CHENIEE
CHILD
Navarre. After serving some years in the
army, Chenier settled at Paris in 1786 and
devoted himself to writing. His Elegies
proved his high poetic talent, and his long
poem Hermes was an imitation of Lucretius
ia terms of modern science. A contem
porary describes him as "an Atheist of
great joy." His family compelled him to
turn to diplomacy, and he was secretary
at the London Embassy (1787-90). A
man of the highest character, Chenier
boldly assailed the excesses of the more
violent Eevolutionaries, and was condemned
to the guillotine July 25, 1794.
CHENIER, Marie Joseph, French dramatist (brother of the preceding). B. Apr. 28, 1764. Ed. College de Navarre. He developed his literary talent during his service in the army, and in 1789 he attracted much attention by his play a depictment of "fanaticism in action" Charles IX. He was a Deist of high character, and he worked for moderation in the midst of the Eevolution. As Inspector-General of Public Instruction (1803-6) he did much for education and culture. His very numerous poems, dramas, etc., are collected in eight volumes (1823-26). D. Jan. 10, 1811.
CHERBULIEZ, Charles Victor, French novelist. B. July 19, 1829. Ed. Geneva, Paris, Bonn, and Berlin Universities. He taught for a time at Geneva, and then, though he had received a thorough educa tion in history and philosophy, became a very esteemed and popular novelist. Many of his stories are translated into English, German, and Italian. He was admitted to the Academy in 1881, and became an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1892. His novels (e.g., Noirs ct Bouges, 1881) are entirely Eationalistic. D. July 1, 1899.
CHERUBINI, Maria Luigi Carlo Zenobio Salvadore, Italian composer. B. Sep. 14, 1760. He began at the age of six to study music under his father, started composing in his tenth year, and wrote a 161
mass at thirteen. His first opera was
published in 1780. In 1784 he settled at
London, and was Composer to the King.
In 1788 he passed to France. In 1795 he
became inspector of studies at the Conser
vatoire, and composed a number of hymns
and anthems for the Eevolutionary feasts,
including a fine piece on the death of
Mirabeau. He composed also an opera,
Epicurus. In 1816 Cherubini was ap
pointed Superintendent of the King s
Chapel, and after that date he composed
the bulk of his sacred music. Cherubini,
however, remained a Eationalist all his
life. Ambros says of his Eequiem : "it
was not created by faith in and love of
what he composed." His English Catholic
biographer, Bellasis, makes a very lame
effort to claim him, but admits (p. 284)
that there is no trace of his receiving the
sacrament at death (which he did not), and
quotes the evidence of his daughter that
he was " not mystical, but broad-minded in
religion." D. Mar. 15, 1842.
CHIEZ Y GOMEZ, Ramon, Spanish writer. B. Oct. 13, 1845. Ed. Madrid University. He adopted journalism and took an active part in the Eevolution of 1865. At the declaration of the Eepublic (1873) he was appointed Civil Governor of Valencia. In 1881 he founded El Voto National, and in 1883 became editor of the Eationalist organ Las Dominicales del Libre Pensamiento. He was during many years the leading Eationalist lecturer and journalist of Spain.
CHILD, Lydia Maria Francis, Ameri can reformer. B. Feb. 11, 1802. She studied with her brother, a Unitarian minister. Her first novel, Hobomok, drew attention to her ability in 1824, and it was followed by others of equal success. But she fell under the influence of Garrison, and flung herself into the Anti- Slavery campaign. Mrs. Child published the first Anti- Slavery book written by an American (1833), and in 1840 she began to edit The National Anti-Slavery Standard. She was
1G2
H
