The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-25
FRANCE.
Is B0napartism Declining S-What Most Con.
tributes 10 Social immortality and National

from the London Times. Oct. IA.


tributes TO Social immortality and National
Decay
From the London Times, Oct 14l
1t is ususual with some OF the bltterest enemies OF
the French imperial regime, when they find 1t
impossible to deny the well-being attained by the
country during the last eighteen years, to contend
that mental Development has not kept pace with
it pamper the body at all events Kills the soul The
second empire, 1t ID stated has like the first stood
In the light Of French genus. 1t has intro
duced what Is called an Augustan age, but without
that brilliancy OF intellectual achievements which
In some degree reconcled the old Roman repub
ring political existence. The time may, per-
haps, have come to inquire into the justice OF
this charge AS there seem now 10 be well
founded hopes that personal rule has come to an
end any retrospective survey of the influence good
or banefu, which 1t exercised may not be without
use to those, whoever they be. on whom the gui.
dance OF public affairs In France will hereafter
devolve II Is not unlikely that the argument
'fost hoe ergo p1opter hoe" has been COO freely
applied, both In praise and in blame OF the govern
ment of the third Napoleon. No doubt France has,
during this recent period. made gigantic steps, not
only towards the requirement OF enormous wealth,
but also towards the spread or that external COM
Tort and polish which brings country into the FORE
must TO great extent be the result OF prolonged
peace under almost any form OF government.
France, II must be avowed had already shown signal
symptoms OF general advancement. both under the
restored BourbonS ana Louis Philippe and Ger
many, some parts OF Italy, and even Spain,
their population, their trade and and industry Industry.
= We may be told that the liberty winch
has hitherto been vouchsafed TO itailans and span
iardS Is ''of the right sort that its influence
has not yet had time to be fully felt; and that
political controversy so utterly absorbs all faculties
TO leave neither leisure inclination for mere
literary employment. But what shall we say OF
England, where political institutions have, ir not
advanced at least certainly not developed any back
ward tendency? Shall we contend that we see IN
the present age no symptoms OF decline from the
age of Scott and Byron, even from the early DAYS
OF Dickens and ThackerayY Genius works In cycles
ii has Its and Door CrODS Its prize and hank
seasons, Its so-called Golden Ages, Augustan
Medicean, influenced, indeed by political
but obeyng also other more general. less
obvious or superficial rules. acting, not only nde-
even in antagonlsm to 1t. The stage In the life of
nation in which mental energy IS apt to be at its
greatest neigha INA. In wcn, a'er spell o.
case and repose succeeds. Thus the golden age OF
Roman literature dates from the closing Of the
Temple OF Janus by the First Emperor; that OF mod.
ern italy from the termination Of medieval feuds
ushering In domestic tyranny and foreign DONNA
ton: that Of England from the subsiiing OF reigous
dissensIons under the sceptre or Elizabeth. Golden
ages OF this description are always OF short dura-
tion aud are followed by eras OF silver, OF iron, Of
bronze and OF lead. cluster OF a score or so
of stars OF the first magnitude blaze out in the rma-
ment, but these give way before miuor gaaXes,
and presently to mere nebua and utter obscurity.
Such trarlsitory period OF intellectual greatness
have not only France ana England, but all Europe,
enjoyed in the early part Of the present century, on
the termination OF the civil and International
OF the First Napoleon. The decline which must
needs follow is partly due to the very height
attained by the mind In its first effort. IL is the
nature Of great writers to create readers-and TO
spoil them. public accustomed to the peasurea-
bic emotions arising from great performances gets
craving Tor the and the author whose task II Ii to
minister TO its appetites Is driven 10 seek exag
geration and mannerlsm that stimulus which the
natural no longer supplies: and a mutual corruption
OF the reader 10y the writer and Of the later by the
former inevitably ensues The decline Is often already
perceDtiDe IN the original genius tsef but 1t Is far
more apparent III the '.savlsn nerdD OF lmtators.
IL thus that French literature. although still
pous began TO develop germs OF decay both aesthetic
and moral long before the second republic ushered in
the second empire. IL Is very true that the reign OF
Louis Napoleon substituted QtietuH sef'uitun for
a pei7cllosd I6eytaS; but the February revolution
was Of too epheneral and uneventful character 10
affect mental culture The literature OF France Is
sll the as iG was under LOUIS Philippe, still on
Its wane though o few degrees lower IN tone and
influence. Eugene Sue nourlshed under the July
monarchy. yet we hear that the wholesale murderer
Traupmann boasts OF being disciple OF the Eugene
sue school, HIS ambition was to emulate one OF the
heroes of the ..Juir Errantn Heroes OF the Able
RodIn and Chourineur stamp were held up as
models for the French youth before the middle
OF the century, and whatever was still pure and
noble In the French nation had no longer any refuge
from all-pervading corruption save In an absolute
rejection OF all literature We see the same causes
rapidly leading to the same effects In this country
Yet few Years more OF 'sensarlonaln novels and OF
spiays which draw full hOuses,n and few Will boast
OF their familiar acquaintance with the literature Of
the day IL thus that actual iack OF readers has
dried up the sources OF literary production In Italy
and spain. Rather than what Is called 'Iiga htera-
ture,u people say In those countries they will nave
no literature at all 1t Is not that men OF talent
scarce south Of the Alps OF the Pyrenees. Inc
tales by the author OF Lorenzo Benonin are allowed
distinguished place on The English shelves, but all
attempts to translate and popuIarlze Doctor Anto-
MOI In the authors own country have sgnay failed.
Novel readers in Italy read Eugene Sue or Pau de
Kock, or read nothing And even such literature as
SILL 10 some extent, crcuIates In Italy and Spain
40, 0fy does not sprtltg rom liberty, out IS aItago-
ntsttc to ne liberal spirit M NE age. Manzoni's
works still live, though no longer recent but their
ascetIc aud piet5tlc tendency at with the seen
tical and combatye spirit OF the present generation,
renders them less popular 10 Italy than they are I'M
Germany In England or America; and the same IA
the IN spain with the clever writings OF Fernan
Cabaero, a writer who Is neither man nor a
Spanard, as the assumed name would imply, and
who - certainly not prophet IN her adopted coun
try Notwithstanding the Zeaawit which she iatters
national pride and truckles TO the superstition, the
uncnarItabeness and the other unamiabie propensl.
ties OF the people among whom her lot IS cast.