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Black Republic of Letters

Note - Charles Gounod

Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was a French composed most famous for his opera, Faust. Learn more about Charles Gounod.

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The Anti-Slavery Congress at Saint-Sulpice The opening ceremony of the free Anti-Slavery Congress was solemnly celebrated on Sunday, 21 September, at the Saint-Sulpice church. The enthusiasm of the Christian community was even greater than could have been expected. From one o'clock, the side aisles, the nave of the church were nearly full; at 2:30, when the vespers began, the holy space was jam packed, and one could not walk around freely.

The whole nave was reserved for invited guests, at the head of whom were the clergy of Paris, the directors of the congregations and charities, and the delegates of the seven major powers represented at the Congress, which were: Great Britain and Ireland, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Portugal. Also present were the six delegates of the French Anti-slavery League; Messrs. Jules Simon, Georges Picot, of the Institute, and Lefèvre-Pontalis, the former deputy, for the Committee of High Patronage; Messrs. Keller, the former deputy, the Marquis de Vogüé, the former ambassador, and Baron d'Avril, former minister plenipotentiary.

The entrance of the young Black converts brought by Mgr. Livinhac, bishop and apostolic vicar in the region of Lake Nyanza and who has been called to serve as Mgr. Lavigerie's coadjutor, caused a true sensation. These children went into the choir stalls, having the White Fathers beside them. Mgr. Livinhac officiated.

The papal nuncio, Mgr. Rotelli, made his entrance as the magnificat began. The whole clergy, Mgr Livinhac at its head, went before this representative of the Pope who had come, in solemn procession, up to the dais that had been prepared for him near the choir stalls.

When the vespers concluded, the nuncio, the officiant, and all the bishops in attendance came to sit on the pew that faced the pulpit. Mgr. Rotelli has to his right, Mrg. Livinhac, Mgr. Brincat, the Bishop of Hadrumetum and auxiliary of Mgr. Lavigerie, the Abbot Icard, superior general of the Sulpicians; to his left were Mgr. Fabre, archbishop of Montreal, and Mgr. Combes, bishop of Constantine.

After one hundred and fifty singers artfully performed the Cantata on African slavery, composed by Mr. Bellenot, the choirmaster, His Eminence Cardinal Lavigerie mounted the pulpit. Although sickness and fatigue have left traces on his venerable face, the eminent prelate is still admirable for his vigour and eloquence. With his long almost white beard, he reminds one of the beautiful heads of the patriarchs whose memory has been preserved by tradition.

It was 4:10; the daylight was fading and the church was beginning to illuminate. Along the two stairways that went up to the pulpit, to the left and right of the majestic prelate, six White Fathers stood motionless; while at the edge of the nave packed with a contemplative crowd, spreading out from the dazzling base of the lights of the high altar, were the black silhouettes of the little Africans. The spectacle was gripping for its originality and grandeur.

Recalling, in a few words, the ceremony that had taken place two years earlier in this same church of Saint-Sulpice, where he found his former superior as well as one of his most zealous collaborators, the Cardinal traced the historical contours of the great project to which he had dedicated the last years of his life, and for the triumph of which the Pope did not cease to give his support. He also recalled the Brussels Act through which the powers of Europe a plan of execution to destroy the slave trade in Africa. In the success of his noble task, Mgr. Lavigerie had the more or less unanimous support of the episcopate, and he thanked the diverse press for what they had done for him. Thanks to this support, definitive success is certain, if the powers hold to their resolutions written in the Brussels Act.

The prelate then described the organization of the committee, each of which represents a nation and overseen interests in Africa in the region placed under its dependency. Then, in an eloquent move, he recalled the results he had achieved in the Sahara and the regions of Sudan:
What do I do in these immense regions?

I did what the Church does, the Church that Our Lord made, in his image, as the great Sower. Exiit qui seminat, seminare. I sowed what Christians sow, as our Tertullian said, when they want to assure eternal harvests; I sowed with blood, the blood of my sons, the White Fathers you see at this moment around the pulpit. Six of them, in addition to those who were sacrificed in other regions of Africa, suffered martyrdom under the blows of barbarians and fell blessing their executioners.

How can I forget them today, in this parish of Saint-Sulpice, to which the first of them belonged like you, by his birth, my three dear Brothers, and whence, six years before his martyrdom, he left to come learn among us in the hard life of missionaries.

But that blood of the apostles was not the only blood.

