New-York tribune., 1874-07-08
JULES JANIN.

lflsoh An OCCASIONAL CORREsPQHDKNT OF THE TRIBUNE
PARIS, June a2-TO-day Jules Janin, the
Prince Of Critics." is to be buried at EmeIx. where
his wifes family comes from. In point OF view j.
j. as he was always called buried nearly two years
ago. when he quilted the post Of theatrical critic 10 the
Journal des DtbqLs Immediately after his admission to
the Academy, at whose doors he lad long knocked.
Fffory years Jules Janin contributed weekly article
very Monday TO the De5dts almost almost always
on some subject connected with the theater.
For twelve years past more he had hardly
ever been inside theater, rarely leaving his
pleasant chalet and pretty garden at Passy.
How could theatrical critic criticise PLAYS without
having seen them actedi Is very natural inquiry.
rays are sometimes criticised by people who have
never seen them played, Just as books are sometimes
reviewed without the having read a line O1
them' Jann, however had curious way of obtaining
the materials for his notices OF plays In his latter
days when he had become old III, and.
afraid 1t must be added, TOO lazy go himself TO the
theater. He was well known by all writer's as the
leading critic in France the absolute authority theat
rlcal matters from whose verdict there appeal.
that all dramatic authors OF any note, and not few
who we're Of no note at ALL the habit OF paying
visit to his pretty chalet at Passy, before their
pieces were brought in order 70 try and endeavOr to
induce the great critic TO say good word FOR their
lures. Knowing his Weakness very amiable weak
ness some people Will think-the wary author had
invented way OF pleasing Jules Janin, saving
him all trouble about even sending his
wife or other literary person their newborn plays.
This plan to have off single copy
best papier de Hollande that money could bay with all
the wealth OF margin photographers love so well, for
presentation copy to Jules Janin. The photographer
seldom failed get the better OF the critic, and the
writer's who had called on the DCbdts feuetOnlst with
the unique copies seldom had cause to regret the trouble
and expense they had been at when the weekly article
which used TO form the event the literary world OF
Paris, made its appearance next Monday morning.
friend who knew Jules Janin well told lately
that he remembered amusing instance Of the truth
Of Taileyrands saying Pas E0D de Zeie" IN connection
with Jules Jdnin love for unique editions OF plays.
Gong one day to call the great critic, this friend
found him IN an exceedingly bad temper-a very rare
event, for, even in his criticism but still in his
private relations he the sweetest tempered Of
Just fancy my dear friend" he exclaimed, that bar
barian s. Gt Yctorien Sardou think has Just
been here with copy papie de HOande ofthe play he
has IN rehearsal AZ the Gymnase and do you know what
he has done He has had it bound. just look at IT,"
need not tell your bookloving readers that having a
newly printed book bound at all il "A cardinal SIM the
great pressure made use OF by the binder almost
variaby causing the fresh printers ink TO stain the
pages In the present instance too the margins OF the
volume cut down instead OF being LETT in all their
original breadth and roughness they from the
hands of the printer.
For books Jules Janin always had the greatest love-
and his collection Passy always been spoken Of
as one Of the choicest in Paris. He has also curious
collection OF autographs, Cor during nearly 40 years no
author in France ever neglected 70 send a copy
OF his last work with afectiOnate dedica-
ton in his wittiest handwriting to the ac-
knowledged Prince OF critics. dams son chdtet de
Pussy as he himself accustomed 10 say. This chalet
the realization Of Jules Jauin's dreams. To have a
garden OF his in Paris and yet far from the
crowd his ideal. To live without q garden was 70
him impossible % live without books. Ia early
life he occupied the ground floor OF grand hotel in the
Rue de Tournon, and had the Of gOri-
Gus old gardens once 80 common in the FaubOurg ST.
Germain but OF which Hausmann and his sOcalled lin
provements" 80 cruelty reduced the numbers during
the Second Empire. Finding that his expenses were
too large for his the Rue dc Tournon Jules
Jaun removed to a fifth floor in the Rue de Naucirard
whence he had splendid OF what was-aas that
should have 70 the past tense-the most beauti.
fu OF all the gardens OF Paris that OF the Luxembourg
Haussmann has swept away the better part Of that.
TOO, OF much else IN Paris This Will
be my garden henceforth," said the critic, and
20 this humble lodging he brought his ricn,
young wife, who lived there very contentedly
with 'him for many years. although Madame Jules
Jann's fortune is said to have exceeded s50JOO0 NJ
Arsene Houssaye OF the wttest but also OF the
most inaccurate OF living Frenchlnen says that Jann
built his chalet without troubling himself about any
thing but his wife5 chamber and room for his books
This is mistake. Jules Janin TOOK the greatest pos
sbe pains the construction OF his house. and has
even given description Of 1t IN his book the Comics du
Chdlet in which he tells that he Swiss archi-
build IL, with NJ. Seller another architect and NJ
GJdde to design and carry out the internal decorations
OF the house. There was also landscape gardener NJ
Lemchez, to lay the garden. Ny chalet consists"
says Jules Janin in the account OF his house which
have mentioned, of couple OF floors and a ndnsarde
beautiful tiled roof covers and completes my abode
cool in Summer in Winter, all impregnated with
the soft odors Of the pine of the Alps. II the
modest one one boast that the park the gardens
and the orchard many marvels. You fud
therein a little fountain, a reservoir, clump OF
pines and another Of old trees oak, beech, an an
cestra elm. Sacred trees Tney have seen the Queen
OF France, Marie Antoinette, walking beneath their
branches the little Dauphn, the martyr, aud Mad
anne Elisabeth another Queen OF France by right of
beauty and grace and piety and misfortune" The last
phrase contains allusion to the fact that JANUS
chalet was built on ground which formerly formed part
OF the park OF the Chateau de la Muette OF the ia
vor.te residences OF Louis XVI. Initiating Montague
whom he reseinbed in his easy, haliskepca views Of
life Jdnn had Inscribed different notices on the facade
OF bis chalet On side you read two lines from the
poet Rcguer
PIT Dsu nons preserve 'n r, has mond e'
suspect that Jann mad but too often put up
the prayer 70 be spared from the impOrtdnates who
we're but TOO frequent visitors at his chalet In another
ulace he had had inscribed the famous line which lie
himself called &c conseil et CO consolation"
"Qui ne s4i hon,r sui jamiis e'rve.'j
Inside the chalet on the first hoOr there very
handsome dining room, with "A tasteful Renaissance
chimney piece staircase, whose walls are lined with
rare prints. leads TO the second floor Joining the
d,nug-room is the dead critics working -room-at
library and drawing room. Here lie had spent the
greater part Of Is years OF his ie. Four large
carved oak bookcases contained his beloved books
NJ Arene Houssaye says he had all sorts OF rare book
But here again fancy VI. HOussaye is inaccurate, az
he,eye Japins books were rather than