New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-08

scribe.
/ lust now mentioned ~ Taine's new book. which
is the literary event of the day. and is very well
worth speaking Of The history of the French Kew
olution, upon which he has 80 long been engaged,
proves 20 be q work of the somewhat larger scope,
which the title quoted above would indicate Tho
first volume stout octave of $50 pages, came out
two or three days since it is devoted to the Ancen
Regime NJ Tame has been much translated
that he has now, TO English eyes, tolerably dis
tinct physiognomy With the exception OF NJ.
Renan he is now the most brilliant French writer,
albeit that he is not in the Academy. But IN truth,
with his extraordinary store of general knowledge
and his magnificent skill in that Office, which Is CON
sidered the peculiar function Of acknowledgements
ton exhibition harmonious auangment-N. Tame
is an academy in himself. He is very far from lifa-
lible and SO are academies; but like them right or
WRONG lie always speaks with certain accumulated
authority. j speak Of him advisedly as "Wflter'
for although he is also logician, a metarbysciah,
afhnker and scholar. it is the literary quality OF
his genius that ! most highly relish. hsuspect,
moreover that il is the side that he most rebshes
himself and that on the whole il is the most val
liable side Some of his theories have been severely
rjddlei by criticism but ut the worst he is capital
reading. His style in his present work ilows III as
ample a current ever; one sees that IL mas Dech
fad from many sources. His theories here more
oxer are NOT obtrusiye His work has been chiefly
one Of narration and exposition. lie has given
complete picture of the structure and condition OF
the French society that preceded the Rcvouton-its
organization. its habits, its occupations IFS public
aud private economy its Diet its costume, its tenn
per it, ideas its ways of feeling The picture Is cX-
traordnarily complete and is executed with that
sustained yigor of which NJ. Tame only is capable.
The eighteenth century in French literature has been
turned inside out sifed and rcsfted explored in its
miuutest detail; but the thing has never been done
with tho method and energy OF NJ Tame there IS
no other such rich aud vivid r62WmG He has disln-
tered new facts, possessed himself of now docu-
ncntS, illuminated variety of points with a
stronger light and made a most interesting
hook Ii il amazing how well We have come 10
know the eighteenth contnry: there was never such
q tabor Of reNiyifcation. The defunct Is stnnding
upon his feet again; he his clothes - he used
10 put them on himself, and hi wig rs his valet used
to powder II hc has the cares of life in has checks
and the look of sympathy III MS eyes; not wrinkle
on ms brow. not detail of his costume is wanting;
he can almost speak or if he cannot speak hc easily
can listen If he listens TO NJ. Tainc he will hear
some painful truths. NJ. Tauo is supposed to intend
total,e reac,ionary view Of the French Revolution
and 10 devote himself chiefly TO that somewhat
neglected province of history, the injury il did 10
Franco Ii is high time, certainly, that this work
were done from Ike liberal AID plilo, lphicai stand
point. In this volume, however, the author Is by
no mfans n dictionary; more damhne Indictment
than his picture Of the social orders that tie keyo-
lutien SWEPT away cannot zoe imagined. The criti-
cisn, Of what il in turn established viii come later
The book Is q curious nine Of f"Gs about the OH
ro,al aud aristocFatio habts-al"ui the cNp'ndI-
tue of the court aud OF thO.o vino ifcGuoHiod IT,
hal marked aToat many pasSlgcs for quotation
a. 4 Il, me ,t sim
cures under Louis NV. aud Louis Nv. Gentlemen
and ladies drew ten DGd twenty thousand hanes
year for performing functions vhob bad uoi even u
name. and other, for performing function, which
had flames which we do not pronounce in English
they do in French. though the function, themselves
were strictly nominal. The analysis Of the temper
aud intellectual condition OF society j. ~ complete
rs might have been cNpcctedfr from sokocna P] cho0-
pi, as NJ. Iainc. This is accompanied b. great
Inauy CHARACTERS ic acdu,s Louis Nj. loved to
ceptraiige: be wished Che whole ar.stocr.,y 10 hc
perpetualy At court. paying linn IFS &c rec',. lie
was Therefore much Grti6 d, suppose. when GER
tain N. dc Yardes gao Dalne deserves to b. pre-
served remarked 10 hm that, hon one - away
from yoGr Majesty one is not only unhappy; one j.
ridiclilous." One might be- ridiculous. ri appears,
even within speaking distance o.. d, Ahie'il. ~
Tainr speaks o. com Of fac g.isl of " seispit'.'
which set in about the udd.t Of the La century
and continued during sl.o G,.olutiou. without the
least detrment to tnat 81 Tenor IL produced
great deal Of yspoIous scntimeHtalHy, but 81 SOME
tunes pdyea very delicate point 60 ue feelings.
We meet thus" says or author with uciI as
end expressions of supreme gr4rc. unique o4 ti.ir
Lind. like some Tiny little ma,tcry..ao ia ScNlc'
china" Ouc day shat fhc Countess hnei.H d. bolI-
Gci was speaking rather lightly eli hrr husband. Der
matLsr-.u-law said. NoU forget Chat you arc siral-