The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-04

most attenuated thread, often lost TO sight,
barely connects the different scenes which he
sets forth. Although dealing exclusively with
the subiect,matter Of modern French dramas,
he has evolved no dramatic complication. Only
a very small part OF what Is done has any logical
connection with what precedes IT, The cheap
melodramatc catastrophe Is indeed the con-
sequence Of a carelessly written and more care
lessly preserved telegram. But aside from this
the acts Of his personages produce only remote.
II any noticeable, results. The loves Of Digger
Indian. or OF young ram. during the season Of
his first Introduction iuto societr. would make n
more elevated story, fully as Interesting, quite
as coherent, and Of infinitely more real hui
man interest II would exhibit more CON
stancy. more respectful sentiment, and great
deal more respectful manliness on the part OF the
lover than that shown by NJ. Arsene Houssaye's
chosen hero. The work is utterly without artis-
tic plan and symmetry Yet the author talks
much about art and fills pages with duh inven-
tories Of pretty things and knick-knacks with
which the houses OF his great people are filled,
that would serve for an auctioneers cata-
logue, and are just as interesting reading.
He seems to consider himself competent to in
struct people about every other subject as well
as In regard to the chastity OF women and the
virtue OF men. Therefore from time TO time he
introduces long essays upon almost any subje
Swedenborg, repentant courtesaus, ST. Lazare,
written in such n style that the reader il NJ a
loss which most TO marvel at. the manifest at
tempts at epigrammatic effect, or the shallow
ness OF thought. But these essays occupy space
and help to all up the eight volumes.
Everywhere the author manifests an utter
lack Of heart sincerity, and belief in anything
manly and venerable, to say nothing Of higher
objects OF reverence and faith. He appears in
this work to be kind OF hollow Intelligence
from which all masculine strength, all honor
able sentiment, and all healthy impulses have
been alike exhausted.
A. II feeling conscious that the lack Of any
dramatic interest In his story, or, rather stories
the want Of any struggle between virtue or anne
and temptation In the breasts OF the women
through whom he Whites n whole sex. must rem
der his volumes dull. unattractive, and COMPARE
lively inefficient for evil. the author makes an
appeal to vanity for help In carrying on his in
fernal work.
her fan than IN the soyerelgniy 81 her virtue The
d,v vrtm" has ~ dSs,ofisni s ~
iDc chains Passion. wnen II docs not bu,1, when 1t
know not what rresi .tble desinrOitHre
That Is to say, when virtuous woman has be-
come unchaste, when pure wife has become
an adulteress, II with her honor she has also
lost conscience and shame, 50 that she neither
bushes. nor weeps, nor hangs her head, but
has the bearing and enrontery OF an aban-
doned woman then she becomes supremely
beautiful and irresistibv attractive IN the eyes
OF NJ. Ars6ne Houssaye.
Enough has been said and cited TO show that
this author is an Infamous nbeler Of the whole
female sex. and especially OF MS own country
women. But II his ISLANDERS had not been
comprehensive enough to suit his craving for
lewdncss, ne characterizes Paris aud its society
as follows:
Paris Is the city Of pardon and Of forgetfulness.
Mhac'er ma, have been the noise Of the iall. Parts
rigid saloons Will not shut their doors against her,
espcciay IL she appears With man Of fashion IN the
WI H., ", az , Siups Nnpi ps"le ~, oe
night.
II this were true, would 1t not show that at
Paris even public opinion presents no bar to the
most unrestrained lcentiousnessf Were an
English or an American writer to make charges
OF the same kind, though not half so sweeping,
against French women and French society, that
gallant nation would. with one voice, cry out
against the villainy. II that people be regarded
by foreigners as one with whom female virtue
Is held in low esteem, 1t has only to thank such
OF Its writers as NJ. Houssaye. Until he. and the
crew TO which he belongs, shall be exterminated
| from French soil, that nation must suffer the
| opprobrium which they cast upon II. But NJ.
Houssaye Is not wanted in America. He must
not be sent here. Even while writing these vol
unes he could not abstain from insulting the
American name, aud attempting 70 smeai
American women. His hero was once In the
| Western world:
wha, did he bring back from the country OF Frank
| I'm? hucn gold and the love Of gold II there
aOoye all, that he comprrhcnded that dolir
intclhscnce than man aud that huuured thous nj
| dollars have more virtue than woman American
Yet Boston publishing house has gathered
his Tribune letters in a volume for the reading o.
our wives and daughters!
The style in which this author writes cannot b,
commended. lie is always straining after effect
trying to strike the reader. TO produce theatri
cal points. His sentiment is weak, mawkish
| mAudlin. lie mixes In the most incongrunui
manner things that the world holds in respec
with things which. in general, all mankind hol,
In adherence. AS a specimen Of the kind o
poetic fancies with which he aniicts the reader
note the following. Violette is supposed 10 b
dead a swallow half tanned has been caught
and a violet ribbon found about its neck. Thi
was evidence that the bird had been petted b
Niolettc, and the tiny creature Is set at liberty
after receiving this charge
eSa 10 S the mon non fVPS es ar enough n ia
wave ~ thy wing IN memory Of me
Awork without any strong redeeming qualit,
Whlcn SHOWS no aFtlrtt reason Tor tr own eN
istence which Is deficient in interest, even 70
the most depraved. which can but excite til
detestation Of such just-minded persona IA ma
be cons rained to read 1t, which should copsig
its author TO infamy-such is this production {
NJ. Arsene lIoussaye; and such are others-a
OF his writings. BY their fruits shall ye kno'
them.
It was reserved for Jay Gould and his sto,
pigeon, after having prostiuted the Tribune I
the meretTcious ends ofstock Jobbing, 10 parad
also IN Its columns the special literature
Partisan harotry in the letters OF Monsieu
Arsene lloussaye.
TRITELLERS .1NNOYED.