All devotions are united in France for a conquest that we are leaving to Providence: science, charity, even the army have left, for a quarter of a century, in the desert, the traces of their bloody heroism.
In a magnificent peroration, Mrg. Lavigerie solemnly conferred a part of his noble mission on his coadjutor, Mgr. Livinhac.

"As for me" he added,
I will return to my Africa, never to leave again, and I will give to it what God wills to give me in courage for the remaining years, being happy if, not having been able to work any better for the sanctification of the Father's flock that He has surrounded me with for a quarter of a century, it is my lot to fall pursuing the lost flock!
The emotion in the room was profound when the Cardinal descended from the pulpit. Many people knelt as he passed by, imploring his blessing. It was 5:05.

The allocution was followed by the singing Veni Creator by Saint-Saëns, and by the taking of the Holy Sacrament led by Mgr. Rotelli. Auguez sand Rousseau's O Salutaris, and Vernet, Gounod's Ave Maria; the choir magisterially executed Tantum ergo by. Widor, who played the great organ, and Handel's Alleluia.

It was after 6:30 when the crowd left the church to its calm and silence. This magnificent and imposing ceremony left the deepest impression on all those who attended.

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News & Rumours In brief: Cardinal Lavigerie's activities after the Anti-Slavery Congress – Haiti's ex-president left for Jamaica – Attempted attack on the Mexican president – Switzerland recognized the Republic of Brazil – Anti-English demonstrations in Portugal – Haiti's Minister in Spain visiting Paris – Congratulations to La Fraternité – An eye operation – New treaty negotiation over Africa – A theatre troupe's travels – Date set for the Chambers' return – Protectionism in Argentina – New deadline for trade deals with USA – Copyright conference – Marriage of Dumas fils's daughter Carinal Lavigerie remained in the country for a few days in order to have an audience with the President of the Republic. The audience took place last Saturday the 27th. Mr. Carnot caught the prelate for lunch. Mgr. Livinhac accompanied the venerable primate of Africa.

The President and Mrs. Carnot gave the cardinal the most friendly welcome. After the lunch, Mr. Carnot held back the prelate and spoke with him for an hour.

Mgr. Lavigerie left the President to receive the curate and the clergy of Fontainebleau. Then he was keen to visit the palace apartments that Pope Pius VII had occupied.

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Mgr. Lavigerie is expected to travel to Rome, by way of Mont-Cenis. His Eminence will report to Pope Leo XIII about the recent Anti-Slavery Congress and introduce him to the fourteen young converts of Uganda.

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General Légitime has embarked for Kingston (Jamaica).

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New York
26 September — An employee of the railroad on arriving from Mexico announced that President Porfirio Diaz was the target of an attack during the celebration of the national holiday in Mexico, on the 11th. Gunshots were fired at the president while he was on the balcony of the palace where the crowd was cheering for him. Forty people were implicated in the affair, fifteen arrested.

The Mexican legation in Paris received a telegram authorizing them to deny the news.

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The Swiss have just officially recognized the Republic of Brazil.

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In Portugal
The effervescence against the English is increasing day by day. The statue of Camoëns was covered with a mourning veil to mark the humiliation inflicted upon Portugal. Many revolutionary demonstrations took place in Lisbon, with cries of: Down with the monarchy! Down with the king! The country is in complete agitation.

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The Haitian Legation in Madrid
We had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Desroches, our Minister resident in Madrid, who is currently in Paris.

He had nothing but good things to say about the welcome he received in the Madrilene court, which he described in charming detail.

It may not be a bad idea to extend our relations in that direction, in order to open new outlets for our commodities, which obtain—coffee in particular—in some Spanish towns, higher prices than in Le Havre.

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We have received many letters of congratulations regarding the founding of La Fraternité. It is with the most lively gratitude that we thank in particular Professor Puget and the Reverend Fathers Taragnat and Le Douarin for the noble sentiments they expressed.

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Our kind compatriot Senator Montasse has just had an at-home operation on a pinguiecula he had in his eye. This delicate operation succeeded perfectly and, thanks to cocaine, he did not feel the slightest pain.

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The Italian government has tasked Count Antonelli and Messrs. Filomardi, former consul at Zanzibar, and Silvestrelly to represent it in the negotiations that have begun regarding the delineation of English territory in Africa.

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The Coquelin-Judic tour arrived on the 26th at Bordeaux, returning from America.

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The reconvening of the French Chambers has been set for 20 October.

