The New York herald., 1873-12-14

ing his ruffied feelings She tries TO persuade
him that the critics are mistaken, that he
is genius, that all the world knows
it; and he, as matter OF course,
soon gets reconced to this cheering view. But
there is no battling against facts, and it soon be-
comes apparent that the author Is q man who
owed his first successes to mere luck and that
he has really not the stun IN him Tor great author.
lie brings out series OF plays, and when Rose
acts in them her immense talent causes them to
run wei and long; but when she is absent they
break down hopelessly. The author soon discovers,
moreover, that Tor piece OF his TO succeed II must
not only have Rose in its chief part, but must have
been inspired by Rose, and written, arranged and
altered according to her advice, for when he neg
lects TO consult his gentle monitress he finds
himself unable so much as TO build up plot. This
discovery sours him. Instead OF being grateful
to the devoted girl who sacrifices herself completely
to him, instead OF marrying her, IL was his
duty TO do he feels natred towards her and
deserts her for the daughter OF rich
grocer, whom he weds in his passing
fit or spite and with whom he lives in homely re-
trement for Eve years. At the end OF that time,
however, the author feels tired OF the so-iety OF
his unimaginative and rather prosy, though good,
little wife, and begins to sigh anew for the excite
ment OF dramatic triumphs. The chance revival OF
one OF his early pieces and the success which at
edy; bur Rose is longer by his side to offer her
wise, sweettoned counses, and the author throws
down his pen IN dismay. feeling that the spirit has
departed from him. Then all his passion for the
girl he has wronged occurs suddenly and with ter
rib,e violence He rejects on the career OF glory
he might have led had he linked Roses life to his,
and he sets OF for Paris throws himself at Roses
feet prays her to forgive him and offers to forsake
his vile and children II she will consent to live
in his company. She is too pure-minded
TO accept such proposal; and the au-
thor. IN despair. gives himself up to drink
and eventually commits suicide. The plot OF NJ.
| Cadols novel is spirited enough but the great
merit OF the book lies in its finely drawn pictures
| OF French dramatic life. Knowing much OF actors
and actresses. the author hits or their peculiari
ties, foibles petty quarrels jealousIes and mean
nesses with master hand; and yet he does full
justice the higher aspects OF artistic character
the generous impulses, lofty ambition and solid
domestic virtues which often animate the devotees
OF Thalia and Melpomene.
Three other novels but OF more substantial
order. have lately been welcomed by the Partisan
public. They are
HIGHLY EXCITING BOOKS,
and their names are :-s'Tragique Aventure lie
Bal Masque,r by Arsene Houssaye: .PQurqGoi,"
by Eugene Chavette, and '.L'Assassin du Bel An
was the Empress Eugenie's iavorite novelist has
a peculiar style OF writing; his subjects are
also very peculiar, and nothing more need
be said OF his latest production than
that it dissects the vices OF modern French
Society with an unsparing hand. NJ ChaVette is
Partisan Miss Braddon, and his "PourquoY"
consists OF 800 pages OF GREATNESS adventure re-
volving round the question, ssWnat interest had
certain rich, happy and By no means insane man
TO commit suicide by throwing himself down an
Alpine cliff" When the mystery is cleared up it
turns out that the gentleman in question had in.
sured his lie for u, 900 francs, and wanted his
children to enjoy this soon as possible,
without having to wait till they got 1T in the natu-
raj order OF things. NJ. Chavette seems TO think
his hero very worthy man, for he takes such pre-
cautions that his death is attributed TO an acc-
dent; and NJ. Chayette enlarges 50 much on the
beauties OF fatherly devotion that he almost leads
US TO think that defrauding insurance company
may under given circumstances, be an act OF com
mendable virtue. NJ. Paul Pariait's novel, "L'As-
sassin du Bel Antoine" is based on the
ALWAYS thrilling plot OF murder being COM
mitted by one man and being LAID upon
the shoulders OF guiltess and amiabe individual,
who only succeeds In establishing his innocence in
the last chapter but one. This book very ably ex-
poses the defects Of French judicial institutions,
and gives US romantic insights into French prison
lie. 1t is so realistic, however, and contains SO
many .blood-and bones- passages that 1t should
not be read Immediately before bedtime, save by
those who have a decided fancy for nightmare. |
have spoken ofthe five newest and best novels; but
have not yet mentioned the best book Of the sea-
son, which Is unquestsonably
''PAUL DE KocK.s PosTHUMoUs MEMoIRs.n
This is not a novel, but it reads like one. Paul
de Kock tells us in his first chapter that he was
not a republican, because the Republic OF 1898 cut
his fathers head of on 1imsy grounds when he
tPauD was but Is months old. His mother
married twice, however and each OF her hus-
bands oddly. Young Paul much wished
at first to be a fiddler. but his second father
in-law, being intent on seeing him become a
lawyer cufed his ears; whereat Paul absconded
from home and was no more heard OF until he sent
his parents presentation copy ofhis first novel, for
which had been paid him f20. Paul de kock 5 novels
took the public by surprise, but achieved an imme-
diate and colossal popularity. From 1896 to 1870
they were the pet literary food or all French
schoolboys students and shopgrls and were also
much read by foreigners to whom, by the way,
they communicated somewhat odd notions or
French ways and morals. Paul de KOck relates
with pride that King Louis Philippe used
TO send his novels as fast they appeared to
Queen Victoria, which consider rather hazard
Gus assertion; but 1t is certain that Pope
Gregory XVI. was one OF Paul de koch's admirers.
for he went the length of Offering him an order Of
knighthood Paul de Kock died last year In the
set OF apartments on the Boulevard du Temple
which he had occupied uninterruptedy for AZ
years, and he has left behind him ll5 novels the
greatest number ever written by one man, with
the single exception OF Alexandra Dumas. Alex
andre Dumas novels however, were not all
original Tor the author had often had other writer's
to help him; whereas Paul de Rocks IL books all
came lrom his own brain ana were penned with
his own sole hand. Americans would do well to
read "Paul de Rocks Memoirs.n They give
truer account OF the social history OF Paris during
the last so years than many a grayer book, and
they wonderfully amusing-indeed, almost
farcicay so.