New-York tribune., 1873-02-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
s,,NTE. pEuyE's MEMOIRS OF MADAME DEs-


Among the admirable qualities Of NJ. sainte-Beuve |
~hich gave him such signal mastership in the exer-
e of the critical function hIs exquisite percep
1on of character no less than the acuteness OF his
literary judgments. To him the element of most pro-
Sonns interest IN book was revelations of human
nature He valued literature not much as an
illustration of principles, as an opportunity LOT
pympathy, In his view, an original character was
clothed wS,h all the destinations of work OF ATT
he was never weary Of studying its texture OF
bringing TO light lite delicate and subtle graces OF
pointing out the hidden traits which were the secret
Of its influence and lts charm he reoced as keenly
in the discovery of virtue many critics do IN the
expasure of fault The soul of man TO him was the
roost wonderfuproduct of creative power the object
offender sympathy no less than of religious homage
tss endowments its aspirations, and especially It's
orrows had acharacter of divine sanctity, revealing
the presence Of the Infinite with less force than
the voice from Sinai OF the flames of the burning
bash. He hsd passion not only to disclose the
soul of goodness in things evil but TO invest
acknowledged excellence with fresh eolors of
radiance snd beauty.
In the Yresent volume he has selected an example
which ~ indebted for its attractions to no pride OF
circurns ance or spendor of environment but solely
90 the modest excelences that nurured by the
discipline Of sorrow, with reflected brilliancy
from tle sunshine of worldly prosperity Madame
Desbsrdes-V Valmore by genius and temperament was
anat ral poet. Her verses were the expression Oh
her Tie, echoing her cries of love and grief. The
pnrfose of NJ Sante Beuve however is TO illustrate
not he poet, but the woman. He would present a
manual for all who have the sensibveness of the
artist. and more especially for women with hearts
b soft and proud that bleed 10 the very last but
neye despair.
Madame DesbOrdcs- Vamore was born in Douai,
June 2O 1886, and died in Paris July %, 1859. Her
father was heraldic painter. The Revolution put
IN end 70 the demand for armorial embellishments,
and became necessary TO seek some other means OF
subsistence In i,9], the young Marcellne accompa-
MED her mother to Guadeloupe, where they counted
OH finding a relative who had there amasSed
fortune. They arrived however, when the
conut1y was in a blaze Of revolt, the
yellow fever raging their relative dead, and the
mother Of Nile Dcsbordes soon fell victim
to the epidemic The child was received by the
wife Of a >mp-owner from Nantes and passage en-
gagged for her on vessel bound for France The
ship encountered violent storm, and Marcehne
would not be persuaded TO 60 below. The sailors
who had become attached to her, tied her among the
shrouds, from which she witnessed tho conflict Her
artist nature was revealed in the delicate girl of
fourteen years. Her modesty aud courage Wen the
interest of all board except the captain, coarse
and brutal man. who conceived designs Of the
basst character. Unable 10 accomplish his pur-
pose, he became her enemy, and left no
means Of annoyance uninterrupted Under pretense
of obtaining the price Of her passage, he took pos
session Of her scanty effects that landing at
Dnnkirk she entirely destitute. Life thus early
presented to her an ungraciOus and cruel aspect.
She found her family in the depths Of poverty, and
after a long struggle she decided TO tempt her for
tune upon the stage.
She began at the theater Of Lille with everything
So learn in regard TO her profession. 1t was
only by studious nights, close economy, and many
priyatiouS that she was enabled TO pass the ordeal
The tax too great for her strength but she gave
way only IN secret One day she dropped in q swoon
upon the staircase, and was taken up 10y a neighbor
who had been startled by the noise of her fall At
this time she formed a habit OF suffering, which
softcned her talent but passed into the essence Of
her life.
Her next engagement at Rouen, where she
played the simple and innocent parts, that were in
singular harmony with her pure aud ingenious ma
ture She had not studied at any school or con-
seryatOry, had of mannerism no little arti
fetal ways and trusted entirely TO the prompt1ngs
Of her fine spontaneous genius. She gave trans
parent significance TO the words by her natural in
Elections and in comic passages especially was very
elective Some actors from Paris happened to OBJ
serve her performance and their return spoke of
her fJy0rably 10 GretTy. the celebrated COM
poser, that,he was led 10 undertake the charge Of
her cateducation. He gained fatherly
interest the young artist, whose noble but sad
preston mgde him call her the little dethrODed
queen" Tn der his auspices she quickly TO dis
tncUen Her many rare and refined qualities
swsk ened husiasn especially in pathetic and i'm
paSsiOHed paris although she slightly lacked the
physical energy TO set them of to the best advant-
age. After herfrst success in Paris pecuniary diff
entities compelled her TO sacrifice the future to the
present and 10 laccept an engagement at Brussels.
She afiswaId returned to the tbeater of RoueD,
where size played light comedy with great
applause, but h,u singing days were over. AT
twenty Sic says. my private griefs compelled me
20 give up singing, for the sound Of my own voice
made IDe weep I'ut the music reverberated in my
kehiDg braip andi my thoughts involuntarily ar
ranged theuselws in harmonious numbers
"Music" add Sa Ite- Beuve, "was beginning to
turn to poetry witt un her. and it came 10 pass
that the elegy one ~ bOssOmed upon her lips"
Summoned 20 the Od6On in 1878, she first appeared,
March a. IN the {art W Claudine in piece Of Pgault
marked ~ several parts, and particularly
that OF Euaiie ln % MssnthrOpy and Repentance" so
many tears were sttd over her performance that
day wicked wit had heard tell ef this fearful and
irresistible triumph nd who attributed It TO the nfatu
alton Of the public enny took his seat in the balcony
and ostentaousy spa esd out upon the railing couple
of white IN order to stanch the foods of
The piece began hc lists ming az the outset with the most
cheerful counten2pce ~ order 70 render hs nelghDors
emotion; and fnaLy, in the scene where Eulaie pours
forth The anguish Of heri1roken near upon The breast
of the countess hardly breath was drawn 10 was no
few stfed stghs beard here aud there about
the ball then finally ne face OF the malicious critic
Itself changed he put his h ndkefehleis away, and only
used them furt1vey 10 wipe away some genuine tears
Such the " ths5 simple natural playing. OF
whose ccmQass so wide It's notes tender
and Drilling yet whose prevsa ling strain OF emotion djd
net preclude, upon occasion ceents OF exceeding light
noes and gayety.
In lFi5 she ret,,rDed IN RrU1sels where two wears