New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-24
FRENCH AND OTHER CRITICISM.


The copy of Victor IIugo's "Legend of the
ages" which was reviewed in THE TRIBUNE
of Saturday last, was received and read in adj
vance Of the letter OF Nj. Arsene Houssaye,
published in our columns this morning. The
latter would not, in any case, have superseded
the former; but the contrast between an lnde-
pendent American estimate OF an important
foreign literary work, and the impression
which it has made upon writer who belongs
to the authors circle of intimate associates,
will be interesting to all readers who keep
pace with the literature of the world. 1t Illus
trates, indeed considerably more than the ordi-
nary differences of individual tastes. One ac-
customed to study the human elements which
are expressed in race and language will readily
detect their presence here. There are few An
plo-Saxons whose intellectual temperament
would permit them to write such n letter as
that of NJ Houssaye, and few FrancO-Gauls
or Gallo-Latins who would be likely to write
THE TRIBUNE'S review of Victor Hugo's book
If will be at once noticed that the former Is
NOT q criticism at all: it is simply an adOring
surrender of all judgment. 1t presents 1T
erary serfdom. so willing and so absolute, that
criticism is wlthered to the root in It's atmos-
friend in the first gush of ecstatic admlra-
ton: but what intelligent estimate OF the work
can it give to the thousands OF readers III an
other country, who expect some judicial calm
ness and impartiality? Nay, what hint can 1t
convey of the later Judgment of Time, which
takes no note of temporary enthuslasmsT No
work which reached beyond the thought OF Its
day ever received instant acclaim. An author
who els Horace, after having been Homer and
"Shakespeare,r cannot possibly be recognized
rs god of song while he yet lives. An adu-
IatiOn so immense always defeats its own pur-
pose. The shrewd critic draws the outlines OF
AN authors glory with delicate pencil, giving
An Illuminating touch here and there; but he
who plasters on the glory with a trowel, inch
deep. will soon find that it ceases to shine.
The extravaganza of Victor liugo's friend,
az of Victor Hugo himself, is inherent in the
blood of the race. The chdurh'Sme OF the
French is no worse, in substance, than that OF
any other people, but its manifestations are
far more fierce and fantastic. The eXaggera-
lions of men of intellect, therefore, are potent
for harm in France, where the mass OF the
people Is not able to discriminate between
them and the unpicturesque truth. Victor
Hugo. with the exception of Theirs, is the
sole survivor ,Of that illustriOus company OF
authors which included Chateaubriand, Beran-
ger, Lamartine George Sand Guizot and
Sainte- Beuye. There is no one now who ap-
proaches him in original genius, although he
is far surpassed in scholarship by several liv-
ing writers, notably NJ. Taine. His deficiencies
in knowledge were less apparent forty years
ago. but now they stand out i'll strong relief
AGAINST a vast background of assertion, and
challenge examination. NJ. lIoussaye afiirms
that all other authors Gin France, of cOurseO
Give upon his substance ;" yet we venture to
predict that the next generation, while accord
ing deserved honor to his qualities and char
acter. will not copy his faults The necessity
of n serious study of other tongues litcratures
and histories has been forced upon the
French, and the first result of such a study
will be 10 correct the extravaganza Of which
we have spoken. Ii il well for a race TO be-
lieve in itself and it's destiny, bat not to fall
into exclusive Standardization. Mere enthusi
assn cannot make the world accept Victor
HUGO any more than Victor Hugo can make
the world accept Racan and Segrais. 1t Is the
collective judgment of all civilized nations
which at last erdures, and in the determina-
ton of this irrcv0cable verdict of Time, the
analytical habit of the German and the cool
judicial quality of the Anglo-Saxon mind have
lectual cOuntcrpOse TO the ardor and el0quence
of the French temperament.
---------------
The renort Of the Commission of Engineers IN tbe