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
Madam,
It is a poor nun, soon to be displaced by secularisation when she turns sixty, who comes to implore your help in a matter that could be of great benefit to her, if you would be so kind as to take it in hand. Let me explain:
For nearly twenty-five years I have held the post founded by Madame the Countess Lefebvre Desnouettes, of blessed memory. I corresponded very closely with her. When the good God called her to Himself, my dealings continued 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, died a few months ago. 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 to Heaven before she could do so. I hope she will have you answer it for me, Madam, for you are my last plank of salvation.
This is what I ask of your great charity:
The foundation established by Madame the Countess Lefebvre Desnouettes is for the poor children (girls) of the Commune of Fontaine-la-Mallet (Seine-Inférieure) and is directed by a nun from Saint-Aubin. Under the new school laws, however, Communes do not have the right, when Sisters die, to replace them with other Sisters; by law, a laywoman must take their place. Likewise, when nuns reach sixty, they are retired and again replaced by a laywoman.
A lady living in Paris (Madame Pinel) is willing to provide premises in which to run an independent class, but the cage does not feed the bird. For that, it would also be necessary to have the annual income of 410 francs endowed in perpetuity by Madame the Countess, in order to establish this independent school.
I therefore ask for an authorisation signed by the three heirs of Madame de Sancy de Parabère, so that proceedings may be brought against the Commune at the time of secularisation. Madame Pinel would conduct the case; Messrs de Sancy and de Reiset would have nothing to pay. But proceedings cannot be brought 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, Madam, that neither you nor Monsieur de Reiset will refuse me this service. I know that you are fervent Christians and will take it to heart that your grandmother's work should continue.
May the good God bless you and all your noble family.
Please accept, Madam, my profoundly respectful sentiments, with which I remain,
Your most humble servant in Our Lord,
Sister 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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