Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 210 Son of the Republic

The following morning, Paris was awakened by a hustle and bustle unlike any other.

The newsboys' shrill cries pierced the thin mist, echoing at every street corner, yet the content was strikingly consistent:
"Le Figaro! Witness the great parliamentary debate! Minister Ferry's eloquence defeats the conservatives! The end of the Jesuits is near!"

"L'Republika Sinica headline! Reason triumphs over ignorance! The secularization of education bill is unstoppable!"

"Le Petit Journal! Le Petit Parisien! The conservatives are speechless! The Choir has done a great job!"

"Le Monde! Quickly see how Lionel Sorel, 'the conscience of the Sorbonne,' changes France with theater!"

The entire Parisian newspaper industry was mobilized to quickly disseminate the outcome of yesterday's battle at the Palais Bourbon to every café, salon, and household in Paris.

The front page headlines were almost entirely dominated by news of parliamentary debates, accompanied by impassioned commentary.

Le Figaro's reporting was relatively moderate, but its stance clearly sided with the Republicans:
Yesterday's debate was a crucial battle that determined the future direction of French education.

Minister Ferry refuted the conservatives' outdated arguments point by point, and cleverly cited the story of "The Choir" to highlight the importance of secular humanistic concern for education through the power of art—a stroke of genius...

The newspaper *La Repubblica* was even more radical, filled with the joy of victory:

[Victory! This is a victory for reason and light! The Republicans, led by Gambit and Ferry, have dealt a heavy blow to the conservative forces of papal authority!]
When Minister Ferry mentioned "The Choir" and the teacher Mathieu who used music and love to transform unruly children, the moral high ground of those gentlemen who shouted "no religion, no morality" instantly collapsed!

Because this play tells us that true morality originates from the beauty and goodness of human nature, and it has already written the prologue to yesterday's victory!

Le Parisien, of course, spared no effort in praising Lionel, after all, thanks to the serialization of Benjamin Buton's Curious Cases, it had become the best-selling newspaper among the three major newspapers!
Whose pen became the sharpest spear in Minister Ferry's hand? It was Lionel Sorel! This young Sorbonne student, with his "Choir," gave the people of Paris and France an early "enlightenment" about educational reform.

The victory in parliament stemmed from a consensus that had already taken root outside of parliament.

Mr. Sorel deserves the most credit!

However, almost all the analytical articles point to the same conclusion to some extent:
The social resonance generated by "The Choir" played a crucial role in enabling the Republicans to break the deadlock and gain an overwhelming advantage so quickly in this parliamentary debate.

The name Lionel Sorel is truly inextricably linked with the educational cause of the French Republic.

A new title began to circulate in the newspapers—Lionel would be the new "Son of the Republic."

------

Meanwhile, in the Archbishop's Palace behind Notre Dame Cathedral, Archbishop Louis-Antoine-Augustan Gibbon was carefully reading these newspapers.

He saw the newspapers mocking the conservative lawmakers, the smugness of Ferry and the Republicans, and the various speculations about his absence.

A secretary stood cautiously to the side and whispered, "Your Excellency, the Duke of Broy and Monsieur de Mang have sent a message..."

They expressed…great disappointment and confusion at your failure to attend Parliament yesterday to show your support.

Archbishop Gibbon gave a soft hum and put down the copy of Le Figaro in his hand.

Disappointment? Confusion? What are they still hoping for? That he will go against this unstoppable tide, crash down with them until he is battered and bruised, and finally be nailed to the pillar of historical shame, bearing the infamy?

The secularization of education is an irreversible trend now that republicans have gained full control.

The Jesuits also became the most glaring thorn in the side of the Republicans, and they would be removed sooner or later—France had already removed them twice already.

Forced confrontation will only cause the church to lose more, and may even cause it to completely lose its voice in French education.

Gibo pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes.

It's not enough to simply not tie yourself to the leaky old ship of the conservatives.

He needs to take the initiative!
He stood up, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Prepare the carriage."

The secretary grew anxious: "Your Excellency, where are you going? The meeting with the abbots this afternoon..."

Archbishop Gibo adjusted the cross on his body: "Postponement or cancellation, you should communicate with them."

I'm going to the Marais district, and then to those church primary schools near Rue Saint-Jacques.

The secretary was stunned. The Marais district had many poor people and impoverished immigrants, and Rue Saint-Jacques was a slum within a slum!

The church primary school there was in dire need of funding and faced hardship.

In the past, archbishops mostly presided over ceremonies or participated in salons in affluent areas, rarely taking the initiative to go out into these places.

Gibb didn't offer any further explanation, but simply urged his secretary, "Hurry up, I need to leave immediately!"

He wanted to demonstrate his new stance to Paris, the government of the Republic, and the Vatican through his actions.

He is no longer an opponent of the secular trend, but a pragmatic spiritual leader who cares about the people's hardships.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Over the next few days, the archbishop's carriage appeared from time to time in some of the most dilapidated neighborhoods of Paris.

Dressed in simple everyday clothes, he warmly visited schools with dimly lit classrooms and rudimentary facilities, and comforted the monks and nuns who persisted in teaching in the cold wind.

He even promised on the spot to allocate a portion of the parish's limited funds to improve heating and purchase books...

The effects of all these actions are immediate.

The accompanying reporter from The Universal quickly documented everything.

The following day, a report titled "A Compassionate Shepherd - Archbishop Gibo's Concern for Impoverished Education" was published.

The illustrations, accompanied by sketches of the archbishop stroking a child's hair and talking with a poor teacher, vividly portray his approachable and benevolent image.

As expected, this move won widespread praise from the public.

Even republican newspapers cautiously expressed their welcome.

The Republic newspaper commented:

Regardless of Archbishop Gibo's motives, his concern for the realities of education and his efforts to alleviate the suffering of the underprivileged are commendable.

We welcome the church's involvement in social welfare in a more pragmatic way, rather than clinging to ideological confrontation.

……

Archbishop Gibo sat in his study, reading the reports, and finally a genuine smile appeared on his face.

He may have lost the support of conservatives, but he won broader social favor and gained room for the church to change its mind.

The idea of ​​the church continuing to control education was already an unrealistic fantasy—but his ambitions had shifted elsewhere…

In his view, this deal was starting to look worthwhile.

------

A serious dialogue is underway inside the Vatican.

“Go to Paris and ask Gibbon what he really wants to do.”

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

"Also, make contact with that young man—Lionel Sorel."

"...Do you need me to pass on any messages to him?"

"There's no need to say anything special. Just keep observing and have limited contact. When you come back, tell me what kind of person he is."

"Yes, Your Majesty! Anything else?"

After a long silence, King Leo XIII, sitting upright behind his desk, sighed:
"That's all, you can go now!"

(End of this chapter)