIre played great hidden
part in the struggle against MacMahons l'th Oh
Nav (;ov,rnment which was brought into office
70 name the Comte de Chambord King and the
Due dAumale Regent during the Comics NE.
The Comte de Paris was To hgpre as Dauphin
THEIRS Lost his life in this struggle. but not till
(, had been arranged that tiravy was 10 succeed
him az leader Of the Republican party. and
should that party succeed In driving MacManon
from mower 10 be elected President Of the Re-
public. ~