The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-13

He changed religions az another man
would change from summer 10 winter
| clothes. A writer on morality, his own
morals were unspeakable. He was ever
eager TO receive aid; and still more
industrious In abusing benetactors. He
had a genius for philosophic writings
and a far greater genius for making
enemies. The kindest thing that can
be said about him personally Is that he
was probably more or less insane
Here Is his story:
Rousseau was the son OF Swiss
matchmaker. His father In 1872. when
the lad was ten years old, became In
volyed in a street row and had to leave
his Geneva home, calmly deserting his
family. Jean Jacques was brought up
by his mothers relatives, who ap-
prentlced him at thirteen to a notary.
The boy and his master could not get
on together, 80 Jean was apprenticed
over again, this time to an engrayer.
All his long life Rosseau quarreled
with everybody into whose society he
was thrown. He began with the en-
| graver At sixteen he Jumped" his
| apprenticeship and ran away from
! Geneva.
He then began series Of wander
ings which were more or less interest
| ing, but scarcely profitable either TO
| undergo or tell about. He changed his
| religion at the outset encountertng
some rather doubtful adventures, and
/ at last became a footman In the house
/ hold of a Nine. de Vercellis. While he
was working there he stole costly
/ ribbon. The theft was discovered.
| Rousseau saved himself from punish
ment by falsely accusing a maid serv-
I ant Of the theft The tale OF this
wholly shameful affair is found in his
! celebrated Confessions"
When his employer died, Rousseau
found another situation-and promptly
lost 1t on account Of his conduct. His
experience for the next few years led
him through all grades OF society, from
vagabondage to court circles. 1t was
not until 1745 that he won any fame.
Then he became known as clever
writer and musician. Several persons
Of high rank took an interest in his
career. From each of these people he
accepted what aid he could get, then
Quarreled with his benefactors and
usually spoke and wrote Ill Of them.
In a prize essay, written In 1850. he
openly declared that progress and high
er civilization had proved a curse to
mankind. This essay made him for a
time the idol OF Paris artificial and
novelty society. He followed
up his literary success by really
beautiful opera. But his attacks on
various French customs and ideals
made Paris an uncomfortable abode
for him. Back he went to Geneva
,(again changing his religion to At his
surroundings) and met with cordial
reception from the learned men of
Switzerland
Here he took up his literary work
again and dazzled the world by his
problem novels" and philosophical
treatises. But he continued his life
effort OF making as many enemies as
possible. And such enemies as his
personality could not reach were made
by his writings. His novel Emile"
a radical sort OF educational thesis
in Action form-was condemned by
the Paris parliament; and Rousseau
dared not set foot in the French cap
ital for fear OF arrest. Other works
OF his were denounced by the Swiss
authorities. His "Contrat Social
(which demanded that governments
be ruled by the people and preached
universal suffrage) brought down
upon him the hatred OF conservative
thinkers. Altogether. he began to find
It hard to choose place OF abode
where he would be safe from persecu-
tion.
He went to England and there quar-
relied with his patrons. behaved inso-
lently toward the king. and found 1t |
convenient to come back to the con-
tinent OF Europe. This time he was |
allowed TO settle In Paris. His health |
had become shattered So had his |
mind. To add to his woes. he mar
ried Therese lie Vasseur. former cook |
In third-rate inn. Their Ave chm |
dren he sent to founding asylum.
thus giving his enemies fine chance
to compare his unnatural action with |
the high sentiments he had written
about the sanctity Of the home and
the education of the young. Thereses
mother was the typical comic paper
mother-in-law. She rendered Rous-
seau's home life miserable.
On July 2. 1878. crushed under real
and imaginary woes. Rousseau died
in At. Some historians think des-
pair drove him TO suicide.
His "Confessions"-a wonderful II
unreliable book-give the mans dis
.orted view OF his own life and OF life
in general A genius. a blackguard.
and probably-in later years, at least
"a semilunatic.