New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-05

period it was renewed and fortunately for us, the
Young anatOmist threw aside his medical books and
his instruments and entered on those literary labOrs
and studies which he never after deserted In $50
at the age of "a, he published his "Iableau HIstO-
rque ct CTitque de la Poese FTaneaise ct du Thea
tire Francois au XVI Steele" and it was so well re-
ceived as to determine him to persevere IN the course
upon which he had entered cannot follow mere
the history of his intellectual life, nor recount at
length those spiritual experiences OF which his books
always the faithful record and expression AS
apoet he early came under the magic lhilnehce Oh
Victor Hugo, and III the great battle between
the classic and romantic schools boldly
went over to the side of true poetry.
Shortly after the appearance OF the work we have
just mentioned appeared bis "Vie, POesies, ct PEN
sees de Joseph DelOrme, 1897 and 1t wasfolowed by
" Les Consultations poeses $780, upon the appear
ance of which he received a singular letter from
Stendhal Henry Beyle), dated Doth March, 1880,
and written TO use Stendhals' words, after having
read i" Les Consolation" for three hours and half
at sitting 1t is curious to find Stendhal IN TINS
letter Representing Salnte-Beuve with his belief IN
God. You Others" he says, "who declare that
you believe in God" considering that IN ms ialer
years the reproach brought against him by his en-
emies and sadly accepted by some of his most al
mirng friends, was that he had no belief at all IN
1884 he published "Volupte' singular work, VIII,
ten at time when he was under the influence OF
Lamennais aud the Able Gerbet when. III tact, ne
was nothing less than mystic, and even CHRISTIAN
mystic at that. The same year he went 10 oWltZer-
land for a brief period, and at Lausanne
delivered a course of lectures which may be
considered as the preface to ms HIstOry Oh roIt
Royal In 1910. he appointed by Theirs as LIBRA
of the MazaTin library, and IN the same year ne
published the first volume of his famous History OF
the Jansenists of Port Royal, on which he was en-
gagged for more than twenty years, the last volume
not having appeared until 1867. AS has been wen re-
marked the unity of this most valuable work is, IL
mist be confessed much broken, but It's interest can
not be said TO be decreased, by the multitude OF
episodes to which it owes length that could hardly
have been expected from ITS subject put IN Jeso
tons which were toward memoir and biography
rather than to what is properly called historical
writing. III 1915, on the death OF Casmlr DeaVlghe,
Sante- Beuye was elected to fill his vacant chair IN
the Academy, and he had the good fortune, on that
occasion, to be received by Victor hugo. In lo4o,
when the Revolution broke ont he went TO
Iiege where he delivered course OF lectures on
the French poets and poetry of the last century,
lectures which afterward took the shape OF small
volume called "Chateaubriand and ms Literary
Group under the Empire" After the Coup d Etat,
ne was made Professor of Latin poetry at the Col
lege of France but his lectures were so illreceved
by the students on account of his political views,
that he left the chair, and nothing remains OF ms
performances in this position but an Essay on flrglI
Etude sur Virgile, 1857, and to which the article
"VirRilep contained in the eleventh volume of the
second series of the CauseTes de Lundi," volume
that published almost on the very day OF his
DEATH is to be considered sort OF appendix or addl
ton In 1857 he was made Master of Conferences at
the Normal School, on the appointment OF Nj. Nlsard
to the post of Director that gentleman having been
preferred to him Master of Conferences in 1884 by
GuizOt who was, at that time, Minister OF Pubic
Instruction. In 1865 he was made Senator,
but it was not given TO him to shine In pOlltcS he
made but one speech, and 1T is not remembered;
another which he would have made. had his health
permitted. was published in the newspaper lie Temps
on the Sth of September, Immediately after the ad-
Ourpment of the Senate and the vote on the Senatus
Consultum. This speech also added nothing TO his
fame if indeed it did not detraCt from IT.. While
protesting an undjminsEed loyalty to the Empire.
be criticised the Administration from the point OF
view OF man of letters; warning II that It's course
was alternating from its support the literary men, the
scholars artists students of abstract science, and IN
deed the whole intellectual world OF France. But
the criticism, inst 1t undoubtedly rs, was couched
i'm a vein of easy remOnstrance; 1t lacked fire and
earnestness and did nothing TO stop the voices OF
those who murmured at Sainte-Beuve for his toler-
ance of an Administration, OF principles even' ON
which almost every other man OF real distinction IN
France either looked with hostile GOODNESS, or had
peremptorily turned his back.
In reading the last volume of the second series of
the CauseTes dc Lundi" which, l have said.
was published only day or two before he died, l
was much struck by the concluding paragraph OF his
notice of Dubner German classical scholar, one OF
his fayOrite illustTOus obscure" who died few
years ago in Paris. With the alteration Of the date
of the year Only-for it will be noticed that the
month and day of the month of DHbners death are
the same as those of Sainte- Beuyes-and with the
change of a word. here and there, how well this
passage applies to him who wrote It. VIII enaeaVor
to translate it, but In truth, none but master III
English should attempt to translate this master IN
French. AT the time of his death, on the 18th of
October, 1867. Dubner had not quite completed his
65th year. To Judge only by his simple mode of life
and his robust appearance long days seemed assured
10 him. Happy above all, happy man, we may surely
say who vast able to cOnsecrate thy life to tran,
quil labOrs, which rewarded by tranquil
Joys; who best explored to their depths those
who hast not shared the lot of those and such have
known who feel themselves cut of from the COM
partnership of that which they love and admire most
of all for, Pudar has sad it Is bitter lot for
those who delight in beauty to be shut out from II
by necessity But he. the happy Dtbner, was not
shut Out he stood with both feet planted IN the
double domain OF Antiquity in Greece and in Rome; |
he dwet there, night aud day. he knew the slgnif.
canoe and the shade of meaning and the very OF
every word the whole history of taste; he was, so
to speak, the secretary of the greatest geniuses of
the writers whose style is the purest he assisted If
Imay say So at the BIRTH at the first expression of
their thoughts in the most beautiful of languages
he re-wrote at their dictatOn, their most perfect
works. he had the sweet and secret satisfaction OF
feeling that at every moment, by his fidelity and
by his sagacIty in compromising their meaning
he was rendering them humble and obscure,
but vet essential services that he silently avenged
them for many an injury that he repaired tor them
the disputes of day, from our stTites, from our
petty discomforts; he had the most iustrious, and
the most charming of the dead for cotempOraries and
for constant guests happy man. in his later years at
least mnglng in his life the pleasures Of the city
and the country he enjoyed his garden; sending TO
his friends, presents fruits that would have made
AlcinOts enviOus.
May he repOse in peace in his sepulchre in that
smiling place where he has died without feeling the
touch of age, where he Tired" &C.
sAINTE- BEUvE's LITERARY POSITION.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
STUTTGART, Oct. 23.-The death Of Sainte-Beuve,
whose rare critical faculties gave him a supreme
place among the writer's of the day devoted to purely
literary subjects has left a void in the intellectual
circles of Partisan society," which can be filed by
living successor. He occupied position entirely his
own, and his numerous writings are without o
parallel in French literature. Your correspondents
in Paris have doubt already furnished you with
the facts relating to the sad event, with such reaec
tons as may perhaps make any remarks from me
superfuous. The notices of the press which have
thus far had an opportunity of seeing scanty
IN number and meager in character, although
thev accord in assigning to Sante- Beuye n