The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-02

and accomplishments. but willingly al
lowed such literature as ''purfies the feel
inRs without exciting the passions, an
oient history. the history Of France, MUSIC
within jealous limits. singing and paint
ing. Even art he would turn TO practical
account; classical sculpture might set be-
fore girls the careless ease and majesty OF
Greek and Roman dress; "a knowledge
OF drawing would bring into their en-
broideries harmony and design.
Fenelon's ideal lady. however, cares
little for accomplishments. Her heart
Ia In her still-room and her nursery. 'Es-
sentially Of noble birth, though condem-
ned by her poverty TO live In the country
among unpolished neighbors and occu-
pations that were not delightful, she had
learnt to be- homely with those who were
homely, and not to think fastidiousness
a sign Of lively ~sensiblllty. Within doors
she was neat and orderly. but not to ex-
cess, q careful stewardess OF her fortune,
vet firm against all avarice and unintelh-
gent economy, willing on occasion TO spend
largely In the hope OF future profit. and
never 30 absorbed In the counting OF her
candles that the steward had liberty to rob
on every side. A knowledge OF the use
and prices OF commodities saved her alike
from being cheated and from becoming
the plague Of her household: she was no
Pharaoh Of her. kitchen, to expect that pre-
serves should be made without sugar.
Hers was the difficult art OF mann ging
servants: she treated them neither as
beasts Of burden, nor yet with an excess
sive laxity, well knowing that If careless
ness on her part spoiled the servant, too
great excellence in serving spoiled the mis-
tress. And she remembered that the
meanest among them was a fellow Christian,
placed in an unnatural state, and, therefore,
specially deserving Of patient counsel and OF
charity Ii cannot be denied that Fenelon
IL open TO the charge, so often brought
against the J~ansenists. OF first teaching
eirls to think for themselves, and then for
bidding them to express their thoughts.
IL il also true that his intellectual pro-
eramme might have been broader. Never
theless, It was from the Education of
Girls that later p~edagogic reformers
started; they learned from Fenelon to turn
all their knowledge into character all their
wisdom into virtue
~.
THE Education OF Girls brought its
author more than literary distinction.
On the 10th Of August. 1880, the Duke Of
Beauvilliers was gazetted Governor to
the little Duke Of Burgundy, eldest son OF
the Dauphin. and on Beauvillier's recon-
mendation the Able de Fenelon was APP
pointed his preceptor. Beauvilliers and
Fcnelon had a hard task before them; they
were called upon 10 do for the son what
Bossuet and tho Duke OF Montausier-a
mar no less excellent than Beauvilliers-
had failed in doing for the father, st.
Simon records that the education OF tho
Dauphin had boen so severe that, after IL
was finished, he never opened a book, and
read nothing but the birth and marriage
announcements in the newspapers. The
Young Duke Of Burgundy was a very diff
ferent being from his father; he inherited
most Of his qualities from his mother, Mary
Anne of Bavaria, a delicate. melancholy,
u~nattractive Princess, passionate. proud
and ~caustic. terribly neglected by her hus-
band. and unpopular at court. She highly
approved OF Beauvilliers's appointment.
and died soon afterward.
Burgundy himself was a frail. unhealthy
creature, a valetudinarian. even as a child.
His body lacked symmetry as much as his
mind. One shoulder very early outgrew
the other. defying the most cruel efforts
Of the surgeons TO set II right, and proba-
bly, doing far more serious mischief to his
general health than was suspected at the
time. IL is suggested that the hurricanes
Of passion which his contemporaries mis-
took for vice might he accounted for by
some arrangement Of his nervous system.
He was born terrible. says st. Simon, and
In his youth made all men tremble. The
least contradiction made him furious; he
would fall into ungovernnble fits Of rage.
even against inanimate objects. He had
al Unsuitable appetite for all sorts Of pleas
uro. His pride and arrogance were inde-
scribable. He had q savage, cruel temper
and a biting wit that spared nc one, and
always hit the mark. His quickness aud
penetration. even during his transports Of
rag. wer- astounding He often reasoned
more quickly than his masters. his memory
was 20 good hat he would remind them
of things they had once taught linn and
aftcrNard forgotten. From the very be-
ginning, however. he was frank and truth
ful 10 a fault. such In 81. Simon's earliest
portuit Of the Prince, who afterward be-
came IN his eyos a prodigy 81 saintliness.
viuuous for this wicked world The
transformation Of the young Duke Of Bur
guudy was due 20 lenelon. IL Was on this
Proogptor that the real burden 81 his edu-
cotton rested The King intsrf-rud but
httl. ~ the management - HE grandson.
tlf Daulhln rot 90 all Thus the Cover
noe ard lrrorptof wen, qui9e uutrammsl-
l.d and could p"aaraIly bring up their
P0inous 1.-THE Duke II Burgundy aud his
younger bTothon.l according Ia ths mnthod
IT ths Education - Giris a book org
inGlly written for RsauNA.. rs's wife Tho
Punoas ~.rs roared -Just like common
peuplr, oatinE aud drinsins a. much AZ
thsy ploased, but only of dlshas plainly
dressed running aid uding Ia all
~osthss. aud ai~ays With uncovered
hsads
Tho n'sult - this mode ~ upbnhsihg
vas that the pnHo.s had 40 Be~i ~ nodl-
ruir. nof .saf SERIOUSLY oomplAinsi VI az
auulrni ~ a~sr-.abls dld islslon mAkt
urif hDufs - studJ thai tlsy antsfud tha
81 .allfsin aiHnsi 90 readily a. ,Lsy lrf
Do huHguidy b. particular saytnH tiai be-
siuuld nul.iniaf al hs no ua plsaslIs
ui lawns surksi siuluui oai.stiauat