New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-08
REVUE DIES DEUx MoNDEs. January 1. Bren


The present number contains an interesting
account O. some unpublished letters OF the late Frederic
Dasiiat ,ho celebrated French economist written with
ralcd per. ia the confidence Of intimate friendship
frank aud familiar in their character aud presenting
admirable Illustration Of the peculiar traits ~ that ori
nal thinker Bastiat Is described as possessing sngd
lar genius for fiiendsp Though born with taste for
controversy, nPe,a0us In attack. eager IN pursuit and
TERRIBLE in fetort, he had natural passion for friend
ship and HE attachments FOR many years threw sweet
fragrance around hrs whole life In OF his
letters writing OF himself, no 4" Too ethereal Or
CARNATIONS have the nfelcity Of being sensitive to
contradiction and treseheryi bat they richly
compensated by the experience OF unexpected
Joys" Tie author OF the Economical Hermonies"
was endowed with n Eycy and delicate scnsibity:
hc had something ethereal IN hts organization; and
L. felt the need Of talking over with his friends his
o4fa.p0lRicuts and his delights aud Of confessng 10
them secrets q his inmost soul. lie acquitted him
se this with dcriui success he bad skablc
freedom aud grace OF manner; In Paris. he
able preserve the quality which Is easily lost
subtle something which IL called freshness Born the
banks ofthc AdoGr he took deep root in his native viii
lggc, and never the capital TN be forty
five years old lie could scarcely tear himself away
nom hs solitude - settle 81 the great Baby Ion. which
stt-uciea hun. anhshted him. exhausted him. and
a. less ihsn four years 10 pat eud
90 his NE. Ia Paris he always remained a
provincial. joining 20 the moot refined Atheism
q sort 81 oOuntrited good nature, which called
forth surprise rather than admiration. Hs first
Interview with the distinguished economist Horace say
presented u wonderful spectacle His appearance was
decidedly rnsc. his costume, though little mixed.
piccsque. the OF hts clothes betrayed the
az rral tis., and al Together excited good deal OF
nittn;ian On his huds. covered with black hoss-silk
gloves, hc sporIed pair VI imucae white ruies. his
pointed slurtcOar threatened 20 bury ono-hah OF his
face, and his hong hRr little hat wouid have given
inevitable impression OF the burlesque had not the
miscdcv0as pysiOgnomy of the newcomer. his lumn-
oa, eycs. and tho charm Of his speech caused
everything else to be forgotten. Bastiat always
preserved hxvur oil the soil. n native raol-
ress u expression, independence Of character
aud certain stiffness Of the shoulders which spitcd tho
Government ministers Of the Cay. The Official Paris the
Paris who're oil the world Is collected the Paris OF
epboScrs and iacilo Obvons. the Paris Of
lap6--hakcs which promise everything and OF smes
which pledged to nothing. always for Bgsiiat
foreign country He could become accustomed 70
purely worldly social relations 10 the polished nd
concealed under the cheap forms Of fastidOus
potcEess. The extracts given In the paper from the
letters Bastie will be read with great They
the presence Of and original character In
many traits OF the writer. resemblance may be de-
tectsd 70 the peculiar individuality of Horace Greeley
His robust independence, his freedom frUm artificial
rues. his remarkable keeunsss " perception his racy
and expressive Language. and the transparent purity
and simplicity Of lila nsture. Will often recall the
ory Of that rovcred and beloved name