A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Belloc, Louise Swanton
BELLOC, LOUISE SWANTON,
Resides in Paris, where she is favourably known for her zeal in promoting female education. She is one of that class of literary women, now, as we trust, fast increasing in France, who believing in God and his revealed Word, are devoting their time and talents to the great work of popular instruction. As the basis of this, female education is indispensable, and those who, with pious hearts and delicate hands, toil in this portion of the vineyard of truth, deserve a high place among the philanthropists of our era.
Madame Belloc is happy in having an ally—Adelaide Montgolfier, daughter of the celebrated æronaut; their good works are so interwoven, that we cannot well separate their names in this sketch. One of their plans for the moral benefit of society was the establishment of a "choice circulating library, designed to counterbalance, as much as possible, the bad effects produced by the numerous reading rooms, which pace in all heads, and spread everywhere the most dangerous works, and the sad consequences of bad reading."
But previous to the formation of this plan, and soon after the Revolution of Les trois Jours, Madame Belloc was appointed by the government of France to assist General Lafayette in establishing public libraries; but owing to various obstacles the design was never encouraged, and finally was abandoned. Then the select circulating library was planned,—we do not know what its success has been; but the idea illustrates the noble character of these women. Another work of their united care was very successful. They edited and published a monthly Magazine—"La Ruche, Journal d'études Familière,"—devoted to the education of girls.
The principal works of both have been prepared for the young. "Pierre et Pierrette," by Madame Belloc, was crowned (or obtained the prize) by the French Academy; and "Corbeille de l'Anné or Mélodies de Printemps," by Mademoiselle Montgolfier, was adopted, by the University, in the primary and high schools for girls. She has written many other works for the young, among which are "Piccolissima," and "Contes devenus Histoires."
Madame Belloc has translated many useful works for the youth of her fair laud, ftom the English language, and from American authors. Miss Sedgwick's writings are among her favourites. She also translated Dr. Channing's "Essay upon the actual state of Literature in the United States, and the importance of a National Literature," to which Madame Belloc prefixed an "Essai sur la vie publique et privie de l'Auteur," written with much discrimination and good sense.
But the lofty patriotism and noble sentiments of Madame Belloc are strikingly expressed in a work published in 1826, at Paris, entitled "Bonaparte and the Greeks:"—those who would become acquainted with the mind of a gifted and true woman should read this work. It breathes the assurance of moral renovation in France,—a nation must struggle upward if the souls of its women hold the truth steadfast; and France has daughters worthy of this encomium.
M. Jullien, the distingushed editor of the Revue Encyclopédique, in speaking of Madame Belloc, alludes especially to her piety, her filial tenderness and sacrifices, the constancy of her attachments, and gives instances to illustrate her compassionate zeal for the unfortunate. She is described as "majestic in figure, with a countenance expressive of benevolence and intelligence;" a Minerva in form, as well as in wisdom and goodness.