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    5122 T HjLEA P JE B __ [>fo_,? 7B, Sattj...

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    HOME EDUCATION IN FRANCE. Z>u Jidlo de l...

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    The Memoirs Of St. Simon. The Memoirs Of...

    erect , and dragging rather than leading Mm about . He did not know the King , who spoke to him , nor anybody else ; and defended himself as long as lie could against Felix , -who , in this present necessity , hazarded bleeding him , and succeeded . Consciousness returned . Monseigneur asked for a confessor ; the King had already sent for the cure ' . Many emetics were given to him ; but two hours passed before they ¦ operated . At half-past two in the morning , no further danger appearing , the King , who had shed tear 3 , -went to bed , leaving , orders that lie was to be awakened if any Jfresh accident happened . At five o'clock , however , all the effect having passed , the doctors went away , and made everybody leave the sick chamber . During the night -all Paris hastened thitlier . Monseigneur was compelled to keep his room for eiglit or ten days : and took care in future not to gorge himself so much with food .

    MADAME X > E ST . IIIiJREM . Madame de St . Herein was the most singular creature in the world , not only in face * ut in manners . She half boiled her thigh one day in the Seine , near Fontainebleau , where she was bathing . The river was too cold ; she wished to warm it , and had a quantity of water heated and thrown into the stream just above her . The water reaching her before it could grow cold , scalded her so much that she was forced to keep her bed . When it thundered she used to squat herself under a couch , and make all her servants lie above , one upon the other , so that if the thunderbolt fell it might have its effect upon them before penetrating to her . She had ruined herself and her husband , though they were rich , through sheer imbecility ; and it is incredible the amount of money she spent in her absurdities .

    IHE MODEL OF A PK 1 SCELV HUSBAND . Madame la Princesse , his wife , was his continual victim . She was disgustingly ugly , virtuous , and foolish , a little hump-backed , and stank like a skunk , even from . a distance . All these things did not hinder M . le Prince from being jealous of her even to fury up to the very last . The piety , the indefatigable attention of Madame la Princesse , her sweetness , her novice-like submission , could not guarantee her from frequent injuries , or from kicks , and blows with the fist , which were not rare . She was not mistress even cf the most trifling things ; she did not dare to propose or ask anything . He made hex set out from one place to another the moment the fancy took him . Often wheii seated in their coach he made her descend , or return from the end of the street , then recommence , the journey after dinner , or the next day . This see-sawing lasted once fifteen days running , before a trip to Fontainebleau . At -other times he sent for her from church , made her quit high mass , and sometimes sent for her the moment she was going to receive the sacrament ; she was obliged to return at once and pat off her communion to another occasion . It was not that he wanted her- but it was merely to gratify his whim that he thus troubled her . He was always of uncertain habits , and bad four dinners ready for him every day ; one at Paris , one at Ecouen , one at Chantilly , and one where the Court was . THE PKIKCE ' S GAtJ ^ ANTKXES . He " was the most ingenious man in the world . He once gave a grand fete solely for the purpose of retarding the journey into Italy of a lady with whom he was enamoured , with whom he was on good terms , and whose husband he amused by making verses . He hired all the houses on one side of a street near St . Sulpice , furnished them , and pierced the connecting walls , in order to be able thus to reach the place of rendezvous without being suspected .

    A COURT MOUBNEfG . The two Princes , and the two Princesses who sat by their sides , were more exposed to view than any othei . The Due de Bourgogne wept with tenderness , sincerity , and gentleness , the tears of nature , of religion , and patience . M . le Due de Berry also sincerely shed abundance of tears , but bloody tears , so to speak , so great appeared their bitterness ; and he uttered not only sobs , but cries , nay , even yells . He was silent sometimes , but from suffocation , and then would burst out again with such a noise , such a trumpet sound of despair , that the majority present burst out also at these dolorous repetitions , either impelled by affliction or decorum . He became so bad , in . fact , that his people were forced to undress him then and there , put him to bed , and call in the doctor . Madame la Duchesse de Berry was beside herself , and we shall soon see why . The most hitter despair was painted with horror on her face . There was seen written , as it were , a sort of furious grief , based on interest , not then torrent of tears and

