Life story retold by Yota Dimitriadi and Katie Amos
Rev. Paul Nathalie PASCAL was a Professor of Languages, a French master at the Collegiate School, Reading, a boarding and day school for boys at 83 Castle Hill, Reading. He held degrees of B.A. and B.D. as well as the degree of ‘Licencié en Droit’ from the University of Paris, which meant that he was a qualified university-trained lawyer. He was described as ‘a linear descendant of Blaine Pascal, the celebrated French philosopher and mathematician’ (Reading Observer – Saturday 16 March 1907).
In Reading Paul lived at 15 Marlborough Road with his wife Sophie Fortunee Paula LOUQUE. They married in Paris on 13th November 1898. Sophie’s parents were Fortune Louis Auguste Joseph LOUQUE and Pauline Wilhelmine KAVEN. This means that it is very likely that Alexander LOUQUE, buried in the grave with him, is Sophie’s brother. Sophie and Paul moved to the UK around 1903 but it is not clear why they chose Reading or how the job market for Language teachers was at that time.
Paul’s death was reported in local and national newspapers including the Berkshire Chronicle– 9 March 1907 and the Daily Mirror – Monday 11 March 1907.
The articles go on to say that he suffered very much with insomnia, and as a result he had been in the habit of taking drugs to counteract his sleeplessness, mainly a little chloroform and sometimes cocaine to help him sleep. Before the harmful effects of cocaine use and addiction were recognised, it was considered revolutionary in the medical world as local anaesthetic and less dangerous than chloroform. You can read more about it on the article ‘Cocaine, the Victorian wonder drug‘ by Douglas Small, Wellcome Collection.
The danger of taking drugs in order to produce sleep, was brought out during Paul’s inquest by Coroner Weedon, at the Queen’s Head, Christchurch Road, Reading.
On Monday evening, a week before his death, Sophie went to bed at 9.30pm before he did, as she usually did. Paul was in his study downstairs, apparently in his usual health, though was especially bright that night. He told her that he would read the paper and follow her soon. She was woken up by him at 2am, when Paul came to her room and said that he felt ill. ” I am afraid I have taken too much cocaine…”, he remarked and asked to send for a doctor. Sophie went to her neighbour to ask him to do so immediately. A few minutes later Paul was seized with spasms and severe convulsions. He died within half an hour, just before the doctor arrived and pronounced him dead at 2.25am. The doctor found that he had bitten his tongue in his death struggles, and came to the conclusion that the end was due to drug poisoning. For years Paul had had chloroform and cocaine in small quantities, as an antidote to insomnia. He used to take little in a glass of water. Sophie generally saw him take it and he counted the drops. Although Paul was very careful in taking drugs, evidently he took a fatal overdose. All the symptoms pointed to cocaine poisoning and Dr Wilcockson told the jury at the inquest that death was probably due to cocaine overdose. Apparently Paul got the drugs from his brother, who was a practising doctor in London (some newspapers reported him as Paul’s nephew). Paul’s sister who travelled from Paris for the inquest and the funeral said that he had been upset over their step-mother’s death, who had died a week before, implying that this also had affected him.
Berkshire Chronicle (Saturday 09 March 1907) reported Sophie’s account during the inquest. She and Dr Wilcockson searched Paul’s room and his study and found a number things, which showed that he was in the habit of taking things to help him sleep. They included extracts of opium, some antipyrine (taken for headache), a harmless preparation of camphor, an empty bottle whose contents Dr Wilcockson could not quite decide—probably chloral. The bottle was marked ‘poison’. None of those, however, agreed with the symptoms Paul showed immediately after his death. Sophie said that her husband was in the habit of taking cocaine. She and the doctor made a diligent search but could find none. A quarter of grain of cocaine would in some cases cause death, but a person who was constantly taking the drug apparently could stand much more. Sophie also said at the inquest that Paul was always pale but in good health, although he had a weak heart and had not seen a doctor since they arrived in the England 3 years and 5 months previously.
A witness, Edith Smith, wife of Albert Smith (headmaster of St Giles School), their next-door neighbour, said that she had known the couple for 3 years, but didn’t notice anything amiss with them. They were happy and had no financial difficulties.
The inquest was on Wednesday 6 March with the funeral fixed for Saturday 9 March. However, Paul’s brother (or nephew), Dr. G. PASCAL, M.A., B.L., of High Holborn, was not satisfied that the Reverend gentleman was dead. He and Sophie clung to the belief that he was only in a trance and he would wake up, so they requested to postpone the funeral. Dr Pascal travelled back to Paris to bring ‘an eminent specialist in trances and catalepsy to examine the body’ while Sophie ‘kept vigil alone beside her husband’s bed not knowing whether she is a wife or a widow’ (Daily Express – Monday 11 March 1907). The family doctor, Dr. Wilcockson consented to the delay, however, he made a minute examination of the body on Saturday, and determined again that life was extinct. The funeral was re-arranged for Monday 11th March and by that time the signs of decomposition were becoming visible.
The first part of the funeral was at 11.30am at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, London Road, the officiating minister being the Rev. W. Armstrong. There were three principal mourners: Madame Pascal (widow), Madame Lacharet-Pascal (sister) of France, and M. George Pascal, Junior, London, (reported as the nephew=), while Mrs Pole Routh and Mrs Albert Smith occupied the second coach.
A feature of the ceremony was the procession by the boys of the Collegiate School and their Headmaster (Mr F. J. Rose) to the grave; many old pupils also joining in this last token of respect. Those attending also included Mrs Armstrong, Mr and Madame Salmon, Miss Rundell (Headteacher of Kendrick Girls’ School), Mrs Rogers. Miss E. M. Routh and Mr F. Palmer.
The newspapers report that the interment at the Reading Cemetery was marked by a ‘pathetic incident’ (sorrowful incident) in the form of an address to the members of the Collegiate School-by Madame. Lacharet -Pascal, who briefly but feelingly, expressed her thanks to the boys for the love they had shown towards her husband
The inscription on Paul and Alexandre’s grave is in French and reads:
“Nous n’avons point ici-bas de Cite permanente mais nous cherchons celle qui est a veris. Heb XVIII.14”
[“We have no permanent city here below, but we seek the one that is to come.” — Hebrews 13:14].
Paul Pascal was 39 when he died. Sophie stayed in Reading until 1923, but it is not known what happened to her after that.
Division 19, Row B, Plot 7