The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-29
2EIXQYS&.lEX sGYsGYlz2s
CORPSE Cr RICHELIfU.

Paris, Sept. 2S.-The minister OF For
eign affairs, NJ. Hanotaux. has just had
a piece of good fortune that is unique.
I think It was in the circle Of Gambetta
whose favorite he was, that he was first
dubbed "the coming Richelieu." He
was a youngster then in politics, but he
had already begin the great life Of the
statesman Cardinal, of which he pub
lished the first volume two seasons ago.
He is still a young man for his place
(not yet forty-two) and he is under
stood to be bringing back TO the foreign
policy Of France all OF the old princi-
pies Of Richelieu. He is supposed TO i'm
itate the Cardinal also in the manner
of wearing his beard. He has now had
a chance to see whether the imitation
is correct. In company Of the architect
OF the Sorbonne and two noted men OF
letters, he has looked on Cardinal Rich
ellen in the flesh.
The Cardinals tomb is IN the church
OF the Sorbonne, which he built while
he was developing that ancient college
into the chief seat of the University or
Paris. Somehow il escaped the profan-
atoms Of the Revolution. NJ. Nenot,
who is In charge, and who is the archi-
tect of the immense new buildings,
LOllCeC IN one OF MS TcCcHl KOuHuS VI
inspection that the stones of the tomb
were gradually coming apart. Before
ordering the necessary repairs, he wish
ed to make sure that the coffin enclosed
was still in proper condition. The COW
er was unfastened and raised in the
presence of the four persons mentioned
To their surprise it was not skeleton
nor even a dried up mummy, which
met their sight. The interior OF the
- e
state, on which reposed a lean figure
as Of one asleep, with all the features
etill recognizable The locks Of hair
about the temples, the arched nose
from which the parchment-like skin
had not fallen, the twirled moustache,
all were exactly as they Were painted
at the time by Philippe de Champagne
in the three portraits of the National
Gallery Of London. One Of the witness
es remarked that a child would have
known the face from it's resemblance
TO the pictures in the classbooks of his
tory. The wide lace collar from which
the head energies has been yellowed by
the 253 years which have passed since
II was placed on the corpse. The long
point of the goatee which we associate
with Richelieu's face was also cut
square OFF. NJ. HanotauX's erudition
was competent to explain this. He re
m6mDSrSQ INal, IN the accounts OI Tie
last iIlness,it is stated that the cardinal
complained hat the syrups and tiSanes
which were then the chief remedies in
medical use ran down on his beard,
which he asked to have clipped for the
sake Of tidiness. Here was fantastic
evidence of the obedience shown him
to the end.
Forty-one years ago the coffin OF Bos-
suet, in his cathedral Of Meaux, was OPP
ened in like manner. On that occasion
the spectators had an extra sensation.
The grand head Of the great bishop
and orator appeared for a moment with
almost lifelike reality. and then before
the eyes Of the few persons present.
fell away into dust. A few years la
ter remember to have been mystified
considerably by a university preacher
who was drawing a moral from the
event. Asking himself what was found
by those who sought to see that golden
mouth OF eloquence. he answered in the
tremolo beloved by French speakers.
That for which no language has no
name" I have lately heard the same
phrase from a minister OF the republic,
who processes anything but the doc
Trine Of BoeSuet about death and the
hereafter believe the phrase is
from one Of Bossuet's own funeral dis |
courses. Cardinal Richelieu, who was |
never declamatory. has given no such