, 1877-10-07
BOSTON.
The Story Of Alfred de Musset
and George Sand.
His Recovery from His Loss
How He Cons0Ied Himself.
Joseph Cooks Appeal to Boston
to Initiate Edinburq.
Biography Of Charles Sumner...An In
quiry About a Humorist.

From Our O1r1 Correspondent
BosToS, Oct 4,-AIiss harriet Preston, th
author Of that c!cycrcst Of the No-Namc Series
SIS That .alil'' has just translated that yer.
notable book, ssThe Biography Of Alfred d.
2iussct," by his brother Paul. The book is be
fore mt in advance sheets, and will bc out ycr.
shortly for the general public In some re
spects it is the most unique volume that ha
appeared fur a long time, and coming as it doe
to us so soon after the death Of
GEORGE SAND,
through whose lie the EIelish-speaking rac'
knew more ol de Musset than they woul.
otherwise have done,-indecd to many lie i
ouly known i'll that way,-thc book is spcciall
aIropos- Yet those who expect tull and dc
tailed account Of that episode will be disap
pointed. Miss Preston, at the close of the sixth
chapter, appends this little note:
1t cap be hardly necessary to say that II. Paul d
Eussrt here describes, with u somewhat super
duous air Ut mystery, the bcginnln: Of the to-
famous relation between Alfred de Nussct an,
George Sand- Tn.
But, slight rs the history IS, it is the s1ichtnes
Of the French style and not the English ant
consequently NC get story which, though shroud
ed Win All air Of mystery, is yet Favored with ST
delicate grace uf avoldancc that what is lef1
unsaid bccumesa a story in itself: Miss prcston's
preface very IcFtTl} touches ILLS very poluL II
this opening:
The memoir OF Alfred de Musset hy his devoted
brother Paul is. in many respects, model Of wlla
biography ought to be. 1t 's an ardent and tear
fnl s1esy thfen9 q n ,prn. pstu5s:q9r 1
short bu; sober and truthful piece OF poTtralture
But vino would care to read a brothers memorial
OF life so brief and troubled, nature so richly
endowed and. in many WAYS. SO winning, if it
we're dispassionatc: The whole Of the sad truth
concerning the dissipatioEs which wrecked the
Y1fnI Q7f tIn H}+frS
which paraIyzed bis exquisite talent, Years even
before he passed away, may be read elsewhere.
II paricua the study OF ] seres Of i studies BY
t1neously with The present memoir, contains Z
great drsl Of sound criticism, and il quite remark
sss fof as
:.s eager pleas usually do. We divine all that he
avolGe saving. at the same time that We like him
the better for his chivarous care OF bis brothers
reputation
And for this very cliya1rous care, this tender
avoidance, VIC get a record that from beginning
to end is full Of tue cnchantment OF close per
sonality-. We arc sure, too that it docs not
lack the element OF essential truth, however
much it may leave unsaid. AND in the pages
We meet Rachel and Pauline Garcia in the very
outset Of their careers OF whom dc Musset
speaks as - those two noble Children OF Vic
tor Hugo, too, We get charming glimpse, and
various other celebrities Of that time. But the
episode OF George Sand is far the most interest
ing to Us who arc eager through our great de-
sire to leaIn all sides Of that extraordinary
story And in the calm and assured manner IN
which the bioorapher Introduces the subject
definitely, We get curious suggestion Of
FRENCH MOEALS.
Here is both confession OF q liajson and dig
niicd rejection OF the public "nlalice -:
When it became known in PARIS that Alfred de
Mussct had returned without the companion with
whom he had set ont Oh his travels: the matter
gave rise to much conjecture, and tables were in-
Vented which bore no resemblance 10 the truth.
1frn3 ind Of md M main
to deny whatever ml.ht prove injurious to the one
whom he had left st Venice: 1n this respect be
cuu:d not conceal MS depression. the alteration
in his lonks: and malicious coujcc1urcs continued
to be raised in sp!t+: Of him.
It seems very clear that this reference to
ssmal;cious conjecturcs - implies only tile con-
lectures about tic causes Of the se5aration be-
tween George Sand and Alfred tie Mussct, Icay
ing the relation itself fixed fact.
BUT TUE BAoTIIER GOES ON TO SAT:
II ono would know his real STAKE Of mind during
his time OF trial. it is himself that ne must ap-
ply for faithful picture OF it; We uet give place
to the patient and hear him in his own wurds
This is what he wrote On the SUBJECT in lSH3,-
thought at fist that felt neither modification
regret at being deserted. took my leave
proudly: but when cclne to look about me, be-
nel1 desert. An unexpected anguish seized me.
