New-York daily tribune., 1845-02-01
THE IRIBUN Z
Review.
FRENCH NGTELISTS OF THE DAY:
BAI,ZAC. GEORGE SAND...... EUGENE SUE
Revie "

persecution, though by a coup de main clumsler
than is usual even with Sue. Now, we have mat
te,s' arranged for few months more Of contest
With The Society of Jesus, but we think onr au-
thor must depend for interest during the last vol
ume, no longer ON the conduct Of the plot but on
the portrature of characters.
1t is cheering to know how great is the inhu-
ence such writer as Sue exerts, from his energy
oil feeling on some subjects Of moral interest II
is trus that he has also much talent and various
experience Of life; bat writer's who far surpass
him here, as We think BalzJc does, wanting this
heart of faith, have no influence, except merely
on the tastes of their readers.
We hear much Iamentation among good peo-
pie at the introduction of SO many French novels
among us, corrnpting, they say, our youth by
pictures of decrept vice and prurient crime, such
as would never, otherwise, be dreamed of here,
and corrupting it the more that such knowledge
is so precocious the same reason that boy
may be more deeply injared by imitation into
wickcdness than u man, for he IS not only robbed
of bis virtue, but prevented from developing the
streogth that might restore it. But il is useless
TO bewail what is the inevitable result of the
movement Of our time. Europe must puur her
corrup.ions no less than her riches, on shores,
both in the form of books and Of living men, She
cannot, if she would, check the tide which bears
them hitherward; no defences are possible, on
our vast extent of shore, that can preclude their
ingress. We have exued in premature and
hasty grow tn we must brace ourselves to bear
the evils that ensue Our only hope lies in ious-
ing, in our own community, soul oil goodness,
wise aspiration, that shall give US strength to
assimilate this unwholesume food to better sub
stance, or cast off its conamnations. A mighty
sea of lie swel!s within our nation, and, if there
be salt enough, foreign bodies shall not have
power to breed infection there.
We have had some opportunity to observe that
the worst works offered are rejected. On the
steamboats, we have seen uai,slations CT vile
books, bought by those who did not know from
the names of their authors what to expect, torn,
after cursory glance AT theit contents, and scat
tered to the winds Not even the all but all-power
fnfdasire to get ones moneys WORTH since it had
Of shame that ross on the cheek of the reader.
1t would be desirable for our people to know
something of these writers and Of the position,
they occupy abroad; for the nature Of their cir,
culahon, rather than its extent, might be the
guide both to translator and buyer. The object
of the first is generally money-of the last
amusement But the merest mercenary might
prefer to pass his time in translatiDg good
/. book, and our imitation OF Europe does not yet
20 so far that the American milliner can be de-
peaded on to copy any thing from the Partisan
grisette, except her cap.
One of the most unexceptionabe and attractive
writers Of modern France is De NIGNY. His life
has been passed in the Army, but many years, of
peace have given him time for literary culture,
while his acquaintance with the traditions of tho
Array, from the days of its dramatic achieve.
ments under Bonaparte, supply the finest mate.
rials both for narrative and reflection. His tales
are written with infinite grace, refined sensibity,
and digpifed view. Ills treatment Of subject
shows that closeness OF grasp and clearness OF
sight which are rarely attained by one who is
not at home in active as well as thoughtful life.
He has much penetration, too, and has touched
some of the most delicate springs of human
action. His works have been written in hours
of leisure this has diminished their number but
given hun many advantages over the thousands
Of professional writer's that fill the coffee houses
Of Paris by day, and lis garrets by night. We
wish he were more read here in the original
with him would be found good French, and the
manners, thoughts and feelings Of a cosmopohte
gentleman. We have seen, with pleasure, one
or two of his tales translated into the pages oi
the Democratic Review.
But the three who have been and will be mos,
read here, as they occupy tie first rank in their
own country, are BALzac, GEORGE SAND and Eu-
GENE SUE.
BALzAc has been very fruitful writer, and as
be is fond ofiasger's tricks Of every description,
and holds nothing earnest or sacred, he is vain
af the wonderful celenty with which some of his
FORKS, and those quite as good as any, have been
SIit.en They seem to have been conceived,
composed and written down with that degree Of
speed with which it is possible to lay pen to pa
per. Indeed, We think he cannet be surpassed IN
shc ready and sustained command OF ms resources.
dis almost unsurpassed quickness and fidelity of
s3e, both as TO the disposition of external objects.
ana The symptoms of human passion combinod
slh a strong memory, have filled his mind with
Materials, and We doubt not that if his thoug hts
sauid be put into writing with the swiftness of
bought, he would give Us one ofhisnovels every
week in The year
here ead our praises of Balzac; what he is,
= man, IN daily life. we know not. He mus.
aglnsliy have had heart, or he could no, read
aseil The hearts Of others; perhaps there are
Sa private ties that touch hun. But as writer
s'sf Was the modem Me phissopheles, the spirit
ny denicth," more worthily represented than by
aa combines the sp;ri, Of the man of science,
j M that of the amateur collector. He 8eErh,.