The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-29


who is said to sympathizc with anarchy.
has horror Of the sight Of blood and at
an operation suffers an the pain Of the pa
tient
There are five Of the Reclus brothers, and
they are all socialists and freethiukers, al
though their father was Protestant min
lister and they were brought mp under re-
lgious influences. They are all clever, but
their peculiar opinions have cost them dear
from a worldly point of view. Jacques
Elisee Reclus is the most distinguished Of
thu brothers. He was born in 1880 and was
graduated 40 the University of Berlin. In
early life he came TO America and here had
romantic and remarkable experience He
entered the employ ~ a cotton planter who
had an only daughter. one day the girl
told her father that she was determined to
marry Elisee Reclus. The young man ac-
cepted on condition that the father should
at once emancipate all the slaves in his serv-
ice The cotton grower naturally enough
refused TO do 50. and Reclus out OF spite
married a negress. Reclus had TWO daugh-
tiers and then lost his wife. He married a
second time, suppressing the religious cere-
mony and celebrating only the civil mar
riagc. This second wife died. and then Re
clus married a third time. suppressing both
the religious and civil ceremonies.
Jacques Elisee Reclus Is known through
out the world for his magnificent and
scholarly work. "Nouvelle Geographic I nj
verselle. i" which he began in 1870 aud which
last year obtained the gold medal from
the Geographical Society oil Paris He is
socialist in politics and laid down the
pen and took up the sword in 1871 during
the exciting days Of the commune In Paris,
and the army Of Versailles captured him
with his weapon in his hand The learned
geographer was condemned 10 deportation
for life. and in prison he was awaiting his
transfer to a convict ship.
Elisee was then Al years old and was al
ready celebrated as a geographical author
ity. The hopes Of his life, all the brilliant
promise Of his literary career, seemed in "a
moment blasted The news Of his great
misfortune shocked the scientific men Of all
nations In England they were prompt 10
act, and a petition signed by Darwin and
other scientific men Of eminence in the
country was addressed TO Thiers
The petitioners said that the life Of such
a man as Elisee Reclus, who had already
rendered brilliant services TO science and
literature, gave promise of still greater
services in his vigorous maturity. They
expressed the view that such a man be-
longed not only to the country that gave
him birth, but to the entire world. and that
in reducing him tosilence and sending him
to languish far from the center OF civiliza-
tion France would cripple his talents and
lessen his legitimate influence upon the
world.
The appeal was heard, and the penalty Of
deportation was commuted TO a sentence Of
perpetual Punishment from France. From
that time until recently he never set foot
upon his native soil. 10 was in Italy and
Switzerland that he labored for II years on
his New Universal Geography" aud the
former political convict has produced oman
average "A volume year.
The eldest Of the Reclus brothers is Nj
chel Ellie, who WAS born i'm 1877. He was ed
ucated among the Moravian brothers at
Neuwiod -sur-la Rhiu and studied theology
At Geneva, Montnuban aud Strasburg. lie
was exiled in 1851. returned TO France four
years later. entered the Credit Mobilier and
busted himself in the cooperative assOcia-
tions. During the commune he was named
director Of the National library, and subse-
quently condemned for uSurping the fuuc-
lions thereof. was sentenced 20 impri-on-
ment. but he ned 10 Zurich and allerward
went 10 London. II. Ellie collaborated with
his brother Elisee in the introduction 10 the
Dictionary Of the Communes of France
and under an assumed name has published
articles Ga many newspapers and foreign
reviews.
Onesime Reclu- was born in 1897. After
studying ia Germany he served iu Algeria
in the xouavcs Then he visited besides
Africa, many European countries. lie has
published several works chief among which
is la Terre e vol q Oiseau," one OF the
most brilliant descriptive works in the
French language His benevolcucc is not a
matter OF theory. but Of practice Ono day
be gave 800 francs every son be possessed
in the world. 10 relieve the embarrassment
of a oomradc.
Armand Reclus was born in 1873. He en-
tered the navy in 1850 and was promoted TO
the rank Of lieutenant in 1871. He was
made ordnance officer under H. .Iaurrgui-
berry and has been associated with Bona
parte Wysc in the Panama isthmus expl0ra-
tiou= He is also the author OF several
technical work.. lie received the decorl-
ton Of the Legion OF Honor for his courage
IN the Franco German war