Ny thoughts seemed all to be falling around nc
like dead lrayes and feeling, hitherto unknown,
Ewokc III my hcart--a feeling e1crucatlngly ten
der. and strange, and sad. saw tat Twas poweress
to struggle. and gave myself up to despairing
eorrow broke OF all my custo1ay occupations
aud shut myself up in ny chamber There /
ttaycu and vtpt for four months. seein. no one
md havin. TO diversion save mechanical game Of
Little bv little, however, my sorrow was as
sr:ced. my tears were dried my nights were no
longer s'cepless. I fell in lore with melancholy.
IN this quic1er mood locked back at what had
left. No remnant OF the past remained. nothing
:; Least which could DC recognized. An old pict-
,--. L. Tragedy Which knew By heart IN utterly
f,rn I'D ii
:c ~uFi'ris>- such things had new meaning: 1
iaew then what experience IL, aud saw that sor-
!a:., noble moment in my life. lore to
l:.n>+ ut it, a liart! but noble moment I have not
It'd :on the particulars OF my passion The story,
''ner: and wtla1 would be tue use: Ny mistress
was dark: she had large eyes. loved her and she
E:on.!,- viii not that suffice:
presently perceived the change which was be-
lE= wrought in NE; put it wae Us yet f.r from COM
tEgan hr indulGlug ridiculous exaitatiun; wrote
letters ;;tieF the manner OF Rousseau, mattcr
about ;'il that ANALYSIS: Ny sensitive and inquiki
Tive spirit trrnhled necessarily like tue magnetic
needle; but what matter, If the pole is found: ]
had long been, dreaming: now began IL think !
tried To say g. little as possible but went back
the world. wanted to sce and lc.rn things anew.
One Is capt'ou: when one f. suffering. Sorrow
Is no: easy 10 snit bean like cc:'antcs' c"re
the garrett Aac in my room good many litho-
graphs aud cn:raslnss. thc best OF which now
u
staircase to rid 1nysclf Of these was conteut 10
put them IN the fire. When my sacrifices were
achieved counter! mp What remained. II WAS not
1aucn, but that hItic inspired nc with Certain
respect. Ny empty honkcase annoyed me; and I
replaccd il oy three feet broad, and containing
three shelves waer,. slowly anil rc1cctvtly ar
RANGED small number Of volumes. My frames
Oh thu contrary, remained empty good while.
six months elapsed before could fill them to my
taste and then put in them old cnsravlngs fro,i1
Raphael ard Michael Angelo.
LII rcati;u: tbs the only thing that VIC OF the
English Speaking race find TO say. to express
Ut ossrc the difference III our ideas, is the cx-
c!ama1iun. 50 How Frc,ch!'' It bears the starun
ot SINCERITY; but imagine All Englishman or M
American teyotlug himself to lamentations like
this.
WEEPING FOR FOCR MONTHS
at tie loss OF the most adorcd mistress! And
then cHlptylng ol,e's Library OF furrner!y-cl,cr-
1shcd books and pictures, thinking tt ecStrov
The 1;ast! Could anything appear more childish
to our .perccplons! And yet tho ma, who
wrote that could pln'osophizc like this At II:
Two months from To-day shall he II; and that
u crc.; age Dc ncea to visit 50 many men.
:nn snatter WIN =" many women in ordrr 10 know
nEnk1cd: Have not already seen ccocrh to i,are
much TO say, sapposin. that ain capablc Of snyinr
anything: Either We have nothing n ,,s ,n1; ~
tenSat1t n nave no effect upon our minds. ~ ,,.e
nass the elements OF all thinss In Ie nnt ttr, w.
'3 @ n:Ho IS &c htt'e IN ofccr to divine the whole
rHc sGl !ect that lack something | don't Erou,
what ID 1t 4 great love. Is it n1ra1 eo-an1x %
10th perhaps. But dare rot craye thst sn-t ~
enlightenment. Experience l. good fhin1 49, ~
sidcd it does not kill SOU. "' pto-
The perfect simplicity with which .hc },ro4,-
CT tonesEcs that - Alfred was alyays in lnyp 10
1nai:er Ut necessitv." and the real rasp:c- ami
grave interest with which lie relates several Of