Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-05-14

the world should appreciate her nobler
qualities.
As soon as Paris had wearied OF peace
celebrations Nine. do Pompadour inaugu-
rated cries Of fetcs. which for oompre-
hensiyeness and brilliancy had not up TO
that time been equaled In any capital OF
Europe. Balls, concerts, parades, thest-
rical displays, art exhibitions and literary
gatherings became the order OF the day
and drew the world to Paris. In these
splendid and far from idle efforts the
madame had the energetic aid OF the able
Bernis and of the already famous Voltaire
Louis XIV, like so many Of his predecss
sors of the same family, lacked continuity
of affection, pcrsstency Of principle and
adhesion TO policy. 1t Is due him to say
that the power of his favorite produced
court jealousies and led to incessant court
intrigue. There were other beautiful
women, eager for his admiration, and these
were skillfully thrown in his way, so that
at length his devotion to the woman he
had stolen from the farmer ID Etioles be-
gan to weaken, and at this point the tact
and force and mental power OF Mime. de
Pompadour manifested themselves with
unexpected vigor and splendor.
That she ever loved the king as man Is
doubtful. She chung To him because Of
the power the alliance gave herself. And
now when she saw that his love was de
parting she made no objection and showed
no sign Of jealousy, but rather Joked him
about his change and even aided him in
his daring amours.
But meanwhile Nine. do Pompadour
made herself absolutely essential TO the
kings personal and state affairs She
showed deeper interest II possible In his
health and comfort She saved him the
trouble of much thinking, for which ma.
ture had given him neither liking nor fit
ness, till at length he left all his affairs In
her hands Their places were reversed
She became the ruler, and he the mere toy
and figurehcad of the nation.
Not satisfied with controlling the king,
this forceful woman, whose energy was as
remarkable as her intellect, dominated
the cabinet, directed its counsels, and even
vetoed its decisions that did not meet her
approval.
She brought the army and navy under
her control and shifted gray haired ad-
mirals and generals about of her own &C.
cord. Not satisfied with this, sis regu
policy OF the kingdom.
With the tuct of u Macchiavelli she ia.
vored by turns ali creeds and parties and
by favoring the leaders secretly kept the
alleg lnoe of their followers. Regarding
herself as IA power in France, the sur
rounding nations accepted her at her own
estimate, and the ambassadors of every
land at the court Of Versailles were rivals
for her friendship and influence.
Maria Theresa of A ustria, great woman
herself, was quick TO see the power Of La
Warehouses de Pompadour. The Aus
trian empress wrote the French adventur-
ess an autograph letter, and so brought
about the alliance of France and Austria
against Frederick the Great Of Prussia.
1t was thought that Mime. de Pompa.
dour was eager to initiate Catherine Of
Russia, herself peasant, and reach the
throne The attempt of Damiens TO assas-
sinate the king, in which she had no hand,
brought her into temporary disgrace, and
she retired for the time from the court
But she was not the woman to rest under
a false charge or to pine out her life In
seclusion. Within few months the king
recalled her, and her power was greater
than ever.
In the war against Prussia disaster fol
lowed the appointment Of her fayorites To-
She caused the able Bernis To
be dismissed from the cabinet and replaced
him with the foxy Choiseul, who soon be-
came her master.
Mime. de Pompadour died April 10,
1894, at the early age Of 43.
Her power had become so great, and she
used it in such an arbitrary way, that she
came to be heartily hated by the nation,
and her death was regarded as a blessing.
The king had ceased to love her, yet till
the end he remained her tool and her
slave.
There are few careers more remarkable
than this. Bad and selfish she undoubt-
eddy was, but up TO the time Of Mime. de
Pompadour no person had appeared in
France who did so much to foster science,
letters and the fine arts.
ALFRED r. CALHOUN