, 1874-04-11

large the CIRCULATION OF LEO volume, tho present
neat and relatively cheap edition Of the text
alone has been provided.
Taine's trip to the Pyronees, which evidently
constituted summers 81 outing, extended from
Bordeaux to the coast, through the Valleys Of
Ossau and Luz. to Bagueree, luchou, aud
Toulouse. It WAS prosecuted alone, and, judg-
ing from the record, in a cynical sati1ical, and
unSracious spirit In truth, in no other OF
Taines volumes has he appeared to such disad-
vantage, socially and intellectually. He finds
unaloyod pleasure IL neither man nor nature.
and hardly rela1ea into downright good-naturo
from the beginning to tho end OF his journey.
His feelings are reflected in his language, which
is abrupt, jcrky, aud disconnected, to thai de-
grea that it becomes positively tedious.
This is An unexpected commont to pass On 4
writing OF tho brilliant, captivating Taino. who
has heretofore gained only hearty plaudits for
his splendid style and still more splendid faculty
for analysis, discernnent, and decision. But
even the st1ongest-Wingod cannot always sustain
themselves aloft. and :he bold, keen-wltted
Frcnchman has here descended from his &c
customed heights to lovol with inferior men.
There aro tr2ces OF his great power now and
then, but they are not pronounced or prolonged.
Ia single sentences no sometimes flashes the
full radiance OF his intellect but it seldom flames
over m entire page, or even paragraph. or tho
few fine passages that occur at lnfrequent inter-
walls, We copy the following, which, 1T tho on
trance Of the volume, holds out q deluslvo PROM
iso Of abundant treasures Of the sort fazthoE in.
It is description of tho river at hoyan:
Tho banks. frnged With pale veriure, glide right
and Left far 1way to the verge o. heaven the river
you two hedges the trees dimly Lift their decaa
shapes in q robe Of blush gsuze; here and there,
go Il s' and eh an
inexpressible in these first hues OF the id
day. sofened stn BY the fog which e1hses from tho
deep river As for the river ITSELF Its waters stretch
out joyous aud splendid ths riaing sun poNrs upon
It's breast long streales Of gold tho hrecze covers
1t With scaes its eddies stretch themselves and trem
ble nhe IN awaktng serpent, and, when the bllov
heaves them, you seem to SEQ the striped TANKS, the
tawny cuirass, Of = lavi4than.
must I've and feel; 1t h.s 4 strange loot, when 1t
eomcs transparent and sobze. to stretch i:seN upon
and trritated it beatx them with s waveleta it
crs them, then retires. then oomcs bAck egzin with
is snsky eddes. its itie crest. suddenly boaten down
blackened. resemble the flashes Of passion ia tmpa
tient mother, vito hovets necessarily and Au1iousy
about her children, and covers them no: know
tug what sho wants or fears. Presently cloud
has covered tbs heavcns, and the wind has risen.
n moment tha river has assumed tho aspect Of
crafty and savage animal It followed aisen, anu
showed it's vd ee i .xapst the ksa Eh "a
nftod 10 themsel7e4 md crowded tosether, ike tbs
VI
passed aaslcs with sinister smiles the mast groaned,
and tho recs len. shiyering Like ner7aea crowd be-
% hushed The sun had burst forth, tho waves were
smoothed, You now saw only laughing e1panse;
spun this polished back thousand greenish
tresse4 sperted wantonlJ tho light rested it, ikea
diaphanous mantle it followed ths supple movements
and tbs twisting Of those liquid ars itfollod around
their capriccs ard their mobia colors; tie river
meanwhile, eu1nbrous in It's great, peaeefu bed was
stretched cut at the feet Of the h5 which looked down
S}-A{ jy,.yro hin AND Afa rnNf
In amusing contrast to the fullness and finish
OF the above description is the appended extract
from Journal Of m ascent to the summit OF the
PIC du Midi OF Dlsorre:
Bet ont in tho mist at O'Clock in the morning. The
pastures Of Tau through the mist secs the mist.
The Lake Of oncet through the mist same view.
iae. 'pf pf Ge ioot Il e dy~hs
stuck behind : leaf Of biotting-paper.
be ID 10 ts Of one smother: tia recalls to mo Lablares
ri1ingachool, and tho fifty horses advancing grace
fully the sawdus each ous With bis nose a3ainst
nose OF bis follower it used to bo on Thursdays, the
schoo-day for going out and for the ridag-lesBon
cradle myself voluptuousiy in the poetcal rsmam-
bronce
headquarters Of his horse The guido has vest Of
aud on the left the horse aud bears
the mark of tho whip. Several big pebbles in the
seconi hoar: tbs visw eularges; / rerceiv. the
left eye oi the guldaa horse. 1Aat sgs Is phno II
lo5ss rH n1inng ore m. x,v t,o,dsr. ,no,, v;.u of
the headquarters Of two horses and two tou:sts'
fifteen feet shove Gray vests, rcd gir3es bezcss
F3urth hour; JOY and V Transports; tbs gaids
promises n1o for thu summit tbs Wow Of sez Of
trr:,1. yiov If n, "a, AZ c1ouas unb.nnv va
arc Ia tho clouds. Appearance that of yapor-bath
"4en oo Is nj IN Iae 70 1n,n na b.,5 r,sn, in Tim ,e-t
1umbsro. freozng,-s11cn happiness a. man might
feel who hsd danced as:endanes tn N ant'-chamoer
"4.lutt And hi. Ii.I h.ppeu. of:enl
Twice out Of three taes. Ths guides swear 1t does
not,
.ni,I ~, auu sal ;tao1r ~ h,e r;rd vh,n
he saw the sea foP the trst time:
/. w.s morning in autumn 1ocks ot purpnsh
cloud dapp'ed the SKY !; gentle braeza covered sne
those ious stretches Of beToo that are Often found
in tho environ, oi Paris, Interested b patches Of
green eapoaees -na uAnu. - orr +r,v.,or
hoa,,iiaa i;s .ci;r,n hv onntirr copious uaasaras
nh.