Family History: Victor Chartrey de Menetreux - Story

The following is translated from a typewritten copy in French, presumably prepared for the alumni yearbook mentioned in the title. I give the title of the article in the original French, and my translation after it. My explanatory notes are in square brackets, in italics. I have followed, as much as possible, the punctuation and capitalization of the original.

EXTRAIT DU BULLETIN DE L'ASSOCIATION AMICALE DES ANCIENS ELEVES DU LYCEE CHARLEMAGNE
AVRIL 1899
VICTOR CHARTREY DE MENETREUX

A few days ago, I received a copy of our 1898 yearbook: on the first page I read these words, "To be sent at my death to M. DUBASTY," signed CHARTREY, then, on the other side, a few lines, a simple and laconic curriculum vitae, the text of which I reproduce:

"CHARTREY DE MENETREUX (Denis-Victor-Amédée), born at BATIGNOLLES, the 21st of July 1831. Entered the COUTANT boarding school in 1840. Left CHARLEMAGNE in 1846 in order to finish his studies at the BOURBON college, Bachelor of Letters in 1850, Bachelor of Law in 1852. Clerk of an advocate [lawyer], clerk of a notary [lawyer], became head of the office of the Parisian Gas Company [streets and homes were lit by gas] in 1858, left this company in 1865 and entered the Company of the Suez Canal in 1865 at ISMAILA, as head of the movement; principal agent in 1870 at PORT-SAID, in 1871 at SUEZ PORT TEWFIK, retired in 1897; 34 years of service. Knight of the Legion of Honor, Officer of Medjidieh, of the Rose of Brazil, of Nicham, Knight of the Savior of Greece, Knight of the Crown of Italy, Meritorious Knight of Austria with the crown of gold, Knight of Francis Joseph. Chartrey was successively the Consular Agent of BELGUIM at PORT-SAID and the Consular Agent of DENMARK at SUEZ."

The wish of our comrade is thus carried out, and the cold naming of the different steps of his life shows very well what his uninterrupted labor was.

What must be added is that he acquitted himself of his delicate functions as the main Agent of Transit and Navigation with a zeal and an energy that never failed. In 1882, notably, when the English landed in Egypt and when the Company of the Suez Canal found itself engaged between the invaders and the troops of Arabia, the personnel of the Company showed a most firm and energetic attitude: in the front rank was found CHARTREY DE MENETREUX, of whom an Administrator of the Canal (later become President of the Administrative Council after the death of Mr. Ferdinand de LESSEPS) wrote, "For your part, you have upheld the honor of the flag and have shown a tenacity which the English find worthy of respect."

When, at the end of his long career, our comrade was decorated [with the Legion of Honor], he received the warmest congratulations from all parts: among them, a letter written by a former minister of France in Cairo, since become an ambassador in a great capital city, containing these lines, "You are among those who honor the Legion of Honor by becoming one of its members."

CHARTREY DE MENETREUX loved FRANCE and never missed coming here to take his vacation almost every year, when he could disengage himself from the heavy responsibilities of his functions. He told me, the last time that I saw him, that these trips were his great joy. Singular destiny. When our comarade left the Company in 1897, he laid his plans to live finally in FRANCE, in his peaceful retreat of Chartrettes. Two years afterwards, the 7th of April 1899, he died there in his sixty-eighth year. It was for him as it is for many: rest became a funeral. He was among those for whom work is the condition of life.

Our comrade busied himself with charitable works and was the long-term President of the Administrative Council of the Hospital of SUEZ. He very naturally loved our Association, and he thought of us until the last instants of his life. We preserve the memory of this honest man, of this great worker, and we send his family our respects and sad sympathy.

GEORGES DUBASTY