The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-05
ERNEST REMAIN.
HISS EnAuence rs u writor-Hts Personal
Appearance - HIS early Education
The Immense Circulation Rud POpu-
lRBnty Of his Life of Jesus.''

Appearance HIS early Education
Ihe Immense Circulation aud POpu-
lar1ty Of his 'Ltfe of Jesus
Translated from the Deutsohe Blatter.
Even the most jealous and most implacable
adverSares oil Renan are forced to admit that
he is one Of the first scholars and one of the
most distinguished writers OF the present day in
France. But precisely this great Importance of
the man, which u is impossible to deny, in
creases the number of his enemies; and from ali
parts oil the country, from all circles of society
but, naturally above all from the clerical
attacks tall like hailstorm on che head OF this
dangerous lnnovatUr, whom they desire to ami
late at any price. The folly OF this system is
again shown on this occasion; Tor instead OF
attaining their coveted end, they produce the
directly opposite effect. The more immoderate
the attacks directed against Inn, the more
known becomes his name. the larger The CIrCu-
latiCn of his book the irresistible charm which
characterizes his writings. influence the masses,
ana his popularity increases every day. "Tne
Life of Jesus" has become the rage of the day;
the book is in every mans hand: the edition at
one franc made 1t accessible TO every one;
eighty thousand copies we're sold to the work
inc mems districts OF Paris alone The most
celebrated rOmances Of Eagene Sue, the two
Dumas, Victor Hugo, and others, have scarcely
found larger circulation among the lower
classes of the people, and the same enthusiasm
for the work visible in all classes OF society.
One example, taken from my own experience,
may serve for the rest. A pretty young girl,
passionate dancer, one evening positively re-
fused 20 accom- pany her parents to ball. Why?
Because she wanted to read through romance
which took up her whole interest. This ro-
nance was "lhe Lille OF Jesus" by Ernest Re-
nan. This example speaks volumes, ana char
acterIZCS MS manner OF writing and the irress-
tible charm whcn his pen exercises on the most
ingenious souls far better tuan the most com,
prehensive analysis OF his works would do
There is another fact which also is not with
out It's signihcance-of all books which have
been printed during the last ten years in Paris,
'The Life OF Jesus" is the one of which the
largest number OF copies has been sold. This
TACT has been proved IN an authentic manner.
''The Apostles" are written quite in tho same
spirit and manner as The Life of Jesus,n and
are to be considered as its continuation. Their
subject is the resurrection of Jesus, his different
appaIiGons, the conversion OF Paul, the death
OF Stephen, the foundation OF the first Church OF
Jerusalem, ETC. The divinity of Chris: is again
denied. But Dere we are not 10 speak OF the
religious ideas and tendencies of NJ. Renan but
of the literary importance OF his work. The
same elegant style, the same charming dction,
the same abundance OF fine hgures-in a word,
the same ensemble of brilliant qualities which
secured for his Life of Jesus" such uneXamDled
success. Renau is, at the same time, a learned
scholar and q poet; ne combines profound
writer; besides, he is acquainted with his pub
hc-the easily excited Frenchmen-and knows
how to influence them. He capuVstes the
reader, exhibits before him the most serious
objects under an attractive form, obliges him to
consult the Bible, the holy fathers OF the
Church, ETC., and this is certainly no small
achievement IN these times OF steam, electricity,
and political excitement, when great practical
questions seem TO have entirely absorbed the
ideal interests of humanity, so that there is
neither time nor place for any religious contro
veTsies and disputes on subtle points of creeds
and dogmas. But Renan has conquered this
difficulty; for he knows how to excite curiosity,
how to entertain, 10 touch, and finally to con
vince the reader There lies the charm, the
indescribable attraction of bis works.
Whether ''The Apostles" will have the same
success or enjoy the same triumph as his Life
OF Jesus" time will show. For the present this
much ia certain, that the book two days after itf
publication was already sold to the extent o
twenty thousand copies. Everybody reads and
talks of it. Repan is decidedly the tavorite o
the many. His ideas penetrate among the
masses and gain every day greater extension
a circumstance that iustihes the appelatloI
which has been given him. He is called Vol
tGu'e du pep (V. in retail(. Unbrded polemic
has been let loose against HIM. He is attacked il
the most violent manner in pamphlets. While
on the one side he Is applauded TO the sky, oil
the other he Is trampled under foot.
The clerical party, OF course, immediatel!
pointed at HIM its sharpest pens, unmindtul o
the triaing effect all its attacks upon him hav
had up to the present time. One example ma,
be sufficient TO show the blind rage with which
the Catholic Church .pursues the author o
''The Apostlesn-but this example is almos
incredible, and looks like a medi@val legend
however, II is literally true;-M. Renan is eX
communicated, and, as was the custom IN older
times, the bell of the condemned maleiactors
rung for him. And this is done, not in a small
out.ofthe-way diocese of the French Empire
mol III MaTselles, every Friday afternoon, a
three O'clock, this bell is regularly tOled TO
the sake OF Renan, the communicated. A
the beginning this measure caused some surprise
but people are now accustomed and no longe
pay attention to ii. Renan has also taken N
notice of it, and has not replied TO any of tn
many attacks which were directed at him. III
wraps himself up In the cloak of the philosopher
and remains silent, leaving time to arbitrat
between him and his adversaries, and medltatin
already a new work which, inspired by the sam
spirit, will probably rank his former works.
Renan is still rather young man; he wa
born in 1928 In Treguier, in Brittany H
parents were parents without fortune, an
wished him to become apriest. Renan priest
What singular contrast such life sometime
offers, chiefly caused by poverty! Renan, ther
fore, entered a seminary OF priests, ana dlstl
gulshed himself very soon by his rapid progres
so that at the express recommendation OF n
superiors he was received in larger seminar
at Paris.
This seminary was then under the direction
M. Dupanloup, who, later, achieved great rep
tation, and became Bishop of Orleans. He CO
CeiVed particular afec lion for young Rena
and declared him several times one OF his be
pupils. But Renan soon perceived that he "
entirely unflted to become priest, and lett 4
seminary Notwithstanding all imaginable repI
sentations Of NJ. Dupanloup, who was great
affected by this step. Both are to-day celebrat
men but In directly opposite directions. Bish