The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-30
I UTOR CONFESES
METHOD OF TEACHING

sion to fulfil towards their own coun-
try, and are Important factors In the
making of history, instead of devoting
themselves TO the plain duties which
they are paid to fulfil, namely, the
teaching OF the French language and
literature to their royal pupils.
Baltgnco declares that on being on
gagged as tutor CT the young princes,
he went to Dresden with the deter
mination to serve not them but France:
not 40 much by rendering his pupils
alive to tho beauties OF the French
language and literature, but by con-
lributing to the destruction OF tho
unity or the German empire, so that
France might be able TO play once
more preponderant role in Europe
During tho lessons which ho gave
TO the young princes, he laid special
emphasis on the fact that the centuries
or Intimate unio: of Franco and Sax
ony were the period Of the latter's
greatest Importance. glory and pros
perity, and that rs long IA French in
iiuence predominated at tho court of
dresden. 1t was renowned for lta bril-
nancy: while Its rulers occupied a front
rank among the monarchs OF Europe.
He would Insist with his pupils that
The Wane OF Saxony'5 grandeur dated
from the time when French Influences
were superseded 1T Dresden by those
OF Prussia, intimated that Prussia was
reducing SaXony to the rank Of n mere
vassal state. and was quietly, but
nevertheless surely, aapping her indie
/ pcndence.
In fact, tho bulk of Balignac's book
Is devoted to n satisfied and soms-
what grandiloqucn description Of his
patriotic endeavors IN this connec-
ton.
He ihtimates that he was. 20 Il great
extent, successful in preJudicing the
crown prince and his brothers against
the Hohenzollcrns and against Prus-
sia. and adds that his efforts were
not without fruit oven among men,
bers of the court.
IIe also declares that the Kings
brother. Prince John George. is quito
bitter against tho Kniser and his fam
ily, and that he makes point OF alb
senting himself from Dresden when
ever there are any visits there from
tho royal house of Prussia, or any fes-
tive observance OF some Prussan royal
anniversary. He insinuates that this
Is in neisure due to the fact that
tho prince Is married to n member Of
tho royal house of Bourbon. leaving il
to be inferred that sho Belongs to the
French branch thereof whereas she is
one of the Bourbons of italy daugh-
ter of tho Count OF Caserta, claimant
to the throne OF Naples.
The entire book is written in a vein
OF such transparent hostility and bias
against Germany, there are so many
references TO "rcuton barbarsIn." to
"Tcuton lack of refinement" and to
the inferiorty OF Teuton chivalry to
that OF France, that one gathers from
the bitter tone OF tho authors re-
marks. That he has not been quite so
successful in his self-iinposed pa
triotic mission of disrupting the Ger
man empire as he would have us pe-
lcve.
1t must be confessed that the King
or Sn%ony has not been fortunate in
the selection of professors OF French
for his sons. The first of these tutors
intrusted with the task OF imparting
to tho young princes the idiomatic
graces of the French language. perfec-
ton in which Is Indispensable to royal
~. since II is the language of courts
and diplomacy, was the unsavory Pro-
lessor Giron. who eloped with the
present Kings wife. that is to say.
with the mother OF his royal pupils.
Ills successor was n Professor eau
tier who in the summer of 1908 was
the victim OF an alleged attempted as
sassinatlon at the Kings suburban
Chateau of Wachwitz. When Il was
ascertained that the serious rents in
ms coat, waistcoat and shirt, which
no declared 'iad been wrought by the
knives or his assailants. did not in any
way correspond with the number OF
slight scratches on his left breast,
apparently produced by penknife. tho
police and physicians became skepti-
cal, and eventually 1t was brought to
light that tho professor was himself
the author OF the injuries to his epider,
mis- and to his garments. and that no
mad devised the entire comedy for tho
purpose OF rendering himeelf an obiec.
OF Interest. in orler to attract little
more attention to himself on Tho part
OF tho court, goyernmont and society