New-York tribune., 1872-04-13
FRENCH LITERATURE.

TENDENCY OF FRENCH WRITERS TO P"OIIT Ef
FOREIGN OPINIONS - WORKS ON PUBLIC IN
STRUCTION-M TAME To EDIT AN OLD BOOK
ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
CROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PARIS, March 27-That n Professor IN Ger
man University should take subject OF lecture,
What Germans may learn from the French, Les IN the
order of things and suggests OF ITSELF in general,
what the eminent historian, Herr Won Sybe teaches III
particular, that every people has something TO learn
from the Others that national vanity dangerous ana
degrading substitute for patriotism; that Que country
should not be narrowed to one parish have rot 10
speak OF the merits of this lecture comparative essay
on German and French national characteristic which
It's authors native ability, wide culture ana IohS
previous studies in French history lend an exceptional
value Enough say that he mcaus TO be- perhaps Is
Just but surely not very generous, to the French
What is TO my purpose is To note th1t so
much OF this able essay critical often 70 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
as was reported in a Berlin paper was straiSLtway
trans tel to he columns of the Journal dcs De6afs nj
ing nearly page Of that paper and thence quoted from
and sensby commented by other OF our better class
Paris journals The translation quotation aud comment
in French in the same spirit That inspired te
German lecturer with the same purpose IN view, cny
conversely applied The lesson Of the war has not Ceen
lost This but Of numberless instances few OF
which will presently quote in proof that tie French
are wisely ready in their acceptance of the OyiLan
maxim which has long been the Germans practical
motto: Fds est, ct d6 haste, doceri.i
The Sims of this better tendency apparent on every
hand are nowhere distinct aud frequent than in
recent issues Of the periodical and book press You cIn
hardly read Of our better class dy papers for
three days together or a single number OF
stately Rerues more less special organs OF some Of
our dstractng political parties. without coming on
proof OF this willing and earnest purpose o. fthouchtuy
patriotic Frenchmen 10 study for themselves the In
stuons Of other nations and 10 recommend the adop-
tion OF what is good them 10 their colnpitriOts.
far-reachiug plans and Of
Prussan statesmen, devised alter Jena, when Prus9la
was In estate than France Il now, for the reOrna
ton OF all administrations, and especially the educa
tiOnal side themes now for the French press OF
constant reference. The sayings and GOings OF that de-
pressed King OF Prussia and Of Philosopher Fchte and
his other wise councillors, aiming at recovery OF na-
tonal material grandeur and political position by intel
lectua moral and administrative refomatory means.
are constantly quoted referred to, and improved" ns
texts profitable actual French address, for doctrine,
for reproof correction for instruction In The path
that France has 10 walk in. audatory notice in
the Temps the HisOre des HonJrois ct de Ie LHera
ture Poiitique, by Ed. sayous, begins:
eve have hitherto unhappiy only Interested ourselves
In the OF events that pass III France ana fanced
that the world turns about us ana neglected te history
foreign nations. Fortune has undertaken To each US
grateful therefore VINO aims 10 make us &C.
quaned with other peoples, and 80 enlarge our horzon
Prof Breal OF College OF France takes ts time TO
publish the notes he has been gathering, IN years of
the comparative value of educational processes III France
and Germany.
But for the war" he said, "T fhoud. perhaps have
kent them in my portfOO but the situation OF cou
try to-day Is such TO make IL lhe duy OF all VINO are
attached put the Information they are possessed
of at its service remedy defects,
il the time work Let the state recover In in
tectua strength what U has lost ia material strength
SAID Frederick William I'LL Of Prussia the 10th Of Ai
gust 1907. Thanks 10 men ike william Won Humboldt
then Minister of Public Instruction. an fichte and
stein Prussia reOrganized her national education be
tween and lSi1 IL is an example for us To follow
NJ Breal's Queiques Mots sur pInsructton Pubiique
on France I'LL 900 pages, every OF which Is worth
reading and most readable He treats IN order and with
sueieent detail the French primary schools tyetes
fcorrespondng to high schools and coleSes) and
highest University teachings and Of the spirit system
and nracices rel gning In them. These compared
with simar institutions Of Germany and the scholastic
nrt system and practices prevalent there. An exPe
ence IN teaching at OF 20 years frequent visits TO
Germany and extensive reading OF it's best writer's on
nadagoov IN scence which, he regrets, s not recog-
rzed much Isss cultivated. In France), sound juds-
,nent and calm temper give NJ Brea an exceptional
,,hotv whether he states facts expresses opinions
The kevnote OF his book sClnded on the third page;
"onr history strewn with surface revontlons but
what constitutes the basis o , , c,nra. 0r
bren On Inc same which Roilin dictated
10 his pupils anL the French keyoin0n n"s ssih s
10 ar0e part of the nation the edneatloh wnlcn was
tormerV e pr few Ii has no! bau he powerto
transform that education Tie DOCKS Mnisn po ins,a
posed for the Daupbin serve 10 tiS S cnte ohseTvers
~ our national character have tnOusnt ma a, ,r
that In reforms relating to matters of 'he
distinguishing tralt ID uinidily' , .ro
p, NJ greal ls no mere bold theoretical reformcr ere
atue a ne newtworid after the image Of HE own hcy' io
indulees Ia no mere defamation against the wees o
nuf m. nf IuuIu