The Class next went to St. Malo, by the way of Dol; a breezy journey, with the sea in view.
“St. Malo,” said Master Lewis, “was the birthplace of Chateaubriand, who visited our country after the American Revolution, and in 1801 wrote an Indian romance, ‘Atala,’ a prose Hiawatha, if I may so call it, which charmed all Europe. He published a political work on America, which had great influence in France. He was in early life a sceptic, but the memory of a good mother made him a Christian, and he published a book on religion which arrested the infidel tendencies of the times. Louis XVIII. declared that one of his pamphlets was worth an army of one hundred thousand men. He was one of the most brilliant writers France ever produced. You should read on your return ‘Atala’ in French. You will find an edition, I think, illustrated by Doré, in which the pictures will compel you to read the story.”
“I have read ‘Atala,’” said Frank.
“Would you like to visit Chateaubriand’s birthplace with me?” asked Master Lewis.
Frank was very desirous to see the place at once, and Master Lewis and he went to the house, now a hotel, immediately on their arrival in the town. From the windows of the house could be seen the tomb of Chateaubriand, which is on a little island in the harbor.
When Master Lewis returned to the hotel he was alone.
“Where is Frank?” asked Tommy.
“He is to spend the night in Chateaubriand’s room,” said Master Lewis. “Visitors at St. Malo are allowed to sleep there on paying a small sum.”
“Is Chateaubriand living yet?” asked Tommy. “I thought you said he came to our country after the Revolution.”
“No, he died many years ago. Frank and I have just been looking from the windows of his birthplace at his tomb on one of the little islands.”