New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-05
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
SAINTE-BEUVE.
CAUSE OF HIS DEATH-A SURGICAL BLUNDER-
THE FUNERAL--HOw HE LIVED-IIIs PECU-
LIARITIEs


Of u.s." as Matthew Arnold calls him, died on Wednes-
day. the 18th inst at 1880 o'clock IN the afternoon.
His epitaph is not yet written and doubt II, when
it is, 1t will contain the melancholy, but alas, too
| true statement that he was murdered by his physi
| clans. 1t would be unnecessary cruelty 10 give
their names, which for the rest are too famous
to be hid, but the post norton examination OF
the body Of the illustrious writer established their
responsibility if not for his DEATH and this 1t would
be great grace to allow at least for the prolonged
and awful suerings to which the last few years Of
| his life were prey DR.. Veyne his friend and ply
stefan for fifteen years-a man attached to him by
the closest ties of aectionate admration-believed
| that he had the stOne but the other medical
men who were called in consultation declared
| him mistaken, and insisted treating him for a
| swelling of the prostate and inflammation OF the
bladder OF this disease it was announced in all the
newspapers that he had died two days after severe
| operation for the removal Of an abscess that had
formed upon the prostate, and which he bore with
| wonderful courage. But the post-mortem examna-
ton revealed the truth of DR.. Veyne's diagnosis.
The bladder was found TO contain three large calcul,
of which the largest, says the AoRiteT, following
the Gaalois was the size of large hens-egg lgros
Guf de poule, and the two others triangular,
and measured nine centimetres a little over three
| inches If this were the place for it, l might
| make the terrible blunder by which a most
| precious human life has been sacrificed TO
the ignorant obstnacy of these physicians,
the text for short discourse upon the deterioration
that is taking place in the skill of French medical
men of the old school. American physicians and
advanced students who come here to Paris assert
that not only the medical men, both physicians and
surgeons but the oflectures and the hospitals
are far behind those Of America The condition Of
the hospitals indeed is declared to be very dsedit
III. Il l., Aoo OF
whatever may be the prestige of diploma obtained
in Paris it by represents what it does either
| in New-York, Philadelphia Boston. The recent
deaths Of Marshal Mel and Sainte Beuve charged
directly to malpractice and if this can happen here
in Paris to of their position, what may not be
possible among the ranks of the humber and less
knowni
l believe it is now four years, or there
abouts, since sSainte-Beuve was the victim
of so sharp an attack of his disease that
his death was looked upon as inevitable.
At that time he made his will, and dictated TO his
secretary the precise words to be spoken at his
grave, and which, indeed. were spoken on Satur-
day to the silent multitude that thrOnged about
it. The words of his will which gave di-
rections for his funeral were as follows:
4" 1t is my wish that at my death, thore should be
no soemnties request the societies and associa-
tions of which have the honor to be member not
to send any deputation to represent them at my IN
terment happy and grateful if my colleagues and
friends shall desire, as individuals to accompany
nv remains i desire that at my death no letters OF
invitation shall be sent out simple announcement
in the journals Of the day and hour will suffice. IL
is my wish that this hour may be the earliest pos
sbe % o'clock in the morning say. or 10 o'clock at
the furthest Irequest that may be carried directly
from my house to the cemetery of Mont Parnasse TO
the tomb where my mother is, without going to the
church, which could not permit without violating
the sincerity of my feelings And wish no dis
course OF eulogy pronounced at the tomb
Saturday was one of those cold and lowering days
which belong to this season in Paris but which have
happily been rare this year. The rain threatened,
every moment to fall, the Seine looked black and
gloomy and the trees whose falling leaves strew all
the garden paths and city sidewalks, showed their
network of branches against slaty sky. Gen.
Meredith Reid, jr., our hard-workng and efficient
Consul General here in Paris, who knew SainteBeuve
WELL and to whom the deceased acadernician had
shown great kindness and attention. was thoughtful
enough to call for me that might accompany him
to the funeral. The hour fixed upon was ten,
precisely and we reached the house just as the
coffin was being placed in the hearse. Sainte-
Beuve lived in the little Mont Par
nasse which is in most questionable
and certainly not at all attractive quarter on the
south or wrong" side of the Seine. 1t is something
as if man of mark with us should live in Amity-st
or McDougal-st., but, it must be remembered that
in Paris it is impossible to judge by the fame of the
man. whereabouts he is likely to live. The pdrraaus
and the demi-mOpde of Paris must live in the Haus
mannized part of the city, but the old aristocraey of
rank and birth, and the aristocracy of intellect
are not to be found there. They live. almostwithout
exception in old Paris, and in streets that do not
.b int Of pithar end
as YOU pass through them But the Mont Parnasse
is less attractive street than ordinary and Sainte
Beuve's house. beside that it is not like the Paris
houses in general, is peculiarly unnterestng. Yet
there was perhaps, no house in the Paris Of to-day
that held man so interesting to all
cultivated people as this little white-fronted
two-and-a- half stored No. H. rue Mont PaTnasse,
where Sainte Beuve had lived so many years, and
where last week, he died. In Paris, Academician
and Senator, no matter how insignificant he may
have been-and there are plenty Of insignificant
members of both these august bodies-eannot DO
buried no matter how humble may have been his
wishes, without certain paraphernalia In fact, l
suppose that the Compagne DIES Pompes Funebres
would rebel against any attempt to push simplicity
beyond certain limits in the of what are called
distinguished funerals" That the friends should
be willing to dispense with the service Of the church
they can manage to understand At all events. it is
not their affair But that Senator should he buried
without plulned and slver-frirged hearse and tho
accompanying silver-laced blaok-eloth carriages,
with horses and coachmen bedizened 10 match,
is something that they can't and wont con-
ceiye And accordingly il was in such
fashion that the unpretending man of letters, tho
man who cared nothing for money, or show and
who in the midst of this luxurious city lived life
sweet and simple that of Horace carried to