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BOURGEOISIE 136 BOURMONT conciliating diverse elements, so that he has occupied in French public life a role very similar to that of Henry Clay, "The Great Compromiser," in our own na- tional history. He was a delegate to the Hague Conference, and it was the talent L^ON V. A. BOURGEOIS shown and the experience gained in this connection that caused him to be chosen to preside in 1920 at the first session of the League of Nations. As one of the French delegates to the Peace Confer- ence, he took a leading part in the discussions, and was a very influential figure. BOURGEOISIE (borzh-wa-ze') , a name applied to a certain class in France, in contradistinction to the no- bility and clergy as well as to the work- ing classes. It thus includes all those who do not belong to the nobility or clergy, and yet occupy an independent position, from financiers and heads of great mercantile establishments at the one end to master tradesmen at the other. It corresponds pretty nearly with the English term middle classes. Ety- mologically, the word refers to the old class of freemen or burgesses residing in towns. The word became generally employed by the Bolshevist workers in Russia to designate all classes aside from manual workers, especially those who possessed property. Thousands of this class were killed or deprived of their possessions in 1917-1921. BOURGES, an ancient city of France, capital of the department of Cher, at the confluence of the Auron and Yevre, 124 miles S. of Paris, formerly surrounded with ramparts, now laid out as promen- ades. It has crooked and gloomy streets, and houses built in the old style. The most noteworthy building is the cathe- dral (an archbishop's) of the 13th cen- tury, and one of the finest examples of Gothic in France. Bourges is a military center and has an arsenal, cannon foun- dry, manufactures of cloth, leather, etc. Pop. about 45,000. BOURGET, PAUL (bor-zha') a French novelist, born in Amiens, Sept. 2, 1852. After a brilliant course at the Lyceum of Clermont-Ferrand and the College of Sainte Barbe, he graduated with high honors in 1872. He began to write in 1873. He published three volumes of striking verse, "La Vie Inquiete" (1875) ; "Edel" (1878) ; and "Les Aveux" (1881). His "Essais" (1883) was the first indication of his strength. The sec- ond series, "Nouveaux Essais de Psycho- logie contemporaine" (1886), increased his reputation. Bourget's first novel, "L'Irreparable" (1884), was followed by "Cruelle Enigme" (1885) ; "Un Crime d'Amour" (1886); "Andr^ Cornelis" (1887), and "Mensonges" (1887). These works gave him first rank among contemporary French authors. His in- timate knowledge of English and Italian life, and his travels in Spain and Mo- rocco, gave him the materials for "Sen- sations d'ltalie" (1891), and "Cosmopo- lis" (1892), and he recorded his im- pressions (1894) of travel in the United States. Other novels are "Le Disciple," "Notre Coeur," "La Terre Promise," "Un Saint," "Antigone," "L'envers du de- cor" (1911); "La Crise" (1912). Their author was admitted to the Academy in 1894. BOURMONT (bor-mon') , LOUIS AUGUSTE VICTOR DE GHAISNE, COMTE DE, Marshal of France, born in Anjou, Sept. 2, 1773. He served as an officer under the Prince of Conde, and, from 1793 to 1796, was actively engaged in the anti-revolutionary struggle in La Vendee. Subsequently, he obtained the favor of the First Consul. In the cam- paigns of 1813 and 1814, he distinguished himself in the battle of Dresden, and by the defense of Nogent, Napoleon promoted him to the rank of a general of division. On March 31, 1814, he de- clared for the Bourbons, and received the command of a military division dur- ing the first Restoration; yet, on Napo- leon's return, he went over to him. His evidence went a considerable way in