    affection ; now and then came dry lulls deep and sullen , a involuntary gestures , yet restrained , which showed extreme bitterness of mind , fruit of the profound medita-tion that had preceded . Often aroused by the cries of her husband , prompt to assist him , to support him , to embrace him , to give her smellingbottle , her care for him was evident ; but soon came another profound reverie—then a gush of tears assisted to suppress her cries . As for Madame la Duchesso de Bourgogne she consoled her husband with less trouble than she had to appear herself in want of consolation . Without attempting to play a part , it was evident that she did her best to acquit herself of a pressing duty of decorum . But she found extreme difficulty in keeping up appearances . When the Prince her brother-in-law howled , aha blew her nose . Sue had brought some tears along with her and kept them up with care ; and these , combined with the art of the handkerchief , enabled her to xedden her eyes , and make them swell , and smudge her face , but her glances often wandered on the sly to the countenances of all present .

    Madame arrived , in full dress she knew not why , and howling fiho knew not why , inundated everybody "with her tears in embracing them , making the chateau echo with renewed cries , and furnished the odd spectacle of a Princess putting on her xobea of ceremony ia the dead of night to come and cry among a crowd of women with hut little on except their night-dresses , —almost as masqueraders . These examples of St . Simon ' s manner and matter will probably send many readers to Mr . St . John ' s volumes .

    5122 T Hjlea P Je B __ [>Fo_,? 7b, Sattj...

    5122 T HjLEA P JE B __ [> fo _ , ? 7 B , Sattjr- da ^

    Home Education In France. Z>U Jidlo De L...

    HOME EDUCATION IN FRANCE . Z > u Jidlo de la Famtile dam VEducation ; ou , TMoria do VEducation Publiqua et Privte . Par Thood . H . Barrau . Ouvrago qui a romportd la promior prix dans lo concours ouvert sur ce sujot par l'AoacUSmio dos Sciences Morales ofc Politiques . Paris : h . Hachotto . London : W . Julia . JOu Jidle de la Famiile dam VEducation . Par M . Provoot-Puradol . Ouvrago qui a obtenu un second prbc a rAcaddmio doa Sciences Morales ot Politiqueu . Paria : L . Haohotto . London : W . Jeffs . A . rnoDJ-BM of no ready solution seems to be agitating tbo academic mind

    -of Franco at the present moment . Were the talents of the French people of a more practical and lees theoretical order , the question nt issue would probably long ago b , a \ e been settled , not indeed on paper , but by a national and - approved system , -worked out according to the exigences of tho ago and the idiosyncrasies of tho _ nation . Tho problem alluded to is , how far private instruction is beneficial , and -what claim tho country lias in tho direction ot the education of its children . $ ino < a the publication of the Jhtile , this has been a moot point , Rousseau having been aooused of laying too little stress upon the iniluenoo of home , or rather having ignored its kindly and

    genial influences altogether . The solid and practical mind of Ed < re \ " 7 i first detected and exposed this ilaw in the vigorous treatise of the 1 ) 1 -i pher of Chirens . The text has been handled ' by many a subsequent Wf ° " and M . Barrau has thought proper to notice it in his preface to the n volume . " The education of a youth , " he observes , " is always iinner ?^ where female influence has not been mixed up in it ; and what disi 1 me most in the Em He of liousseau is that no mother , no sister is ever * f duced to . break by . her graceful presence the duality of the scholar andfh " master . " ' - - me To arrive at some solution of this problem , the Academy of Moral ] Political Science at Paris l-ecently issued a programme offering prizes fort u best essays on this subject . The successful candidates for * these rewa 1 were M . M . Barrau and Prevost-Parudol . The former obtained the fir-i " honours in the contest , and M . Prevost-Paradol the second . There is Lo ever , a marked difference in the merits of the two works . M . Barrau brine / to his aid considerable research , examines the question in all its soml

    and national bearings , and displays great logical vigour in the development of his thesis . His long study of educational topics had stored hi " mind with a treasury of facts , and he came to the task prepared by lon < f reflection and no small amount of experience . M . Prevost-Paradol , onth ° contrary , skims lightly his subject , and assuming the natural ri ght o the parent to superintend and control the ^ education of his children , " vhich M Barrau takes gi * eat pains to prove , admonishes them of their duties rather than reminds them of their prerogatives . lie enters on his subject by a short disquisition on education in general , and then on the comparative merits of private and public education . He also dwells at considerable length on what share parents ought to assume in the intellectual , moral i hsical of their childrenand hilst

