Tea at Trianon: American Myths

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

American Myths

Fascinating.

Everybody have a great Independence Day. Drive safely and don't drink too much. Share

5 comments:

Anonymous said...: Well.. this July 4 seems ominous as it did long ago when daughter served in the Marines and when son served in the Navy -- only moreso, now. Son is about to leave for Iraq. It's very hard for me to support the military, so I don't. I simply tell my kids (who got sucked in via their economic deficits) to stay low and not kill anyone.. and I beg prayers.; July 3, 2007 at 11:27:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: I will certainly pray. My heart almost stops just thinking about it.; July 3, 2007 at 11:31:00 AM EDT
Anonymous said...: Thank you. Yes, mine, too.
:-|

j.m.; July 3, 2007 at 3:08:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: That was an interesting article and a scholarly explanation of the historical background of the 4th of July. However, to most Americans it is a time for Bar-B-Que with the family and a day off from work. Whether it be Christmas or the 4th of July the deep significance to most Americans is lost. Keeping home and hearth together nowadays takes lots of energy for families.; July 3, 2007 at 8:31:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: a friend of mine said we should also be celebrating "Tridentine Independence Day" too ;)!; July 3, 2007 at 9:29:00 PM EDT