New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-02
TIE GOSSIP IN LITERATURE.

MERIMEE's LETTERS TO AN INCOGNIrA-A TYPICAL
FRENCHMAN-A THEORY OF ART-ENGIIsH NOTES.
NEW-BRIGHTON Oct. 1.-IIistOran, novelist,
Academician Senator brilliant man of society, Prosper
Merim6e made his career almost in everything
but happiness. His rich aud splendid culture MS NOR
bdness WEAKNESS defeated OF half its ends Vanity
he had none and little thought for glOrywhat could
fame be "a who skepc as to goodness
honor love, unseliishnessi He repressed sensibity
until that repression grew to be second nature
and bitter pride and cynical melancholy
possessed him. Tame describes him as a tall, erect,
pale man who excepting MS smile, had very much the
appearance of an E1glishman at least he possessed
that cold, distant air that repes all familiarity
Remember to distrus.,' was his motto. To guard
against impulse. ardoT. and enthusiasm never entirely
allow himself full play to manai alwaysa personal
reserve to be the dupe neither of Others nor ofhmSelf
to act and write If perpetuay in the presence
Of hooking spectator-such was the ga
lient feature which, craven more and more
deeply into his nature, left Its Imprint on every
phase Of his life his work. and his talent Reuau has
called him the Petronus OF has time. and a recent
English writer thinks him type Of the modern race OF
Frenchinen. man whose adam mime nature was the
receptacle Of all doubts and disDelies He STOOD
says this critic, "an image of perfection In character
strong nvunerabe skeptlc, whose acquired oughness
was proof alike against love and hatreJ-a human
Mephistophees. not OF the capacity Of Goethc's but
rather Ike the evil spirit such as he mas been
personifed by q famous singer-polished, refined.
elegant stabDing with daggers OF the finest
steel and richest work. darling murierous epgram in
the choicest language, working the same havoc as the
bitter spirit of German creation but killing, tearing.
and wOunding with the exquisite pOliteness OF perfect
gentleman" Ali his spiritual fatigue and restessnesS.
his stern imDatiencc. his exquisite humor and rapid
gterns wit contained IN his Letters TO an Incog
nita," woman he pictures as charming, beautiful,
nd harl-bearted.
been discovered by the world, and 1t
may easily DO that she was merely pleasant myth,
gracious vision round which hsfancy srdyed whom he
attacked sometimes with btng irony, wooing her now
like Winter and rough weather, and now like August
sunshine and at last writing to her as to bright
friend to whom alone he could conde the chronic dis
gust and disbelief filed his life. It is these letters
q translation Of which forms the LARGEST and
most notable parts of the coming third vol
ume OF tho piquant Brica-Brac series Its
editor Mr. r. H. Stoddard, quotes the statement OF the
London Quarterly Reriew against the assumption Of
some Mern6es friends that the letters were meant to
be romance made TO real by The Interviewing of
petty details of actual life. The Rerew says IAN artist
like Merimee would not Lave left his work in un
formed state defaccd by repeitions, with such
a of proportion between the parts II seems TO
me that that is exactly what artist like MerimGe
would have DONE foreseeing and intending q thor
ough mystiicaiion. 1t is thing perfectly
readers with the Spanish sword and cloak comedies
which he gave as TRANSACTIONS from the OF an I'M
known writer The correspondence extends from 1872
to 1870, The last short note being written two hours
before his death, and is full OF witty pictures OF
his travelling experiences. his lie III Paris, aud the
modern Frenchmen whom he knew. HIS satirical
dagger never far lis countrymen are
he says, is made up of set OF scapegraces nconsis
tent antiartlstic illogical, bgoed and not pos
sessing the religion that comes from the heart" He
had political leanngs when he became Senator Of
empire, but did he declares, because "tyrants
had over Republicans the advantage of washing their
hands" But he seemed to like his visits at
Fontainebleau with the Emperor and En-
press as host aud hostess. lie Of his
master he has way peculiar TO himself
OF saying things. and when he speaks as Sovereign
contrves to the impression that he is Of finer
porcelain" He notes speech OF the Prince Imperial
in 6l that he always bows the people because they
drove away Louis Philippe, who was not good
with them" What waste OF conviction and energy
At Barritz, in co. Mermee. visiting Villa Eugenie writes
that the cooks didn't sc0ur their saucepans and
cordingy Sovereigns and guests We're all poisoned.
While at the receptions there Is dolOrous care
taken place the Northern and Southern Americans on
different sides Of the salon lest they should eat each
other He tires criticisng the large feet aud
frantic costumes Of the Englishwomen and the cold
ness" stupidity" and "snginess OF their masculine
relatives He says OF Gladstone that in some espects
he appears to him q man OF genius, in
others q child "There is in him something
of tho child, the statesman, and the Cou"
Balls, books battles fashions, politics-of all these
Mernee writes Incognta, aud in the same strain
Of witty irony and flashing judgment. II have left
myself no space which to speak OF the other portions
OF this Of Lamarne and George
sand-blame me but these fascinating epstles and
their writer Leaving their brightness aud their despair
Lamartine's sentiment than feeble and
unstable. ii
Mr. stoddard by the way, carries misfortune In the
shape OF wrist disabled by rheumatism. Sadly enough,
is his right one, and consequently he has bravey gone
learn to write with his left hand He has too
thoroughly the poets habit Of mind to be able dictate
to an amanuensis
The scribaer nrm are to bring out with the Merim6e
letters another book. "a Theory Of Fine Art" by
Joseph Torrey, late professor in the University Of Yer
mont Lectures given to students In this Institution
the material Of the volume. He writes OF theories
al the Beautiful Of the judgment and stsndArd tsss