ThepairstartedatthebeginningofMay，andbegantheirusualrecitationsandaddresses，suchashadbeengivenduringthefirstjourneyinPerigord。Theywerereceivedwiththeusualenthusiasm。Prefects，bishops，andmunicipalbodies，viedwitheachotherinreceivingandentertainingthem。AtAngouleme，thequeenofsoutherncities，Jasminwaspresentedwithacrownofimmortellesandasnuff-box，onwhichwasengraved：”Esteem——Love——Admiration！ToJasmin，themostsublimeofpoets！
FromtheyouthofAngouleme，whohavehadthehappinessofseeingandhearinghim！”
Thepoetandpriesttravelledbynightaswellasbydayinordertoeconomisetime。Aftertheirtourinthenortherntownsandcities，theyreturnedtoVergtforrest。Theyenteredthetownunderatriumphalarch，andwereescortedbyanumerouscavalcade。Beforetheyretiredtothepriest’shouse，theleadingmenofthecommune，inthenameofthecitizens，complimentedJasminforhiscordialhelptowardstherebuildingofthechurch。
AftertwodaysofneedfulrestJasminsetoutforBordeaux，thecitywhoseinhabitantshadfirstencouragedhimbytheirapplause，andforwhichhecontinuedtoentertainacordialfeelingtothelastdaysofhislife。Hismissiononthisoccasionwastoassistintheinaugurationofacreche，foundedandsupportedbythecharitablecontributionsofthefriendsofpoorchildren。Itisnotnecessarytomentiontheenthusiasmwithwhichhewasreceived。
Thefurtherprogressofthepoetandthepriest，insearchofcontributionsforrebuildingthechurch，wasrudelyinterruptedbytheRevolutionwhichbrokeoutatParisin1848。HisMajestyLouisPhilippeabdicatedthethroneofFranceonthe24thofFebruary，ratherthancomeintoarmedcollisionwithhissubjects；and，twodaysafter，theRepublicwasofficiallyproclaimedattheHoteldeVille。LouisPhilippeandhisfamilytookrefugeinEngland——theusualretreatofpersecutedFrenchmen；andninemonthslater，LouisNapoleonBuonaparte，whohadalsobeenarefugeeinEngland，returnedtoFrance，andonthe20thofDecemberwasproclaimedPresidentoftheFrenchRepublic。
JasminandMassonaccordinglysuspendedtheirtour。Noonewouldlistentopoeticalrecitationsinthemidstofpoliticalrevolutions。Freedomandtranquillitywerenecessaryforthecontemplationofideasverydifferentfromlocalandnationalsquabbles。Thepoetandpriestaccordinglybadeadieutoeachother；anditwasnotuntiltwoyearslaterthattheywereabletorecommencetheirunitedjourneysthroughtheSouthofFrance。
TheproclamationoftheRepublic，andtheforthcomingelections，broughtmanynewmentothefront。Evenpoetsmadetheirappearance。Lamartine，whohadbeenadeputy，wasaleaderintheRevolution，andforatimewasministerforforeignaffairs。
VictorHugo，astillgreaterpoet，tookaspecialinterestinthepoliticsofthetime，thoughhewasfinedandimprisonedforcondemningcapitalpunishment。EvenReboul，thepoet-bakerofNimes，desertedhismuseandhiskneadingtroughtosolicitthesuffragesofhisfellow-citizens。Jasminwaswiser。
HewasmorepopularinhisneighbourhoodthanReboul，thoughhecaredlittleaboutpolitics。Hewouldneitherbeadeputy，noramunicipalcouncillor，noranagentforelections。
Hepreferredtoinfluencehiscountrybyspreadingtheseedsofdomesticandsocialvirtues；andhewassatisfiedwithhispositioninAgenaspoetandhair-dresser。
NeverthelessadeputationofhistownsmenwaiteduponJasmintorequesthimtoallowhisnametoappearasacandidatefortheirsuffrages。Thedelegatesdidnotfindhimathisshop。
Hewasathisvineyard；andtherethedeputationfoundhimtranquillyseatedunderacherry-treeshellingpeas！Helistenedtothemwithhisusualcourtesy，andwhenoneofthecommitteepressedhimforananswer，andwishedtoknowifhewasnotagoodRepublican，hesaid，”Really，IcarenothingfortheRepublic。Iamoneofthosewhowouldhavesavedtheconstitutionalmonarchybyenablingittocarryoutfurtherreforms……But，”hecontinued，”looktothepast；wasitnotalosstodestroytheconstitutionalmonarchy?Butnowwemustmarchforward，thatwemayallbeunitedagainunderthesameflag。ThewelfareofFranceshouldreigninallourthoughtsandevokeourmostardentsympathy。Chooseamongourcitizensastrongandwiseman……IftheRepublicistoliveinFrance，itmustbegreat，strong，andgoodforallclassesofthepeople。
