Petition from Sister Marie Berthille... (1895)

NRA-L-000077 / 1895

Petition from Sister Marie Berthille to Madame de Reiset, October 7, 1895

Sister Marie Berthille asks Madame de Reiset and the other heirs to authorize legal action against the commune so that a perpetual annuity of 410 francs can support the free girls' school founded by Countess Lefebvre Desnouettes after the school is secularized.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000077

NRA-L-000077 image 1 showing the opening page of a French manuscript letter. — **Image 1**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000077 image 2 showing the continuation of the French manuscript letter. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 2.

NRA-L-000077 image 3 showing the signed closing of the French letter with a later note beneath the text. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 3, signature and later note.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000077
Date: 1895-10-07
Original date: Fontaine-la-Mallet, le 7 8bre 1895
Type: Petition
Language: French / fr
Sender: Sister Marie Berthille
Recipient: Madame de Reiset
Places: Fontaine-la-Mallet, Seine-Inférieure, France
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Letter text - Page 1; Letter text - Page 2; Letter text - Page 3, signature and later note; 3 digital images.
Signature: Sister Marie Berthille
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000077.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter text - Page 1

Original transcript

A Madame de Reiset en son Château.
7 8bre 95

Madame,

C'est une pauvre Religieuse qui bientôt sera
laïcisée, parce qu'elle aura 60 ans, qui vient à
vous, implorer votre secours, pour une affaire qui
pourrait lui être très utile, si vous avez la bonté
de vous en charger. Je m'explique:
Depuis bientôt 25 ans, je dirige le
poste fondé par Madame la Comtesse Lefebvre
Desnouettes, d'heureuse mémoire. J'eus des correspondances
très intimes avec elle. Quand le bon Dieu l'a
appelée à lui, mes relations eurent lieu avec Madame
de Sancy de Parabère, votre mère, quand j'eus
la douleur de la perdre, je m'adressai à Madame
de Sancy de Parabère (à Boran) votre belle sœur,
qui hélas! n'est plus depuis quelques mois,
je me permets de vous envoyer sa dernière lettre,
que je garderai comme une relique, cette chère

Letter text - Page 1

English translation

To Madame de Reiset at her château.
7 October 1895
Madame,
It is a poor Nun who will soon be secularised, because she will be 60 years old, who comes to you, to implore your help, for a matter that could be very useful to her, if you have the goodness to take charge of it. Let me explain:
For almost 25 years, I have directed the post founded by Madame the Countess Lefebvre Desnouettes, of happy memory. I had very intimate correspondence with her. When the good God called her to Himself, my relations took place with Madame de Sancy de Parabère, your mother; when I had the sorrow of losing her, I turned to Madame de Sancy de Parabère (at Boran), your sister-in-law, who alas! has been no more for a few months, I take the liberty of sending you her last letter, which I shall keep as a relic, this dear

Letter text - Page 2

Original transcript

Dame n'a pas répondu à ma dernière lettre,
elle s'est envolée au Ciel avant, j'espère qu'elle
me la fera faire par vous, Madame, car vous êtes
ma dernière planche de salut.
Voilà ce dont je sollicite de votre
extrême charité:
La fondation de Madame la Comtesse Lefebvre
Desnouettes, est faite pour les enfants pauvres (filles)
de la Commune de Fontaine-la-Mallet (Seine-Inf.re)
dirigée par une Religieuse de St Aubin,
mais, d'après les nouvelles lois scolaires, les Communes
n'ont pas le droit, au décès des Sœurs, de les
remplacer par des Sœurs, c'est une laïque de droit
qui arrive, ou quand les Religieuses ont 60 ans,
on les met à la retraite, et elles sont encore
remplacées par une laïque.
Une Dame, habitant Paris,
(Madame Pinel), veut bien donner un local
pour faire une classe libre, mais la cage ne
nourrit pas l'oiseau, il faudrait pour cela avoir
les 410 f de rentes, fondées à perpétuité par Madame
la Comtesse, pour pouvoir fonder cette école libre.
C'est donc, une autorisation signée, par les trois
héritiers de Madame de Sancy de Parabère, que je
sollicite, afin d'intenter un procès à la Commune
au moment de la laïcisation (Madame Pinel
poursuivrait le procès, ces Messieurs de Sancy et de
Reiset, n'auraient rien à débourser) mais on
ne peut intenter le procès sans leur autorisation

Letter text - Page 2

English translation

Lady did not answer my last letter, she flew away to Heaven before, I hope she will have it answered for me by you, Madame, for you are my last plank of salvation.
Here is what I solicit from your extreme charity:
The foundation of Madame the Countess Lefebvre Desnouettes, is made for the poor children (girls) of the Commune of Fontaine-la-Mallet (Seine-Inf.re) directed by a Nun of St Aubin, but, according to the new school laws, the Communes do not have the right, upon the death of the Sisters, to replace them with Sisters, it is a laywoman by right who arrives, or when the Nuns are 60 years old, they are put into retirement, and they are again replaced by a laywoman.
A Lady, living in Paris, (Madame Pinel), is willing to give premises to establish a free class, but the cage does not feed the bird, it would be necessary for that to have the 410 f of annuities, founded in perpetuity by Madame the Countess, to be able to found this free school.
It is therefore, an authorisation signed, by the three heirs of Madame de Sancy de Parabère, that I solicit, in order to bring a lawsuit against the Commune at the moment of secularisation (Madame Pinel would pursue the lawsuit, these Gentlemen de Sancy and de Reiset, would have nothing to pay) but one cannot bring the lawsuit without their authorisation

Letter text - Page 3, signature and later note

Original transcript

J'espère Madame, que vous ne me refuserez
pas ce service ni Monsieur de Reiset non plus,
je sais que vous êtes de fervents chrétiens et que
vous aurez à cœur, que l'œuvre de votre grand'mère
se continue.
Que le bon Dieu vous bénisse, ainsi que
toute votre noble famille.
Veuillez agréer, Madame,
mes sentiments profondément respectueux,
avec lesquels je suis,
Votre très humble en N. S.
Sr. M.ie Berthille

Fontaine-la-Mallet, le 7 8bre 1895
par Montivilliers
(Seine-Inférieure)

Letter text - Page 3, signature and later note

English translation

I hope Madame, that you will not refuse me this service nor Monsieur de Reiset either, I know that you are fervent Christians and that you will have it at heart, that the work of your grandmother continues.
May the good God bless you, as well as all your noble family.
Please accept, Madame, my profoundly respectful sentiments, with which I am,
Your very humble in Our Lord,
Sr. Marie Berthille
Fontaine-la-Mallet, 7 October 1895
via Montivilliers
(Seine-Inférieure)

Discovery Terms

Religious education
School secularization
Girls' education
Charitable foundations
Legal disputes
Fontaine-la-Mallet

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