Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-08

For the Journal
'' CONSuEL0 As GEORGE SANDS MAS.
TERPIECE.

Reviewers of the writings of George
Sand, place this production of her erratic
genius above all the others as character
in whose delineation "the right note is
admirably prolonged. and the charming
heroine adheres strictly to the straight
line" If Consuelo represents a straight
line, Heaven preserve US from the crooked
ones.
The author aims. evidently. at por-
traying in Consuelo a character, con-
sistent, superior; immeasurably removed
above perfidy and deception !; vet Consuelo,
with face in which kings and royal
women Immediately conide. stoops to
falsehood upon the first intimation of
danger.
Representing as she does, a character
unmoved by all the motives that influence
ordinary people. fearless of all, even the
king. sustaining or supposed to sustain
reputation for the contemplation of high
truths, and the exercise of the most austere
virtues, we find her falling, as circum.
stances seem to require. from the most
transcendent attributes, to those the most
weak and censurable. In her interview
with women of the royal family. Consuelo
receives their fullest confidence. and in
order not to betray it, finds it necessary to
resort to the studied grace of falsehood,
and it comes natural to her. Consuelo's
lies have all the subtle, consummate art OF
the accomplished courtesan. She lies
guslelessly; with~an infantine innocence
OF manner and expression.
The adventures through which Consuelo
moves, are fanciful, magical, supernatural
as fairy tales. Real life is no longer be-
fore the reader, not even the real life of
royalty, or the historical intrigues and
revolutions of the French court. but an
incredulous panorama Of events, showing
the wonderfully inventive power of the
writer, and but little else.
Consuelo is led into varied scenes, by
invisible Presences even about her. She
seems to have no individual separate life
Of her own, but is moved about like an
automaton. lifted from one locality to
another by strange hands. through strange
places, her chief virtue seeming to be
that she yields herself to the guidance of
these mysterious beings upon all occasions,
questioning nothing. careful to request
nothing an uncommunicative being, borne
hither and thither, merely because she is
uncommunicative. Consuelo is an anom-
ally. Self-complacent, independent. she
throws to the winds the favors of kings
and princes, costly presents and mag
niicent dowries. Her beauty is sufficient
guarantee for the alteration of all man
kind. She is often without iarthing, but
this is only pleasing stimulant to her
relish for wild adventure.
The writer does not ascribe the admira-
ton Consuelo inspires in all about her, to
the right source, viz, her fine features,
but builds up mythical fabric of high
virtues, accrediting universal admiration,
to these, whereas. Consuelo, devoid of
personal attractions, robbed of her mar
vellous beauty, must, with her reckless
ness and disdain of all aid. inevitably
come to woe.
Consuelo's initiation into the order of
the "Invisibles," preluded by such impos-
ing solemnities, and breathing an air Of
so much awe and tragical mystery. sud-
denly degenerates into the most trivial
revelations connected with the ordeals
through which she must pass. Descend
ing through mysterious openings in the
solid stone, she is terrified at sight of in
scriptions concerning martyrs, who years
before had suffered there.
She becomes faint, terror-stricken, and
this. knowing as she does that her friends,
the lnvisibles are near her, that she is,
as it were, environed upon every side by
their watchful and unremitting care.
Ordinary common sense would teach her
this, and Consuelo is represented as pos
sessing vastly more than common sense.
with courage OF high order.
Had she the shadow of doubt that the
lnvisibles were not traitors and villains,
then her fool-hardiness is, to the last ex-
treme, inconsistent with her character,
but her confidence in the Invisibles was
implicit. Albert was Of them. So was
Leverani. Friends whose very springs OF
life were bound up in her. To have had
doubt of their good intentions and aims,
was to have been lacking in the deep dis
elimination, wise judgment and we'll
founded faith that are represented as
Consuelo's distinguishing traits. She
therefore could have had no fear or dis
trust of the Invisibles. On the contrary,
every impulse OF her heart told her that
they upbore her with their guardian care
They were upon every side. She heard
the rustic of their garments as she went
onward
Had her steps wavered, their arms would
have been at once her support. This she
may have known with woman's instinct.
Whence the terror
That body OF apparently wise and ear
nest men. pursuing course that was to
end in revolution. should bend all their
powers, and use the majority Of their time
toward the subjugation of the will of one
poor unpresuming woman. is evidence
enough of itself, OF the want of apprecia-
ton In the writer. of the actual movements
Of reyOlutiOniStS
ConsuelO had so fine and ETHEREAL sense
of all conditions of life, and emotions Of
the heart, that one cannot see how such
person could exist among the casualties Of
everyday life. She questions her own and
the motives of others so much, that the
sweet inconsistencies of real people. have
no place in her constitution. Her frank
ness is not the frankness of truth, but OF
She deplores the state Of So
city in the marriage relation and breathes
a sentiment Of license, that means in 50
many words, freedom from society. y.-lib-
erty.
To offset this, she hangs such sacred.
ness about the true union Of soul with soul,