Maintainingthepredominanceofthelawwillbeitssecurity；andinpreservinglawitwillstrengthenourliberties。’”
Inconclusion，Jasmincordiallythankedhisfellow-citizensforthehonourtheyproposedtoconferuponhim，althoughhecouldnotacceptit。TheaffairsoftheState，hesaid，wereinaveryconfusedcondition，andhecouldnotpretendtounravelthem。
Hethentookleaveofthedeputation，andquietlyproceededtocompletehistask——theshellingofhispeas！
FootnotesforChapterXVI。
[1]ThewholeoftheinterviewbetweentheArchbishopofRheimsandJasminisgivenbySainte-Beuvein’CauseriesduLundi，’iv。
250。
CHAPTERXVII。
THECHURCHOFVERGTAGAIN——FRENCHACADEMY——EMPERORANDEMPRESS。
WhenthepoliticalturmoilsinFrancehadforatimesubsided，JasminandtheAbbeMassonrecommencedtheirjourneysintheSouthforthecollectionoffundsforthechurchatVergt。
Theyhadalreadymadetwopilgrimages——thefirstthroughPerigord，thesecondtoAngouleme，Limoges，Tulle，andBrives。
Thethirdwasbegunearlyin1850，andincludedthedepartmentoftheLandes，thehigherandlowerPyrenees，andotherdistrictsintheSouthofFrance。
AtBagneresdeBigorreandatBagneresdeLuchonthereceiptsweredividedbetweenthechurchatVergtandthatatLuchon。
Thepublichospitalsandthebenevolentsocietiesfrequentlysharedinthereceipts。Thereseemedtobenolimitstothepoet’szealinlabouringforthosewhowereinwantoffunds。
IndependentofhisrecitationsforthebenefitofthechurchatVergt，heoftenturnedasidetooneplaceoranotherwherethepoorwereinthegreatestneedofassistance。
OnoneoccasionhewenttoArcachon。HestartedearlyinthemorningbythesteamerfromAgentoBordeaux，intendingtoproceedbyrailwayafivehours’journeyfromBordeauxtoArcachon。ButthesteamersontheGaronnewerethenveryirregular，andJasmindidnotreachBordeauxuntilsixhourslaterthantheappointedtime。InthemeanwhilealargeassemblyhadmetinthelargestroominArcachon。Theywaitedandwaited；
butnoJasmin！TheAbbeMassonbecameembarrassed；butatlengthhegavehisaddress，andthereceiptswere800francs。Themeetingdispersedverymuchdisappointed，becausenoJasminhadappeared，andtheymissedhisrecitations。AtmidnightthecurereturnedtoBordeauxandtherehefoundJasmin，justarrivedfromAgenbytheboat，whichhadbeensixhourslate。Hewasingreatdismay；butheafterwardsmadeupforthedisappointmentbyrecitingtothepeopleofArcachon。
ThesamethinghappenedatBiarritz。Alargeassemblyhadmet，andeverythingwasreadyforJasmin。ButtherewasnoJasmin！
TheomnibusfromBayonnedidnotbringhim。Itturnedout，thatatthemomentofsettingouthewasseizedwithasuddenlossofvoice。AsinthecaseofArcachon，thecurehadtodowithouthim。Theresultofhisaddresswasacollectionof700
francs。
TheAbbeMassonwasaliberal-mindedman。WhenJasminurgedhimtohelpothersmoreneedythanhimself，hewasalwaysreadytocomplywithhisrequest。WhenatNarbonne，inthedepartmentofAude，apoortroupeofcomediansfoundthemselvesindifficulties。Itwaswinter-time，andtheweatherwasverycold。
Thepubliccouldnotbeartheircanvas-coveredshed，anddesertedtheentertainment。Meanwhiletheartisteswerefamished。
KnowingthegenerosityofJasmin，theyaskedhimtoreciteatoneoftheirrepresentations。Hecompliedwiththeirrequest；theplacewascrowded；andJasmin’srecitationswerereceivedwiththeusualenthusiasm。IthadbeenarrangedthathalftheproceedsshouldgotothechurchatVergt，andtheotherhalftothecomedians。ButwhentheentiretroupepresentedthemselvestotheAbbeandofferedhimthefullhalf，hesaid：”No！no！keepitall。YouwantitmorethanIdo。Besides，Icanalwaysfallbackuponmydearpoet！”
