St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-07-05

soothing the WEAKNESS of old age. She
married in 1912 the Baron Pellet de La
Lozere, an auditor in the Council Of
State, who became project, deputy, peer
of France, and a minister in the govern
ment of July. He wrote book, publish
ed at Paris in 1888. Opinions de Napo
leon sur divers subjects, still frequently
consulted as an authority.
St. Johns old-time friend, the Countess
d'Houdetot, died on the 18th Of January
1918. In the following April M. and
Nine. Otto returned from Vienna, to
which Otto had been assigned by the
Emperor in 1909. In May we find them
all at Lesches enjoying the glorious
springtime, but in the autumn they re-
turned to Sarcelles, where on the 18th
of November, 1913, Saint John died OF a
malady contracted thirty years before in
the prisons OF New York. A long and
appreciative eulogy OF the man appeared
in the Journal de lEmpire, on the 21st of
the same month.
A brief notice of his family may be
deemed ofinterest. M. Otto, on his re-
turn from Vienna, was named Minister
of State. His presence in Paris was
deemed necessary, because, says the Duke
de Besseno "of his special knowledge of
the affairs of England and America"
During the one hundred days before
Waterloo he was Under-Secretary of
State for foreign affairs. He was exiled
at the second restoration of the Bour-
bons, but obtained leave to return to
Paris, where he died in 1917.
Nine. Otto survived to 1923. We have
seen that Alexander, Saint Johns Oldest
son, died in 1906. Louis, surviving the
wars OF the empire, died in 1850. Saint
Johns grandson, Guillaume Alexander
st. John de Crevecoeur, born in 1902, be-
came project at different times, of the
Departments of Tarn, Of L'Oise, of
L'Aisne, Puy-de-dome, and Bouches-du-
Rhone. He was decorated as Comman-
der OF the Legion OF Honor. He died in
1877, leaving as only child. Count Rob.
ert Saint John de Crevecoeur, the bog-
rapher OF his great.grandfather Robert
Saint Johns widow and three sons now
reside in Paris. To the eldest of these
sons, Count Lionel de Crevecoeur, weare
indebted for our knowledge of his ances-
tors life.
We may be permitted to add word
about the names of Saint John. The
name J. Hector Saint John was a crea-
ture OF his brain, pseudonyme found
only on the title page of his book, but
which for a century was supposed to be,
and passed for, his real name, which was,
as we have seen, originally Michel Gull
laume Jean de Crevecoeur, the Jean be-
coming ampli6ed by stress of events into
Saint John. The term, "de Crevecoeur,"
simply designates his title of nobility,
according to French custom. On his
first visit to France, in letter to Benja-
min Franklin, he frankly confessed, he
had always been so accustomed to his
English name of Saint John. that the
necessity of adding ''de Crevecoeur" is a
source OF surprise. We have therefore
maintained the name Saint John through
out our article.
His book, Letters from an American
Farmer" had great vogue in Europe.
1t was published in London in 1882, as
we have seen. and the same year it was
published also in Dublin. In 1888
another edition appeared at Belfast, and
the London publisher issued second
edition. In 1898 an American publisher
issued an edition for American readers,
followed by another edition in 1898.
The book was translated into French
and published at Paris in 1884, in two
volumes. which Saint John enlarged to
three volumes and published in 1887.
The original English edition was trans
lated into the Dutch language and pub
lished at Leyden in 1884, by two differ
ent publishers. 1t was likewise trans
lated into German and two publishers of
Leipsic gave it to the German world in
1884 and in 1788.89. His second book,
published at Paris in 1901, was dedi-
Gated to Washington; it was translated
into the German language and published
at Berlin in 1902.
THE Letters from an American Far.
mer", reprint of which, edited by Prof.
Trent of Columbia University, and pub.
lished last season by Fox, Duffield & Co.,
New York, will undoubtedly remain a
classic. Scholars find it's flavor compare
BILE to Saint Pierre's paul and Virginia"
Hazlitt spoke kindly of it. and Charles
Lamb had written, "Tell Hazlitt not to
forget the American Farmer
books a book" Our own poet, Lowell,
commended it to the editorof the Nation.
Without fail he captures the aroma of
life,' said one of the editors of the new
reprint. If the writer has been faithful in
his portraiture, the reader has learned
that the personality of Saint John de
Creveceur Is worthy at least of our re-
spect and esteem. AS man of affairs he
urged continual improvement, and as
writer be saw an ideal. To the happi.
ness OF desiring the welfare of his world,
let us add what is evident, that he did
no wrong.
In the words of Prot. Trent to the
writer, ut is pleasure to think that
the Letters will at least serve to remind
our busy generation of the existence of
delightful man."
Our hearty thanks, in which am sure
readers will join, are due M. de Gre.
vec9ur, and his friend Doctor Robert
Turner in Paris, DR.. Fairbanks of the
Athenaum, and Mr.. Stone of the GALE.
DOMAIN, for many courtesies. To these
names we must add that of Mr.. Frank
lin b. Sanborn of Concord, Mass, whose
kindly words, and timely advice have
been an invaluable stimulus.
(The end)