Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-17
TaIIeyrand a Native of Maine?

Talleyrand a Native of Maine?
The name of Talleyrand is not COM
monty included i'll the long list of fa-
nous men who were born in Maine
In the histories of France and wher-
ever facts are recorded about the
worlds greatest men one may read
that he was born in Paris. Feb. IL, lio4.
This however is now contradicted with
much emphasis, and in the current
Bookman Jane Marsh Parker, the Well
known New York writer on historical
subiects introduces some most inter-
esting testimony to show That the
great French statesman and diplomat
first saw the light on Mt. Desert
island. Miss Parker gets her points
mainly from what the Maine historian,
Joseph Williamson.of Belfast, publish
ed in the Bangor Historical Magazine
of July. 1887, but her article in the
Bookrnan will call more general atten-
ton to the subject than it has ever
received before. Mr.. Williamson in
turn had based his article upon state
ments he had received from the Hon.
Edward Robbins of Boston, who was
sneaker of the Massa chusettS House of
Representatives when Talleyrand came
to this country, in 1895, and who be-
came intimately acquainted with the
n l1rin0 that visit
of 1895 that Talleyrand, an exile. visit
ed Augusta and was entertained here
by Col. North whose home was where
the Granite National bank stands. He
was accompanied by young French
man whom tradition, never fully sub
stantiated perhaps, has said to be
Louis Philippe, later King of the
French. This arrival in this country
was at Wiscasset and after visiting
this city they went to Boston, and New
York and Philadelphia, the latter city
being then the seat of government.
Not long after Talleyrand had left
Boston Mr.. Robbins unexpectedly ran
across him near Hulrs Cove, Nj.
Desert, the home of Nine. La Vai's
colony of French immigrants. Talley-
rand did his best to avoid meeting tie
Bostonian, who, on his part, had no
scruples about proclaiming the identity
of the hobbling visitor. Then it wos
that some of the fisher-folk declared
that they had seen in the crippled gait
of the stranger what reminded them of
the lame French boy who had been
taken away from the island just before
the war; Before Robbins left The
island he verified the report that the
lame French boy" referred to was the
ilIegitimate son of a French Officer
whose ship had touched at the island
in 1853 or 1854 for repairs.
When the boy was about two years
old his mother overturned kettle OF
hot water on his foot, Gripping hirl
for life. She died about the time the
French war was over, and soon after
ward a French gentleman came for the.
boy. saying that his father was dead,
and that a rich uncle, fine gentleman
in France, had promised the father
that he would adopt the child and
bring him up his own son. The boy
was then about eight years old, the
same age as the little boy of the
memoirs.
In his memoirs Talleyrand makes no
mention of the names of his parents
Others filled the spaces with the names
of Charles Daniel de Talleyrand Peri
CORD and Alexdrinede Dumas. He re-
lates, however, that he was cruelty
neglected. Why did he direct that TIE
memoirs should not be published until
30 years after his death, and not even
then if they would Inconvenience"
anyone? The writer in the Bookmar
says that that was the surest way to
prevent thorough investigation of the
subject and it's settlement. when wit
nesses might be living whose testimony
could not be gainsaid. The unpleasant
story would be forgotten in thirty
years. or it would have become a ira
dition too vague for credence."
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