The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-21

might exact considerable ability and applica-
ton, we submit that without approximation to
them scientific romance Is an impertineDce.
IL Is not perhaps a matter Of supreme impor-
lance TO the average reader whether he derives
his Impressions Of English history from Froude
and Lingard or from scott's novels and shake
speare's plays but some correct notions OF ge-
oeraphy are necessary for the compreh ension Of
current events, and again nothing but founder
ing and bunRne In very simple concerns can
cult from an absorption OF fallacy and error in
those applied sciences whose threads are inter
woven in countless ways with the warp OF every
day life. Moreover. historical blunders are toll
erably sure OF correction. There Ia little TO ap-
prehend from book like Abbott's Napoleon"
because the antldote is at hand In veritable his-
tories more attractive In form. But ordinary
people ind scientific treatises hard reading, and
we should be justified therefore In abating as a
nuisance such works as apply the Same spurious
establishment to the truths Of physical science,
and assuming to offer a banquet Of curious in.
formation puts us OF with scraps aid heeltaps.
1t is true that error Is OF trifing consequence
In books written for children whose education
has scarcely begun. They have time to winnow
wheat from chan. and at the outset, pcrhape,
saeaCious instruction aims rather to interest
than to edify. We have known a relish for
botany and natural history to be awakened In
young people bv an absurd rhapsody called the
"Swiss Family Robinson" But nobody would
recommend to grown folks Balzac's " Recherche
de lAbsou," in the nope tnat his nebulous
speculatoDs would prompt them to serious re-
search in the domain Of chemical aiHnities. We
cannot blink the fact that ordinary men and
women once immersed In the stream Of bust.
ness or society read chiefly for amusement and
that the mass Of vulgar errors held in solution
i'm ephe m has ltfle anca NJ heinO
rrecipitated through the ecton Of systematic
study. A notable contribution to the crudites
aud PIGMENTS sdOat IN current conversation NAV
lie traced to the writings Of Jules Verne. Every
young woman IN society has read them, every
lively young man can quote them, aud impart to
his discourse a scientific elimmer which resem-
bles knowledge az the phosphoronce OF decayed
bones resembles the calcium light.
The astonishing vogue Of these productions
constitutes their chief claim TO criticism, but
they may also be said to challenge It bya special
eminence In worthlessness. In post works Of
the kind extravaeant blunders are only occa-
sonal OF at worst sporadic, relieved by intervals
Of tolerable accuracy; but our French authors
unveracity must be accounted chronic. since he
can rarely complete dozen pages without some
peryersion OF fact.
At the first glance, indeed. Il appears in
biNpaoic NhaN bpthS absolutely NdlueleSS SnOuId
obtain exceptional success in more than one
language; and we may DO reminded that French
reviewers, who received Mr. Verne with quite
unanimous approval are by no means conspicu-
Gus for lenity, and have n particularly keen eve
for charlatans. But very trite observation
which has escaped nobody at all conversant
with the French press, may account for their
charity on this occasion. French jour
nnhsts and ltterateurs are in one direc-
ton exceedingly ignorant men. IL would
be superfuous to qualify this statement by
reference to the distinguished record of
French scientists who ara often masters lke
wise OF effective statement and whose lucid.
methodica Al discussions Of reconcile tonic. con-
trast so agreeabiy with the clumsy expositions
OF German savans. OF course no yeritable
student Of science could waste consideration ON
writer like Verne but would silently turn him
over to his confreres OF the lii erary guild Now
the Partisan litterateur pur Ct simple is a model
in respect OF workmanship and style. has often
aproiound acquaintance vita the resources Of
MS language, and Its standards OF artistic excel
Ienee 10 sum'ieh'iy FAMILIAR with the history OF
lance a"u mas '"u'' n""i' eApioreu Win curious
~"eh''oh some phases OF urban lie. To the
t.oN1p"' snu history however OF foreign
countries ne oe'raSs numerous indlner-
e"oe' anu MS a''ehhp'S 10 deIheate amen
''' eA"'npio 'ne rug
,,,,.. h-,l n', uAls'enu lne
,sI ,,sn,. ~. s,'-,'a,.. -, o'.'.., p"'9'-
corn and I, "a rr,hah,, aoo,on'tra,1a ~.
fund ~ r,e,,nhor h,s ra,oi,,s, -. .,s -.
cessions from tho, .o,,rca s,no, ,hs 80, =,
yol,,jra In sbor, a., oa,lon,I ,on,a,,.,. 90 -
gard form as Of mora ,non,on, ,han 49,,
which. 10 say the least. ia nor discouraged nv
the French Academy-is emphasized IN the case
OF the journalist by tradition and education.
Naturally, therefore, finding In Jules Verne the
merit Of an agreeable style, at once nervous and
correct, he commends him heartily, ayows him
self captiyated by the playful treatment of "A
novel theme, and Is willing to take ON trust
statements Of fact which might cost him some
pains to verify. Once happily launched IN
Franco ,,a 49,. go, -, ,'', -. =.
Land and A,nor,co ,,ha,o ,,,,,,,1ha.. .S,.'''
lucrative snncuIa,,or emh,rLed .,,,. cs,,i,'1 So
tho ventura and tool tho ,s,s, n,oans ,,,,
the,r var.s
i'ooao" Tue nlos' "iueIy reAd OF verne
p'ouue''ois i"enV Thousand Leagues
'"ue, .he sou in'7 submarine voyage Is sun
poseu " "o pe'iolnieo u. c'ear-shapeu IRON
,eSse' p'o''ueu Win an HeApHcaoie apparatus