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Argentine Republic
According to the information from Bueno Aires it is believed that we can confirm that measures will be taken to protect the national industry against foreign competition, and that the rights of customs duties in the Argentine Republic will be augmented significantly as of next January.

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The period during which foreign governments can conclude reciprocal arrangements with the United States, for the free importation into their countries of American agricultural products, was extended to 1 January 1892.

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An international conference for literary and artistic property will take place in London in the first days of October.

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The marriage of Miss Jeanne Dumas and Mr. d'Hauterive has been scheduled for the 9th of October, at Marly-le-Roi.

Mgr. d'Hulst will give the nuptial blessing to the young couple.

Gounod will play the harmonium on that day at the little church of Marly.

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Miscellany
Chinese Ingenuity
Would you like to know the formalities that travelers in China must go through to obtain a passport? They coat the palm of their hand with oil paint, then press it onto a thin, damp sheet of paper, which retains the imprint of the lines. Since the lines on two people's hands are almost never identical, this prevents travellers from lending their passports to each other.

The subtlety of the Chinese has also discovered that the thumbprints of two different people or the thumbs of the same person are not the same. The Chinese police therefore simply keep the thumbprints of every criminal. Criminals can then shave and wear wigs; no matter what disguise they adopt, they can never change their thumbprints, which can be compared at any time with those stored at the central police office of the Celestial Empire.

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Ministerial Setbacks
Lord Salisbury recently had a minor mishap that greatly amused the people of London and Paris. Customs officers in New Haven seized one of his carriages containing a considerable supply of rum, cognac, cigars, and sugar, which his people were trying to smuggle. The coachman, refusing to pay the fine, was arrested.

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The other day, Mr. Goblet got on the bus without realizing he had forgotten his wallet. It can happen to anyone. The driver, showing no consideration for the former prime minister, made him get off. He was strictly within his rights. But the irascible statesman, sensitive to this affront, sent a strongly worded complaint to the company. The company replied: “The driver you are complaining about followed his instructions and observed the rules.”

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Gounod and Barnum
The author of Faust is currently involved in a lawsuit that deeply upsets his true friends. The subject of the dispute is very simple: Gounod—hard to believe—apparently promised some barnum in the United States that he would follow him and conduct an orchestra across the Star-Spangled Republic.

The deal must have been attractive. The Americans promised no less than a million francs for the French musician; they also undertook to pay his travel expenses and those of the servant who would accompany him. But at the last moment, Mr. Gounod withdrew his word. He apologized, saying that his age and health would not allow him to endure the fatigue inherent in such a journey, and... he received a summons from his opponents.

This trial brings to mind a typical anecdote in which a renowned French pianist was once the hero. The artist had signed a contract that required him to go and perform on the other side of the Atlantic. He arrived in a major city in the United States, where his manager had, he said, arranged a concert: the fee was regal, the cash register overflowing with dollars, the fruit of advance ticket sales for the venue. A huge round of applause was inevitable. The virtuoso was promised a triumph.

The pianist followed his barnum.

And indeed, he found an enthusiastic audience, a packed house, and a full box office; the men in black suits, the women in low-cut dresses...

But... but on the stage set up for the occasion, there was no piano to be seen!

The artist, initially delighted, soon began to show signs of understandable concern; he had planned to play Beethoven and Mozart. But on what instrument?

Slightly disconcerted, he stepped forward toward the audience and bowed, then turned toward his barnum:

“Where is the piano?” he asked in a low voice.

“The piano! There isn't one,” replied the American.

"There isn't one!" said the artist. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

“Sing them the Marseillaise, and they'll be satisfied,” said the interlocutor with a friendly smile.

History does not tell us what the pianist did.

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The Prince of Labourers
It seems that in the Prussian monarchy, the excellent custom of teaching all children of princely families a manual trade is still followed. Emperor Frederick was a carpenter, and Wilhelm II is said to be a skilled bookbinder. The three sons of Prince Albert of Prussia, two of whom are masons and the third a carpenter, are currently building a pavilion under the supervision of master craftsmen. And Prince Albert himself is supervising the work.

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Louise Michel, flower vendor
The famous lecturer preferred to set herself up as a flower seller in Covent Garden rather than let the French government lock her up as insane—which would have happened sooner or later.

We are happy to report that she is putting on weight, thanks to the countless beers she continues to drink in the company of German and Russian refugees.

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Charles Gounod