, 1879-07-06

Translated from FTeHca J0aFHHt JOE 1"s 4''o""|s
By Emma Stanley.
The pton-speeches OF the Academic Fran
caise were, until the present time, specimens OF
clooucnce more or less elevated, which, when
the ceremony was once oyer, we're of no conse-
ouence outside Of the Institute The new mem
bcr alluded to his predecessor as he JUDGED
proper;' he praised the Academy, and advanced
such-and-such philosophical and literary qucs-
tfons IS might confirm the character OF his cleo
ton. Thereupou another Acadcmician replied
approving, arguing, or maintaining certain re-
scrves,-sometimcs casting bitter thrusts at bis
new colleague, or haunting him in the Acadenlcal
tone, which is in nowisc Incompatible tat least
tradition at1irms SOY With the laws or politeness
Il was thus, for example, at the time OF the re-
ccption Of Alfred dc Vigny, when n. le Comte
Mole displayed much acerbity towards the
author Of II Cinq- Mars" Alfred de Vigny did
not feel obliged to enter upon a,polemical, e1-
ira parliamentary course on this account, and
the affair rested there.
Assuredly the recent reception OF II. Ernest
Renan at the Academic was very unlike that Of
Alfred de Vigny. n. 1[ezieres, in answering
the new Immortal, far from initiating the Count
Mole, rendered full Justice to the merits Of bis
colleague, but nevertheless amused himself
NJ Tie 'sxta - P,,t, hv tc erthor Te
~. H ~ Toers M Ren9n as is we'll known. las
gives physical description OF the celebrated
Apostle, not very tlattcring. n. Mezicres, who
te,a "oi,s sformad with n conntenance ar once
49,. 49,, .n;oa nd o1reeahic -alInwe1 himeeif to
.asa liz Adn n,h1s rcgordinr tnc drscrinton
given By NJ. Renan, and very gently asked his
80 thn ,,ui;nase nf a. par,t. Fnrtreirbt. .hours
t5a " t.l1 ~ n rnn"r n;,rad ~ h;s anonr
rn,,ra as sarart and cnnscienr;ous historian.
,hishad ~ morning nancr an answer to the
a5rc"e ~ VI Mczieres I'm answer which es-
aoutess ~ ~ ~, 9anst nerarc ntorv manner hv
nronfs and docnmrn,s- the truth of the asser-
!:nca ~ - ~ Hanon M A{czjeres has
~ rosnonded Fnr scholars this is
no' 49, r. won1d have been a
n,oc+ ;ntcres.ino nreceiicnt. and henceforth, at
moss cent;nn va ronht have been
cyely na - a,5. ,nith t],a twn offi.ial
aet eleet h,,+ Win 1ittio hietoT,ca and literary
nfli nfolemics. m fuil Of instruction for the public.
1,heI, H. Panl was NOT handsome. Hc had
enn n,;ddic If the forehead. and crooked legs.
T; :; e,oh,,shad he the Testimony Of mn anoi-
aois, of St ponl: While another authority adds
sat ~ ~ H. hnassi. vas hai l. third nicturcs
nn. ;f;r.n man whnse characteristics at first
weak nm nF , man onr %,osG idea ~ his eioomenc
Sfonr nter nrnofs we're nrodnccd to impress
~ trth ~ M Re,an,s descrntion Of St Paul.
M A. aiezfcres viii nrolab,y regret this.
ii r confcas that the suhiect leaves me iu state
- ;,,Ji{ferance and tha1 it is of little imnor-
tanne that this man Of genius-ouc Of the great
1,rhts of human intelligence, one of the most
newc,fn) orators who ever existed, Us equally
Grand nrosc-writer Us poet, and at the same time
: man Of action, with a will equal to bis hero
ism r and his faith.-t is OF little i'm portanvc,
..onon+ ;f anch man hxs nothing in common
nhrs;c.I1y wi1h 'tbe .Anollo Bclyiderc or the
HEcrcnles Farncse. j migbt even saY, the nor
tTait ncnses me: better as exact tradition hands
weakness and ip moral vigor TINT which it lacks
in clearance and beauty.
Few great men have rescmblcd in plastic per
foction the Lucien De Kuocmpre created %
Balzae; CcsaI @ns w at 1aaa 80 sh,niors ~
hs aur orcnadiers: aud n. Thicrs was exempt from