Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist

otion to others, forgetting self while spending and being spent for the good of one's fellow creatures, exhibit man in his noblest char

is scarcely any man in such a straitened condition as that he may not, on certain occasions, assist his neighbour. The widow that gives her mite to the treasury, the poor man that br

ear to man; t

e moments in

ow and feel that

e fathers and

lessings, have

dness, for th

all of us one

ve in England. In the cases of drought, when the crops did not ripen; or in the phylloxera blights, when the grapes were ruined; or in the occasional disastrous floods, when the whole of the agricultural produce was swept awa

ld not appeal to the administrators of local taxes; all that they could do was to appeal to the feelings of the benevolent, and rely upon local charity. He believed

increased from year to year. His songs were sung, and his poems were read, all over the South of France. When it was known th

for want of funds; when a creche or infants' asylum had to be founded; when a school, or an orphanage, had t

possessed his works might recite them for their own pleasure. But no one could decl

gland and America. Both readers were equally popular; but while they made a considerable addition to their for

ical recitals, the artisan left his shop, the blacksmith his smithy, the servant her household work; and the mother often shut up her house and went with her children to list

ited to many meetings in the neighbourhood of Agen, wherever any worthy institution had to be erected or assisted.

dear in the South of France. The poor people were suffering greatly, and the usual appeal was made to Jasmin to come to their help. A concert was advertised

y is a short lyrical effusion, not so much a finished poem as the utterings of a tender heart. Though of some merit, it looks pale beside The B

onate man, doing his works of benevolence, though in secret, in a measure resembles t

at sea great s

aves to billows

orld the hardy t

avants travel

the world wh

asing cry, 'Ho

God! How infin

? 'Tis nothing

race, no grand

earted who show ch

he hides his

hat he owes i

poor wido

th are

l-great as the

their lower instincts. He disavowed all envy of the goods of others. He maintained respect for the law, while at the same time he exhorted the rich to have regard for thei

he Rich Benefactor' (Lou Boun Riche); but Jasmin's own Charity contained the germ of them all. He put his own soul into his poems. At Tonnei

m: "We are still under the charm of your verses; and I address you in the name of the poor people of Tonneins, to thank you most gratefully for the charitable act you have done for their benefit. The evening you appear

stituted this admirable joint responsibility (solidarite), in virtue of which each man should fulfil the duty of helping his poorer neighbours. It is this responsibility whi

d by numerous deputations; and the postman was constantly delivering letters of invitation at his door. He was no longer master of his time, and had considerable difficulty in atten

partly for exercise, and partly to save money. There were few railways in those days, and hiring a conveyance was an expensive affair. Besides, h

es presented him with a congratulatory address. Deputations from neighbouring towns were present at the celebration. At the entrance to the town Jasmin often passed unde

bank of the river Dordogne. But during that terrible winter the poor people of Bergerac were in great distress, and Jasmin was summoned to their help. The place was at too great

they raised a platform for the poet. The place was at once filled, and those who could not get admission crowded about the entrance. Some of the people raised ladders against the walls of the building, and clambered

asmin to give several more readings to satisfy the general enthusiasm. All the receipts were given over

ur horses, was sent to the gate of the town, escorted by the municipal council, to wait for the poet. When he arrived on foot for the place was at no great distance from Agen twelve young girls, clothed in white, offered him a bouquet

he place of entertainment, a number of girls preceded the carriage in which the poet sat, and scattered flowers in his way, singing

with flow

poet come

ld flower an

poet comes

rful, doing his noble work with a full and joyous heart. He chirruped and sang from time to time as if his mouth was full of nightingales. And he was never without enthusiastic multitudes to listen to his recitals, and to

to Chap

nd Co. paid him 1500 sterling for thirty readings in London and the provinces, by which they realised 5000 sterling. Arthur Smith and Mr. Headland were his next managers, and finally Mr. George Dol

"Las carreros

poete b

euri, diou

poete b