    religous , and py training , w admitting the advantages to be on the side of public instruction , points out forcibly ' how deficient such instruction will always prove unless the efforts of the professors and masters are seconded at home . Private education is viewed under its most favourable aspect , and to every statement made in its behalf a counter-statement rises up . We are told of the inferiority of the resources of private education in the personnel of its professors—in the advantages derived from a succession of teachers , each giving a new idea or new phase to the thing taught , and also in the activity afforded b y emulation . " We do not hesitate to prefer , " continues M . Prevost-Paradol , '" the moral education of a college to that -which can be acquired at home ; though here again public education is imperfect , and the concurrence of home

    exhortation and example is necessary . " The appeal which is made on behalf of these innocents of the college exhibits a na ' icetc truly amusing . " Merchants , " exclaims M . ' . Prevost-Paradol , " who scrape together fortunes by questionable means , men o business who live by fraud , men of the law who sell justice for your interest or your ambition , and -who , having a spark of humanity within you , Tylsh to have childi'cn better than yourselves , yet find the education of the college scarcely moral enough , do not destroy the little good it can -effect . by letting them divine what you are . Let them hesitate between public rumour and the habitual uprightness of your words . Try to appear honest one day in the week , and choose-the day whenthey are with you . Let them be ignorant of your character that tAiey may respect you . "

    M . Barrau enters more profoundly into the investigation , and takes a more extended range . He commences by showing the inalienable natural right of the parents to train up their own child , combats the communistic idea of absorbing the family into the state , and shows its fatal results—fatal we mean to those tender characteristics in the original nature of every man which , properly cultivated , rentiers him an amiable a > well as an able member of society—which history exhibits to us in tho little community of Sparta , where-every child born strong and healthy belonged to the state . In fact , M . Barrau treats his subject us a legist ; the rights of the family , the rights of society , and the rights of the youth himself being considered in their various relations . As may be anticipated , points ot areat delicacy arc investigated . "The father , " observes M . Ikrniii , " does of the authority

    not direct tho education of his child in virtue alone conferred by nature , but also in virtue of a tacit permission del e gated by society , of which tho child is n , member , nnd also in virtue of Ins ollicc as tutor , charged equally by nature and by society to watch over the piv ^ nnuoa of the rights which the child holds from both . There are occasions , however , when society may interfere with the parent , nnd take the right cuuceikdto him by nature into his own hands . It is when he is too poor to nuriorratau duty itself , or when the child is brought up in vicious habits . ' > J cn ! { r ; of one mind , perhaps the principle laid down might be accorded . 1 Il ^ V land , where tho almost absolute authority of the parent over tliociniu-, recognised by law as well as by custom , it would be considered , « m « Jubbj so , an act of tyranny for tho Government—by which wo suspect M . jaurau moans society—to stop in and abstract u child froin its piu-cnLsthmiow in order to give it even a virtuous education in sonic asylum oi tun » w Were society at large to do its duty in France—were individual responsibility more esteemed—were thero more private indcpundoiico ami u leaninir towards the direction and support of Government -in 'i u

    ; wore Frenchmen personally to rely more upon themselves than ll M ' wont to do—to look for their ameliorations more from their own u performed in their social sphere , however limited , wo should have io grntulato them on the possession of personal liberty and im upenuin Thoy are at present in tho unhappy predicament of being too nmciyo \ U ' Education is further discussed by M . Uurrnu in ita relation to po J ; civilization , and social economy . A chapter is also devoted to ii-ninit c tion , worthy of consideration us showing tho present condition < education in Franco . M . Barrau , however , is not content to '"" ' (| u , servations to the state of education in hid own country , llu > < --y > , _ systems nnd methods of various countries . Ho travels through » J uj andGormany , crosses tho I 3 ritit . hCh . mnol , and even rone icb u « ft States . In England the system of fugping immroH much ntlent . on , « ^ picture of the style of * doing . education' as generally pnici j i i secondary schools , is drown from mutennla aflordod by Uuskonss - > '"

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 30, 1857, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30051857/page/18/