The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-16
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FRENCH
ACADEMY.

soldier; yet those who reach it are sub
jected'to trial hardly compatible with it's
dignifed character. The Academy does
not elect man unless he presents himself
as candidate, which means that he must
call on each of the forty and solicit his
vote. Even if the candidate is sure of his
election, he is held to comply with the
usage. Where there is little chance ofsuc-
cess, the candidate is often. encouraged
through that French politeness which can
not say no. Occasionally he is subjected
to little catechism in a general way in
reference to his claims. One candidate
thus questioned said that he had made a
book on the Babylonian arch. g. WHAT"
exclaimed the academician ; published
one on that subject in 1927" The other
had not seen it. "You have not seen it,"
returned the immortal Indignantly. The
candidate meaut to say that he had seen it
and read it with much interest "Then.
sir,' observed the academician, " since
sexhausted the subject, you have plagiar-
lied me-you are on the worst horn OF the
dilemma. l bid you good morning, sir"
Academicians are as susceptible to fiat
terry as other men, and the candidate who
goes heartily into the canvass endeavors to
get an idea of all the books which they
have written, to be able to talk about them
with some intelligence. This is an un-
grateful task, as one can fancy. Musty
volumes out of date, which fell still-born
into the world at the time of publication,
on such themes as the Typography of
the Tomb Of the Kings and the "Sarco-
phagus of Herod," must be hunted up and
gone through with. Man is apt to guage
other mems knowledge by his own hence,
when an applicant knows nothing of the
d" Sarcophagus of Herod," to which the
academician has devoted his life, he is an
ignoramus if he knows something about
the ancient kings stone coffin, the bridge
Of signs may be converted into the bridge
of joy.
Philarete Charles, witty savant, for
Dong time correspondent of the London
o. Athenaum," was asked why he gave up
trying to be niched in the Mazarin temple.
~ 1t is very simple answered he; "the
Hast selections were enough for me-taxi-
.dermic business. J'ai je veux vivre."
Beranger said that the Academy was de-
voted to mediocrity, adding, &c Les abats-
jours ont haine du soleil - which was
Enthusiastically scornful concerning u
privileged class, and hardly half true.
According to academic gossip, as one of
those who live forever was descending his
stairway, he encountered his porter, who
was waxing the stairs. With smile OF
Mephistepheles he said to the waxer,
81 Make it as slippery as you can, am to
be annoyed with callers to-day, and if two
or three break their necks, their fate may
possibly deter Others A candidate, over
hearing him, hurried off, returned, strewed
under the academicialfs door. on which
was written, "X-, candidate, who, de-
string to be immortal, does not want to
break his neck"
Epigrams have been made on the Acad
envy and the academicians ever since it
became what it is-some innocent and
some with sting. The words of one of
its ancient members, D'Alembert, still
holds goods "The French Academy is an
object of ambition, secret or avowed, OF
nearly every man Of letters-even of those
who make wicked epigrams against it."
Voltaire was one OF those who made it the
subject Of some of his sharpest witticisms !;
others, such as Montesqu en- and Boileau,
also wrote epigrammatic lines against it.
And it is worthy of remark that, when
those who have attacked this body for its
faults before part of it, they fall into the
academical groove, and do as the others
do, their animosities burn out, and they
take the institution into their hearts
Victor Hugo, however, being an exception
an not accepting and assuming its manners
and opinions. The French are not pa
tient people, but they all have patience to
wait for vacancy in the Mazarin palace,
and to hope for it as long as they live.
The Academy has good effect on those
who are outside of it in stimulating them
to work to get into it; but once within,
there is general letting up in the way of
3abor, and it is to be feared that much of
their time is passed in the inactivity of de-
clining faculties, for most of them are very
old, out of the actual currents of thought.
and living so much in the past as hardly
to know names that are ON everybody's
lips. Old men do not easily learn new
things. The candidates so into severe
training, and, if he wins, seeks repose in
his academic chair The he;ohts opoo