The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
the sEoUEL 10 AN AssIexMEvr.
Way = Journalist Entered . Menastory snd
How the French Army Lost q D'ArtaEssn.

~ rTVT6 TWVTTB HTTTUUTTVVH VIZ 49, NTJ
that one OF our confrercs, M. Gabriel dc Combcs,
for a long time connected with the PeH Jour
nal, had entered the n~ovitlate OF the Fathers
OF the Assumption at Livry-sur-Seino
Resolutions of this sort interest the public.
feople always love to build up some romance
around them. To leave the world voluntarily
and shut oneself up In q %cloister appears to
many persons such an extraordinary thing
that they can only explain II by one OF those
FAMILY dramas or ono Of those hard blows of
fate that knock a man down forever and drive
him with n broken heart to suicide or TO the
cell of a monastery.
The truth is often far more simple, and this
is the case with our esteemed confrere whom
we have just lost. In his life there was no love
romance and no catastrophe. But II his his.
tory is not very complicated, none the less 1t
merits attention, for IL is always interesting to
discover the secrets Of vacations. Moreover,
IT is rarely that a journalist becomes n monk.
IL Is not from the press that the personnel OF
m onnstcrics Is recruited. Belonging to n very
good family in Tarbcs, granddaughter Of tho
bright mus ician, Dalayrac, NJ. Gabriel do
Combes, having finished his studies, served
In "A regiment of dragons. lie remained five
years in that regiment, which he never should
have left. lilo was q perfect D'Artagnan in
appearance, thin, dry, and sincwy. In char
actor he was energetic. brave. straightforward,
and generous. lie would have become a
splendid officer; but he left the army to enter
journalism, attracted perhaps by the hope Of
finding occasions to do some fighting, which
was his nature. De Combes was at first en-
ployed by a Royalist sheet in Lyons. Then he
came TO Paris. and for two years was engaged
in parliamentary reporting for an agency. At
the same time he edited the Ga.ette de Para me,
Il little local paper started by a Partisan jour.
nalist., But IL lived a little more than u sea.
where for ten years l worked side by side with
him, approaching him and estceming him every
time that journalism was not his vocation.
Reared bv very religious parents. my, friend
certainly could pass for a good Catholic. but
and, whether he was a practitioner or not l
could not eay. One fortuitous circumstance de-
yeloped in his mind the sentiment that was "
ing dormant. About three years ago his editor.
in.chief sent him to Palestine TO be present at
Jerusalem. That railroad line was for him the
road of Damas. His visit TO the Holy Land i'm
pressed him n. to such an extent 81 that he came Fne
months he would remain silent and reserved
with his collaborators. He deserted the sale
terminably, lie abandoned bicycling. for
which he had q passion; and we saw him NO
One evening about six months ago he said
TO me suddenly: Il have just handed in my
Three months passed on when the news
came to our cars that our comrade was about
to n}o enter Si, hoy 10Y S orders nat TN taI, story M3ry h was or at I'M tirI ;b dc,
nance writer: Pierre. sales. who is a second
cousin OF De Combcs. if there was any truth in
tho story. He replied to me in a mysterious
sort OF way that really told me nothing.
On Saturday last l received from DE Combes
IF You would like to bid me farewell. come
and breakfast with me tomorrow morning at
The letter caused me a certain anxiety, and
was almost broken up when the next day l
my friend arrived with n joyous expression OF
countenance. He took my hand. -,
My letter must have puzzled you. he said,
But 1 will tell you my story in a few words
1t is simple enough. But we had better sit
down ana have breakfast first. Then he add
/ will lake in a boulevard cafe" At the table
he eommemced his story as follows;
of the, fact that l have done nothing useful in
my life. Consequently, am trying to make
nobody to whom my presence might be indis
pensable, and l am still energetic. i die
snin 1sd Of ;,s %19s1 ~ ing a Su5 the inSo saar' Sjd nsTe SEEK Rrfi
consecrate the rest Of my iifo. to the service, q
God and my fellows, but quite a considerable
number of the latter have contributed largel,
to dtsgust me with the World; VOW hay'
i III Is f from shs a'i perioa that has my Sesoi4Stion t
determined to let some time elapse. to See i
l would perseverc in my resolution. Severa
months passed, ana at last, sure OF lnyset,
Grande Trappe.
MY intention was to enter that monastery
but the superior dissuaded me. You woult
ing the rigors of our rules. 1t was impossible,
for me to become "A Dominican, on account o
my age and the long studies of the order.
thought for a time OF entering. the order o
tail that you will call absolutely p%uerile pre-
vented, me, and that was the thought OF beinG
obliged to, go, about barefooted. AZ last | me
th. IpnN Fnthar doc l'nnrnihrGG thR SlInprin
strange coincidcncc / found in him a forne
where he was also the CORRESPONDENT of tn,
PctH journal. The similarity OF our station
questioned me at length and finally advised III
to see the Rev. Father Picard. the superior
GPGnSrd1Ld S of The A AS }n,p' ona , 4 yi h w to f Il ne,
hours from now | will throw off completely tn
man of tho world and become a simple movie
in the convent at Livry sur. seine.
My friend finished his cup Of coffee, liGhte'
a cigarette. and watched the rings Of smok
last c]isarettc that I viii smoke. said he Laugh
ing. Notwithstanding his apparent good hu
NOR, became sad While on thinking Ing OF our wa part IT
manned silent. But you know" said he. tina
| will be Obliged to work hard. win be CON
PEELED to rcstudy my Latin, learn theology. 40
! will pcmain a year at Livry. At the end q
that time will go TO Rome TO finish IN
studies, and in three years l will be ordained
N"And after thatf'' said I. after that" h
y replied, Il VIII go Wherever my supporters ma
, ChUOf to send me-
Again there WAS n silence.
Il have sent all my belongings to my family,
, he added. II have nothing now except tn
| clothes that | wear
, The conversation lnnguishcd more an
more. when suddenly De Comoes looked Mt tn
clock and jumped up.
II must be Off, - said he. FAREWELL
r We went out. He hailed a cab and graspe
} my hand firmly.
' Farewell nGain," said he. -,
I was all broken up. DE Combes." said
3 edo yOu regret nDthinp. nobody, not even YOU
, old.timc friendsi'
"Nothing!' he replied, in a tone that was q
most gruff. Then. smiling, fearing no dout
l that he had wounded my feelings, and move
himself by my emotion. he added: Yes, M
dear fellow, lido regret my true friends.'
Then he signallcd tn" driver, and started fc
the terminus of the Eastern Railroad.
MAXIME SERPEILLE.