AfourthpilgrimageofthepriestandpoetwasafterwardsmadetothetownsofRodez，Villefranche-d’aveyron，Cahors，Figeac，Gourdon，andSarlat；andtheproceedsoftheseexcursions，addedtoasubventionof5，000francsfromtheGovernment，enabledthechurchofVergttobecompleted。In1852thesteeplewasbuilt，andappropriatelynamed”Jasmin’sBell-tower”ClocherJasmin。
Butitwasstillwithoutbells，forwhichasubsequentpilgrimagewasmadebyJasminandMasson。
ToreturntothehonourspaidtoJasminforhisworksofbenevolenceandcharity。Whatwasworthmoretohimthanthenumerousgoldenlaurelswhichhadbeenbestoweduponhim，washisrecognitionbythehighestandnoblestofinstitutions，theAcademyofFrance。AlthoughoneoftheobjectsofitsmemberswastopreservetheFrenchlanguageinitshighestpuritytheywerefoundreadytocrownapoetwhowrotehispoemsinthepatoisoftheSouth。
Therewere，however，severaladversecriticismsontheproposeddecisionoftheAcademy；thoughpoetrymaybewrittenineverytongue，andisquiteindependentofthelanguageorpatoisinwhichitisconveyed。Indeed；severalmembersoftheAcademy——
suchasMM。Thiers，DeRemusat，Viennet，andFlourens——camefromthemeridionaldistrictsofFrance，andthoroughlyunderstoodthelanguageofJasmin。Theysawinhimtwomen——
thepoet，andthebenefactorofhumanity。
Thisconsiderationcompletelyoverruledthecriticismsoftheminority。JasminhadoncebeforeappearedatM。Thierry’sbeforethebestmenoftheAcademy；andnowthewholeoftheAcademy，notwithstandinghispatois，approachedandhonouredthemanofgooddeeds。
JasminowedtoM。Villemainoneofthemostbrilliantpanegyricswhichhehadeverreceived。TheAcademydesiredtoawardaspecialprizeinaccordancewiththetestamentarybequestofM。deMontyon[1]——hislastdebttoartandmorality；atalentthatemploysitselfindoinggoodunderaformthemostbrilliantandpopular。Thistalent，hecontinued，isthatofthetruepoet；andJasmin，duringhispureandmodestlife，hasemployedhisartforthebenefitofmoralitywithanoble，helpfulinfluence，whilenothingdetractedfromthedignityofhisname。
LiketheScottishpoetBurns，Jasminhadbyhisdialectandhispoeticaltalentsenrichedtheliteratureofhiscountry。Jasmin，thehair-dresserofAgen，thepoetoftheSouth，whodrewcrowdstohearthesoundofhisvoice——whoevenembellishedthefestivalsoftherich，butwhostillmoreassistedinthepleasuresofthepoor——whospenthistimeinendowingcharitableestablishments——whohelpedtobuildchurches，schools，andorphanages——Jasmin，thegloryofhisCommuneaswellasoftheSouthofFrance，deservedtobeadoptedbyallFranceandpubliclyacknowledgedbytheAcademy。
Tacitushassaidthatrenownisnotalwaysdeserved，itchoosesitsduetime——Nonsempererratfama，aliquandoeligit”Fameisnotalwaysmistaken；shesometimeschoosestheright”。
Wehaveproofofitto-day。TheenthusiasticapprobationofthegreatprovincesofFranceforapopularpoetcannotbeasurprise。Theysingleoutthelast，andImayadd，thegreatestpoetoftheTroubadours！
M。VillemainproceededtocommentuponthepoeticalworksofJasmin——especiallyhisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille；，hisFranconnette，andthenobleworkshehaddoneforthepoorandthesuffering；hisself-sacrificinglaboursforthebuildingofschools，orphanages，andchurches。”Everywhere，”hesaid，”hiselevatedandgeneroussoulhaslabouredforthebenefitoftheworldabouthim；andnowhewould，bytheaidoftheAcademy，embellishhiscoronetwithaprivilegeddonationtothepoetandphilanthropist。”Heconcludedbysayingthattheespecialprizeforliterarymoralityandvirtuousactionswouldbeawardedtohim，andthatagoldmedalwouldbestruckinhishonourwiththeinscription：”AuJasmin，Poetemoraletpopulaire！”