Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-03-13
BY G. A. Sc ]. ?. CHAPMAN.
Eugene Sue and THE .sJuif Errant."


of December, 1874. The Empress Josephine and
Prince Eugene Beauharnois, were his godfather and
god-mother. The ancient family of Sue has for ma
ny generations been established at Lacome, near
Caunes, in Provence, and is at present represented
there by Mr. Sue, retired superior officer and grand
uncle of our author.
The great grandfather of Mr. Sue, Peter his grand
father Joseph, and his father, Jean Joseph, sur
geonS, or physicians of celebrity. The two latter
graduates of the University of Edinburgh, and
made known, by copious TRANSACTIONS, the works of
the medical school in Scotland. His father was sur
geon-in-chief to the Imperial Guard in the Russian
campaign, and after the restoration be became sur
geon to tie king. He lived on terms of the utmost
intimacy with the Empress Josephine, Franklin, Mas
sena MORGAN, and all the great personages of the
days of the Consulate.
Agreeaby to the wish of his father, Mons. Eugene
Sue entered upon medical career, and attached
surgeon to the Kings Military College, then to the
staff of the army in Spain in 1523, and afterwards
to the 18th regiment Of artillery in the same campaign,
and in that capacity present at the siege OF Ca
diz, and the capture of Trocadero and Tarlfa. In
1924 he left the land for the naval service He made
several voyages to America, returned to the Mediter
ranean and visited Greece. In 1898 he on board
the ''Bresaw" in the battle of Navarino. Upon his
return he retired from The service and from the me
cal profession, which possessed attraction for him.
and coming back to Paris, thanks to liberal pater-
nal inheritance, he was able to live happy and bril-
lite occupation painting, which he studied under
his friend Gudn.
In $780, an old artillery comrade suggested to him
to write his naval "reminiscences, Cooper had done
successfully and the idea pleased him well that
he dropped the pencil seized the pen, and published
Kernock lie Pirate and several other naval romances,
naval histories historical romances, Dramas and
cial and philosophical works of fiction.
! The early works of Mons. Sue indicate a mind en-
tirely free from preudices and sincere and ardent
4 r
"Mysteres de Paris he has often confessed himself
indebted the counsels of kind critic. In fact,
from the very first chapter, before single voice
raised praise the author, he produced in his analy
sis of the fall of the 'Chourineur, the proof of
sovereign critical fertility Perhaps other study in
the book is more profound than that none more learn
edly expresses the vices of existing society, sug
gests more clearly the means of true reform.
Mr.. Sues character is one of rare benevoence,
simplicity. and amenty and, what is rare to find
amongst distinguished artists of times he is PLAIN
and never abstract visionary. His is a nature at
full of frankness and address, of bonhoDae and
tact He is a man of the world amiable and refined
witty and gay; he is believed to be inctured with
gallantry and in his travels and wanderings In quest
Of adventure, it is suspected that he has studied the
question of love among various nations and In every
human tongue. His eye like that of the creole be-
times is brilliant, and others clouded. has the
look Of an observer. His eyebrows are thick and
black, and terminating in a well-de6ned arch The
centre of the forehead presents strong development
of the organs of causality and comparison, as
well all the faculties of the artist The nose is
fire and distinct, with the nostrils well opened the
lips. clearly designed, bespeak energy and passion.
He has abundance of strong hair of deep brown
pOlden tint In figure, he is erect and rather stout
and his carriage is expressive OF species Of sofneSS
blended with much vigor and sanguincness.
In the 'Juif Errant," from Its very beginning the
same generous thought that guided the author of es
NTxySfn do no anoly IoIs otoI
to Mons Camille Pleye, an amiable and distinguish
ed artist who labors with zeal to ameoate the con-
dition of his workmen. In the dedication, Mr. Sue
ANNOUNCES his intention to investigate the destiny of
the people-the law of labor, which, he says, will
take precedence of all others, because for the
Masses it is question If life or desth. Here them
Is the same source CT the inspiration Of the "Myste-
s''-charity-compasson for the people; but here
the field appears much more vast The poets views
are extended; he rises, and seeks TO influence the
word-to scan humanity entire. II is to the human
race, still In vassaagc, and sadly curbed on the suf
fering bosom of the earth, that he comes to preach
redemption He does not stop at the social life of the
French; but includes in his story the whole species
the West and the East for field of observation He
evokes strange mysteries, and speaks to us of mira
Giles; and, by the fantastic phase of his works. he
touches upon the problems of another life.
His pencil traces and depicts uncouth manners hid
eo,Is maladies and human deformties Now he brings
before you the cholera and its systematic and terrible
attacks; now he treats of the phdnSegdrS or men
strangers the mother throwing her infant into the
stream, that it may not have TO carry the burthen of
le-the old prostitute buying up young virgins from
mothers furnishing with hunger; the Indian brutay
conquered and extermnated by party of armed ira
ders; and nearer still to us the tyranny of Russia
and the exile of Siberia. In France the penury of
the popuace leading to debauch prostitution and de-
graduation ignorance, exposing the unenlightened to
the power of the skilful; and, above oil, misery
spreading her bloody hand the millions and ex-
hausting the feeble body and delicate but courageous
soul of woman.
The conception of Sues work is exalted and
inspired remarkable degree with religious senti-
ment; it is truly Christian. To our knowledge, no
book of imagination hitherto has widely embraced
social life under its different asPectslts troubled and
sorroWful present-is efforts towards order and hap
piness No other writer has approached so nearly
and profoundly in dramatic form, the problem of