Tea at Trianon: An Adventure

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, November 13, 2007

An Adventure

Having a blog can be an adventure. It is fun to meet people from all over the world with shared interests and beliefs. The people who regularly comment on this blog are very polite, even those who sometimes comment anonymously. They are witty and appreciative; they come to learn, to discuss, and to share information. I do apologize to my regular readers for having to put the comments on such tight moderation. Not in the entire year of having this blog, after 119,705 hits, with visitors from all over the world, have I had to do this before yesterday. Sadly, certain people are not soldiers of Christ in open battle, discussing and debating in the light of day; they choose to be assassins in the dark, stabbing in the back. Such is the way of cowards. But Google analytics are amazing. I can know how many times someone visited and how long they stayed each time (even if they did not leave a comment.) It is fascinating. Share

11 comments:

Anonymous said...: It's sad that you experienced that from fellow Catholics.
Though I use my initials when commenting I never think of myself as being anonymous since the blog owner knows who I am and more importantly, God knows.
Keep up the lovely work. You are a bright spot on the internet.; November 13, 2007 at 4:10:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, SF. You are a regular visitor here and on other blogs, you are polite and always have something helpful or interesting to share. That is totally different from those who just use "Anonymous" to make nasty comments, unsigned, out of malice and/or fear.; November 13, 2007 at 5:33:00 PM EST
byron said...: Ms.Vidal, if you have been receiving some vicious and evil comments, please dismiss these as coming from folks who are either il-bred or genuinely addicted to evil. Your site must continue, if I may be so bold as to presume upon your labors. Your site is an oasis in a troubling world. Your site gives that historical anchor that most Catholics are not aware. We have been through these revolutions before and we are at the seminal steps of a new one.
Your site is that "Keep" of the Castle, where the barbarians cannot and will-not gain entry.
..if you will forgive the presumptiveness.; November 13, 2007 at 6:30:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: i'm sorry you've had some nasty comments (i didn't see them). i don't get to your blog often but when i do, just seeing your page with the beautiful portrait of MA and how serene your site is visually, makes me breathe a sigh of...well...happiness. keep up the good work.; November 13, 2007 at 6:47:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Byron. I am immensely grateful for your kind words and encouragement. The persons who were doing this yesterday are indeed ill-bred. I would not say they are addicted to evil, although perhaps a bit socially backwards, and afraid or unable to discuss or defend their beliefs in the light of day. If someone is so resolute about a certain devotional practice, they should be able to defend it in a calm and rational matter, without resorting to anonymous smears of someone who disagrees with them. But as Shakespeare said: "The coward dies many times before his death."; November 13, 2007 at 6:52:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you very much for your encouragement, Cordelia. I am delighted that you find inspiration here!; November 13, 2007 at 6:56:00 PM EST
Alexandra said...: I've been enjoying your blog as well. My advice, delete and ignore. Life is too short. Focus on the good. :) We cannot change people, but we can live our lives as witnesses to the faith.; November 13, 2007 at 7:00:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Good advice, Alexandra. I have been blessed in that I have had very few unkind comments in the course of the year. The overwhelming majority of the people who comment here have class.; November 13, 2007 at 7:05:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: "119,705 hits"

WOW!!! Congratulations!! Keep up the good work, lady! I pray for your ever-growing readership (even for those scant handful of ignorant "anonymous" comment makers!).

God bless you always!; November 14, 2007 at 1:37:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thanks, Georgette! You are the one who got me into this....; November 14, 2007 at 9:52:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: Well, that's one good thing I can know I did when I go to my grave! :-D; November 14, 2007 at 12:27:00 PM EST