Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/764

* LA FOLLETTE. 690 LAFONTAINE. a prominent part in framing the McKinley Tariff Bill. On his retirement from Congress lie re- sumed the practice of law at Madison, attained a high place in his professiun. and became the leader of the younger element in the Re])ublican Party, known as the 'Half-Breeds,' in Wisconsin. In lUOO, after a bitter struggle with the 'Stal- warts' or 'machine' Republicans, he was nomi- nated and elected Governor of that State. His administration was marked by his determined ef- fort to secure two reforms of which he had be- come the champion, and which the party platform had advocated — namely, a primary election law, and a reform of ta.ves on corporations. In 1002 he was reelected. LAFONT, lii'iCy'. f'HARLEs Philippe (1781- 1839). A French violinist, born in Paris. He was a nephew of Berthaumc, the violinist, and first studied with him. Afterwards he became a pupil at different times of Kreutzer, Berton, and Rode. After a tour in Europe he was made first violin at the Russian Court (1808). Still later he held this position under Louis XVIII. (1815). He was also a singer and composer, but it is as a violin virtuoso that he is best remem- bered. LAFONTAINE, la'foN'tan'. AfcrsT Heix- RicH Jllils (1758-1831). A German nov- elist, bom in Brunswick, and educated in Helrastedt, where he studied theologj'. He was a private tutor for several years, acted as chaplain to the Prussian army in 1792, and in 1800 settled in Halle. He became canon of the JIagdeburg Cathedral as a re- ward for the dedication of one of his books to Friedrich Wilheliii 111. and Luise. The popu- larity of his noAcls. which are sentimental and didactic tales of domestic life, was remarkable, especially in view of his great fertility. He wrote about one himdred and fifty volumes, and soon ruined what style he had originally pos- sessed. Among his more popular works are: Der Sonderling (1793), Der yntiirmcnsch (1791), Saint ./»;«/! (1798), and Fedor und J/arie( 1805). LA FONTAINE, .Jeax de (1C21-95). A French poet, noted for his tales (Contes) and fables. He was born at Chateau-Thierrj-, in Champagne, July 8. 1621, of good though not noble family, for his father was a superintend- ent of streams and forests. .Jean began to study for the priesthood, but. with the dreamy irrespon- sibility that characterized his life, he forsook this career after eighteen months, and, though the father resigned in Jean's favor (1643) and even provided him with a wife, the fifteen year-old Marie Hericart (1647), his life was still that of a happy-go-lucky idler. La Fontaine's poetic talent was awakened by the reading of ifalherbe and Racan, For his amusement he adapted im- successfully the Eunuchus of Terence (1654), and by dedicating a narrative poem, Adonis, to Fouquet (1658), he won the patronage of the then powerful Minister, who received him into his household. On Fouquet's fall he had as suc- cessive patronesses the Duchess of Bouillon (1662). the Duchess of Orleans (1667), Madame de la Sablifere (1671), and Madame d'Hervart (1693), To please the first of these, he began to write Contes et noureJIes en vers (1665), To these he added at interials imtil his election to the Academy (1683), which the King had sanctioned only on his promise to be 'proper' {sage) ; for the Contes as a rule were not. The Fables, whose humor was quite without such Gallic spice. La Fontaine had begun to write in 1668, and in 1671 had given further illus- tration of his versatile talent as editor of a volume of mystically religious verse. He wrote also in this, his most productive period, Lcs amours de Cupid et I'syehd (1669), an epic La laptiviti- de liaint Malo (1673), and the I'oime du Quimiuina (1682). with several slight if not weak comedies collected in 1702. In his last year (1695) he seems to have become sincerely religious. La Fontaine was a spoiled child of nature, simply guileless and carelessly absent- minded, exasperating the friends who tolerated and could not but love him. Racine, Boileau, and Moli^re were his closest intimates, but Moli&re alone realized the permanent value of his work in the development of French literature, through the Contes, and especially through the Fables. The former are essentially fabliau.^ (q,v, ), most skillfully told and with a delicate feeling for style and prosody that conceals the highest art luider its apparent spontaneity. Here La Fon- taine is the follower of La Salle, Des Periers, and the Hciitamcron, the imitator of Boccaccio and the Italian story-tellers, none of whom rec- ognized what are now regarded as fundamental conventions of decency. The poet was assailed by contemporary adversaries on the score of impropriety. The Fables, on the other hand, could shock no reader's modesty, though they reveal a total incapacity for moral indignation, and a boundless tolerance of the 'natural,' The grace- ful liveliness of their narration, the restrained naturalism of their description, the homely wis- dom of their unobtruded moral, the boldness of their covert political teaching, especially in later years, the shrewd analysis and observation of iiuman motive, has been a perennial delight to generations. The fact that every French school- boy knew the Fables influenced and aided the emancipation of poetry by the Romantic School of 1830. In mind La Fontaine is akin to Moli&re. None of his imitators has approached him. and with Moli&re he is the most widely liked French writer of the seventeenth century. La Fontaine's works are in manv editions. The most elaborate is by Regnier (9 'vols., Paris, 1888-92). Useful also arc those of Moland (7 vols.. Paris, 1872-76) and Marty-Laveaux (5 vols.. Paris. 1857-77). Regnier's "edition has a good biography by iNIes- nard. Consult, also: Lafenestre, La Fontaine (Paris, 1885) ; Taine, La Fontaine et scs fables (15th ed., ib.. 1901): and for further bibliog- graphy, Bruneti&re, Manuel de I'histoire de la littirature francaise (ib,, 1897) translated by Derechef (London, 1898). LAFONTAINE, la'fon-tan'. Fr. pron. la'foN'- tan'. Sir Louis Hypoi.itk (1807-64). A Cana- dian lawyer and politician, born in Lower Can- ada, The Rebellion of 1837, which disturbed both Lower and L'pper Canada, brought Lafon- taine into political notice. For several years there had been a conflict between the executive and leirislative avithorities of Lower Canada, and the knowledge that a rebellion was contemplated in Upper Canada induced a French-Canadian party, headed by Louis .J. Papineau, to strike for inde))cnJence and the establishment of a French nation on the banks of the Saint Lawrence. La- fontaine was one of Papineau's followers, and in 1838 was arrested for high treason, but his guilt