The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
Election Of fAmericanasM Mem
Der Great Distinction.
EXPLANATION OF THE HONOR
Ex-Attache Gives History of Differ
ence Between French Institute and
Academic Franchise, with Its Forty
Immorta1s-LOubat, New Member
of Former, Also IA Duke.

4
tinction so rarely accorded an American.
that a few words of explanation as to
the nature OF the honor bestowed by the
most famous organization of its kind
In the world may be Of timely interest.
/ 1t is ali the more necessary since a
good deal Of confusion prevails as TO the
difference between the so-called Acad-
emie Franchise. with its forty immortals.
and that Institute Of France TO which
the late Due d'Aumale. at his death. be-
queathed his beautiful palace Of Chan
| tilly, with all the priceless art treasures
with which ii was filed, and the stately
park by which il is surrounded.
| The confusion Is all the more natural
when It Is borne in mind that the par
tieular branch OF the institute to which
J. Loubat-a duke by the grace of the
the Academy OF Inscriptions and OF
Bellies Lettres. which. like the great
academy founded by Richelieu. is com
posed Of forty members.
Not Admitted 10 Academic.
So the impression might readily be con-
veyed that Americas only duke had been
admitted TO the Academic Franchise,
were it not for the fact that the latter,
unlike the other branches OF the insti-
tute. does not open its doors to for
eigners.
The Academic Francaise. like the Acad-
emy Of Inscriptions and OF Bellies Lettres,
forms part of the Institute of France.
The latter. as now constituted. IS com
was founded at a different time; the old
est and the most important OF them an.
as well as that enjoying the greatest
amount Of fame, both az home and
abroad, being the Academic Francaise.
The second is the Accidents des In
scriptfons ct Bellies Lettres. The third
is the Academic deS Sciences The fourth
is the Academic des Beaux Arts, and the
fifth Is the Academic des Sciences Nor
ales ct Politques.
With the exception Of the Academic
Franchise. all the other four have for
eign members. those Of the Academic
des Inscriptions et Bellies Lettres being
limited 10 eight The Duke Of Loubat
is the only American who has ever been
admitted 10 this particular academy.
John Sargent n Member.
The painter John s. Sargent is the sole
American member Of the Academic des
Beaux Arts. while Prof Newcomb, Of
Washington. d. G., and Prof Alexander
Agassiz, Of Cambridge, Mass, belong 10
the. Academic des Sciences.
As Tar as the native membership is con-
cerned, il is restricted 10 forty IN each
academy. save that Of the Academic des
Sciences. which has sixty-three members.
Let me add that all the members Of the
various academies are entitled To wear
the same kind Of uniform. consisting OF
dark green tail coat and trousers, the
coat covered with embroidered palm
leaves. With this goes a cooked hat
and a court sword.
The Institute OF France virtually dates
from 1875. when the republican conven-
ton, in difference 10 the pressing recon-
mendatiOns Of Carnot. called il into ex-
istence, in order 10 take the place o. the
Academic Francaise. Of the Academic
des BeauX Arts. OF the Academic des In
scriptions ct Bellies Let,res. and Of the
Academic des Sciences. which had been
suppressed by the convention in an
edct dated April s. 1893
Institute in Egyptian Campaign.
The institute played. it may be remem-
bered. very important role in connec-
tion with NapOleon's Egyptian cam
paign, and it is 20 the members of the
National Institute Of France, attached
to his staff that the world is indebted
for the opening up Of that science Of
Egyptology which has brought within
the range Of modern study the history
of the Pharaoh dyn2sties, and Of a mar
velous civilization that. until then un-
beknown to US. was IL existence many
thousands Of years before The birth Of
Christ
Napoleon was so much impressed with
the Importance Of the discoveries made
on the banks of the Nile by the members
or the institute among his suite, that as
soon as ever he attained supreme power !
as first consul, he took upon himself 10 |
reorganize its constitution. The leading |
features OF his reforms were a redivision I
Of the body into four classes, and the /
adoption Of a bylaw exactinE the ap- |
prOval Of the head Of the state by his /
sign manual to the election of the men, 4
bers. At the same time ne decided that |
the institute. which had. until then. /
been quartered in the Louvre. should /
cross the Seine and should take possess
sion Of the stately building. until then /
known as the College of the Four Ma 4
Mnzarin Wishes TO Atone.
When that prelate was on his death |
bed. he determined to endeavor 10 atone.
In the sight of history. for his incon-
ceivable greed. gross corruption. and /
shameless dishonesty, by devoting a por- /
ton Of his colossal wealth to the estab-
ishment of a college, where the sons
Of
should receive an education
His idea was that the pupils should be
recruited, not so much from France. but
rather from the four nations added TO
The kingdom during his administration.
He expected that the students. thus edu-
,ated in Paris. would afterward return
70 the land of their birth, and by spread
ng there the knowledge which they had
acquired on the banks of the Seine. would
strengthen Gallo influence in the con-
Iuered territories and confirm upon the
after the hold of France
He was anxious that the school should
De known as the College Mazarin" But
he foreign character Of the pupils led
o its being dubbed the College Of the
Four Nations.
No Specific Directions Left.
Mazarin left no specific instructions as
o the site Of the college, and a number
II years were wasted in controversies
md disputes about the matter, until
inally Louis XIV decided that the es-
ablishment in question should be erect
d on the site of the old Tour de Nesles.
# mysteriously tragic memories, and
hat the chapel and mausoleum in mem
'ry Of the cardinal should be so con-
tructed as TO face the new gallery of
he Louvre on the opposite side Of the
Seine.
The building was completed in 1862 the