Frederic Ozanam, a Life in Letters
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1837_, 1840 A Life in Letters 103 141. To Pierre Ballofet Lyon, January 23, 1837 New Year's wishes. Advice on preparing for the law examinations. Hope for the future of the Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul at Paris. Debut at the bar, at Lyon. Dear friend, I do not want to let January go by without sending you my greetings for the New Year and my reply to your letter. The delays may perhaps seem excusable to you ifl tell you about the occupations which have held me back until now. But I am more anxious to tell you first how pleased I was to receive news of you; it is like new proofs of your old friendship, it reunites me a little with those I loved at Paris and who are still there. For to tell the truth, after the annoyances of the first year, the capital had many consolations for me, and time I spent there is not counted among the unhappiest days of my life. Happily, this good fortune is not lost forever. Most of my friends come back one after another to resume their place here, and if we could attract two or three whose birthplace was not Lyon we would be complete. The illnesses which made you miserable the first weeks of your stay in Paris will not hang on. The winter will be mild enough, I hope; look after your health, and if you keep to the house a bit by a measure of prudence, Vachon1 and the others will pass agreeably the hours that Justinian2 does not absorb. Do not be too preoccu, pied with that examination, it is not a very difficult experience: the Latin text and Ducauray's3 commentary suffice, and the reading of Gaius4 could be added to it, but as a deluxe object. Two months with five hours of work a day is all the time needed to get ready. For all that, experience gives me infinite sympathy for anyone undergoing examinations. I have known the terrors of the green table, and the black robe has been for me like the robe ofNessus.5 Among other wishes of the New Year, I make then one that the white balls fall in number in the vote of which you will be the subject, and that success will not be too dearly bought by the anxieties of preparation. The information you give me on the different conferences would upset me ifl did not hope that this state of trial would pass. It is natural that the simultaneous withdrawal of several members of a society should cause a little trouble, some weak, ness beyond what should be. But the cleared ranks are soon filled with newcomers who replace their predecessors to advantage, and whose more ardent zeal, new ideas, and original insights prevent routine from setting in and the primitive fervor dying. Besides, I have observed each year in the conferences cold seasons and better V ones; there is change as in all human things. I at least hope that this Society of St. Vincent de Paul, founded in such an unforeseen manner and increasing in a fash, ion just as providential, in which we have found so much good example and so much joy and which has been allowed to do a little good, will continue to prosper under the divine benediction. It is this thought, the knowledge of that numerous society of Paris, already old at four years, which sustains and encourages the Conference of Charity that you 104 saw formed here. I do not know whether you attended, on December 11, the gen, eral session where a report was read which I had sent about our situation and Since then, we have increased: we are 25, are seeing a great many poor, { works. money is not wanting, but especially we love one another greatly, and is not that ~happiness: to love, to be loved and to be aware of it? You ask whether I have taken the first steps in the ponderous .arena of the bar. M. Brun spoke for me. Through his kindness I have had a pretty... case in which I pleaded once-my debut-and must plead again Wednesday next. It is about oppo, sition to a marriage by parents because of the insanity of the future husband. I speak for the intended husband who indeed has the most stupid appearance you could imagine, but who does not appear in any way devoid of intelligence when you converse with him. I have also defended at the assizes a poor devil threatened with forced labor for life, but he was lucky enough to be acquitted. Finally, I had a day in the service of the military court where the accused, judged beforehand, have a defender for form's sake. These are my debuts in jurisprudence. A clientele is not yet importuning me, which leaves me time for other occupations. The most serious of these latter is to attain the project which I spoke to you about, of a chair in com, mercial law, and thank God, things are going well. It could happen that, fifteen days from now, I would be in Paris; I told you I was about to receive my Doctor of Letters, and so it happens. Add the geMogethers with family and friends for con, versation, the little details of daily life that cannot be itemized, and which take some hours, and you will be abreast of my present existence which, for that matter, is pleasant, peaceful, and consequently does not vary much-nothing interesting except for a childhood friend, a good friend like you. Assure those who are willing to keep some remembrance of me that, on my side, I do not forget them. Accept yourself the affectionate witness of old comrades who are here. My parents maintain a lively interest in you, and I reserve aplace in the best corner of my heart for you. Adieu. Your old and sincere friend, A.-F. OzANAM Address: Monsieur, Monsieur P. Ballofet, Student in Law, Hotel du petit Luxembourg, rue de Tournon, 18, Paris. Original lost: Ed.: Abbe Dalud, Six lettres inedites de Frederic Ozanam a un ancien amide college, in Bulletin historique et archeologique de diocese de Lyon, new series, t. XVI, pp. 209-211. Notes: 1. This Vachon was for a time a member of the Conference of Saint-Etienne. (See letter of Ozanam [181] to Lallier, August 1, 1838.) 2. Justinian I, emperor of the East from 527 to 565. In law, he compiled The Digest, The Institutes, The New Laws, and The Code. He also built the marvelous Santa Sophia basilica. 3. Ducourroy or Ducauroy, professor oflaw at the Sorbonne. 4. Gaius, Roman lawyer, author of the Institutes which were the basis of the Institutes of Justinian (second century). A Life in Letters 105 5. Nessus, centaur of mythology. The robe ofNessus means, figuratively, an evil against which there is no defense. 142. To LeonceCurnier Lyon, March 9, 1837 Reflections on friendship and on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Role it should play in the social conflict. Permit me to renew this correspondence too long interrupted and formerly so / . dear to me. I am not too happy with myself, and yet I find in myself something, the only thing which does not displease me: that is the need to love, to have and keep brothers who love me. Especially when friendship forms itself, so to speak, by a confluence of unforeseen circumstances, and by the will of God who makes use of circumstances to bring two men together, then this friendship seems to me more , precious still, and in some way sacred. Such is that which formed itself between us six years ago, and time and distance have not lessened it. Right? It must be agreed, however, that friendship being a harmony between souls, it cannot subsist in a prolonged absence, unless it is given from time to time certain signs of good accord, and these signs can be two,fold: words and actions. Words borne on faithful paper apprise him who forgets that he is not forgotten. They dissi, pate anxieties, mingling common annoyances and sorrows. It is truly an epistolary meeting where one always gains and never loses. However, there are bonds stronger still than words: actions. I do not know whether you have observed that nothing creates intimacy between two men than to eat together, travel together, and work together; but if purely human acts have this power, moral acts have it even more, and if two or three come together to do good, their union will be perfect. Thus, at least, He assures us who says in the Gospel: "Truly, when you are gathered together in my name, I will be in your midst?' It is for this reason that in Paris we wished to found our little Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and it is also for this reason perhaps that heaven has seen fit to bless it. You will note, in the enclosed circular letter which the society of Paris ad, dresses to the societies established in the provinces and which I have been charged to send you, that under the auspices of our humble and illustrious patron two hun, dred and twenty young men are already joined together in the capital, and that the work has amassed far,off colonies, at Rome, Nantes, Rennes, and Lyon. Here, espe, d ally, our intentions prosper and come to fruition; we are more than thirty, money is not wanting, and the good will of the ecclesiastical authorities, after some wisps ~ of clouds, is shown us in all abundance.