The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-22
LITERATURE IN FRANCE.

LITERATURE IN FRANCE.
L'AMoUs EN- cE TEMPS La. BY Arsene Houssaye.
Paris: Dentu.
This book Is a witty medley OF historical disqui.
sitlons on the society under the Regency and the
reign OF Louis XIV NJ. Arsene Houssaye is writer
well acquainted with the seamy side Of history
that which relates TO intrgues OF court boudoirt
and dining rooms He would have US believe
that this Is the only true history. aud may be he
Is right. MOLE State matters have certainly been
planned over dinner tables than In Cabinet Coun.
ellis, and, as to ladies' no one will care to question
the important part they have always played in the
game OF politics. The first portion Of the book
treats OF the loves Of Philip, OF Orleans and Mme.
de Paraoere. Then follows a long account OF the
lite and writings of the Able Provost author o.
"Manon Lescaut." This famous writer, who may
be described as the Arsene Houssaye OF the
eighteenth century, appears to have been
IN his youth as great rip as Mlrabeau
Orebillon. the younger or Pigault Leorun
turn BY turn semlnarlsr, soldier, deserter, then
semlnarst again, then once more soldier and
card'snarper he was within ace Of being
hanged. but was rescued from tue consequences
of his youthful foes by an indulgent father, aud
eventually settled down to a literary career ~
successful as 1t was brilliant His taking orders
was but proceeding common to writer's Of the
time who wished to have a footing IN good
society, for Provost never oficiated. M. Housssye
quotes several letters OF his which prove him &c
have lived IN the intimacy OF the great and to have
freely enjoyed despite his ecclesiastical cloth, the
sort OF company that Is TO be got out OF opera
dancers. These letters are extraordinarily gay
and entertaining, but yet greater curiosity 10
afforded Us by the epitome OF sequel which Pre-.
vost would seem to have written to "Manon Les.
caut." Everybody knowsi that in this remarkable
hoo v,1Ia
galante, the author kills his heroine IN the las
chapter. but yielding to the temptation
which has often beset the writer's
a paying novel, Provost was induced
to resuscitate ManOn and to continue her adven
lures through three volumes more. Not only that
but IN his sequel he de1owered the bloom Of love
ana friendship which lends such interest and
charm to the characters OF Manor, Des Grieux and
Slberge; Tor he made Des Grieux nrst marry
Manon, then tire Of her, and finally, probs pudo,,
he described Slberge, the model Of tried friends,
as seducng Manor. This untoward sequel failed
with the public as 1t deserved to do The last
part Of "LAmour en- Ce Temps La" reprints
forgotten novelette, by Jean jacques Rousseau
who, Judging by this sample, was more az homo
in philosophy and autobiography than In fiction.
Altogether, NJ Arsene Houssaye's new booK may
be commended to readers who like to spend an
evening in the society Of q well-read and not
straight-laced Frenchman.
LIE MUsEE; Reproductions des Chefs d'nuvres do
Pelnture. LIE Chevalier, Paris
NJ. LIE Chevaer has published one OF those a.
buns in which the French excel. 1t IL Q collec
ton, engraved on wood, OF masterworKs OF the
modern French School, Corot, Courbet, Daubigny,
Gerome, Hamon. Gamard, and Others are repre-
sented, and care has been taken to select suct
works as best convey an Idea of the characteristic
merits OF the different artists. Thus We have u
Galimards "Leda," conception OF wonderful
grace and freshness, and pretty we'll known even
to those who have never seen the original, BY
reason OF the storm OF criticism 1t evoked when
first exhibited. NJ. Marchal contributes his ''Sta-
tute FAIR" or hiring Of servant girls in a market
place; and IL would be difficult to ind q greater
variety and skill in the grouping Of female figures
than are displayed in this little picture. little
gem, by Carl ScnlGsser, IL entitled "lhe Singing
Lesson" and shows sweep urchin LEANING
against door and whlsthng to q blackblrd al
dusky as himself, whom he holds on his finger.
Prom NJ. Henri Monnier's humorous pencil We have
Gan Artists Head" one OF those extraordinary
studies from the lfe-half portrait half carica,
ture--whtch lead you to reflect at once that you
shave seen that face somewhere" Intentionally,
no doubt, the album has been so assorted as to
con tain pictures on every sort OF subjecr-land
scape, historical, character and home. The en-
price of the album puts 1t within reach OF every
purse. One can recommend 1t as an admira ole
course OF lessons for the ovice In painting and
pleasant volume to while away tue leisure hour
OF any person Of artistic taste.
FRoMoNT JEUNE EFT RIsLER AISE. BY Alphonse
Dsudet. Cnarpentier.
This is one OF the most carefully written novels
we have read in this period OF humid aud slovenly
compositions. The story is that Of an honest
worklng-girl and is digraced and finally driven "a
suicide by her misconduct. The character OF
Sidonie Rlsler is typical Of numerous Partisan
women OF the present day-heartless, extrava
giant, dlssolutc little minxes, who seem born only
to be the plague and uin OF worthy men. George
Fremont the weak, good hearted but unprinct
pied man OF pleasure who repays the services O
his partner Rlsler by seducing the latters wife, 10
also very true to French nature. The bool
abounds with graphic sketches OF Partisan lie,
but it points the comfortess moral that the homo;
and existence, nay the very soul. Of a good mar
are at the mercy OF jades not worth hanging. Tni,
may be true In fact, but novelist should leave VI
with more hopeful philosophy.
LES MURAILLEs PoLITIQUEs FRANCHISES, pub
lshed by M. lie Chevaiier, is collection OF pla.
cards, Official notices, and generally speaking. all
mural literature which adorned the walls q
French towns during the great war OF 1901, and
the subsequent Instruction OF the Communists
The fac-smlles are in all given in their origt
nal colors. They form lively and picturesque
history Of France during the most eventlul year
in her annals. Some of these documents prove
that NJ. Sariou hardly caricatured his country.
men in "Rabagas." Thus an advertisement OF the
Club de la Solldarite announces that the terms OF
membership are freedom from all religious obga-
tons ana the payment OF ten cents monthly. The
general orders OF Prussian generals are alse
charac erisic. being limited for the most part e
assurances tnat different Frenchmen will be snot
for various offences. What would not Macaulay
have given for a similar collection, ILLUSTRATING
the events OF the year 16ss-S9g
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.
Mr.. Lawrence Hutton has book in press givina
the history OF the stage In New York Mr. Hutton