, 1879-03-22
"Tho Life Of Moliero," by Mrs.
Oliphant and f.
TaverH.
Prof. Jordnn's Pamphlets on
the Fishes of North
America.
"Socloty the Redeemed Form
Of Man," by III.
James.
New Books and New Editions---I Lit
: erary Notes--sparks Of
Science, Etc.

EDinnnh, Eth
LITERATURE
4,
MOLIEHE.
Thrcc works relating TO Mo!Ecro como to"
gethcs this week. The hr,sk publication OF ~
craturo on the subject Indicates growth OF in'
tCrest III It. but the interest, gratifying no IL
IL, DOES not proceed solely from admiration Of
Mul.ere's writings. It Is stlnsusnscd by the ro-
nance Of his personal history, mud by the mys-
tcsy which hangs over part OF II. MolcEe,
rs the first Of French dramatista, the SECOND or
third writer OF comedies ii history, AVID the
ster'lest satirfst and EnoraItst Rnce Juvcnal.
might not engage long tho attcntfon OF gtdly
PERSONS OF fashion; but Mol!erc, ms tic ra'a d.
ehau,bre tapss'er 10 Louis the XIV, and ~ tho
ccntral figure Of tremendous scandal. con-
niands the respect OF Posterity. People ulay
not cara to know whether 1art1ttd was almed at
the Jcsuts or the Jnns0n'ste; but they would be
moro than human II tlioy dlsdatncd to hear how
Molcre Bmoothel tho sheats and arranged tho
embroidered pillows Of tho Kiug.
slollere is fascinating and important study
for persons Interested In stage-htetory. lilo
combined the yocations Of actor md dramatist,
an was III ore successful fu the former capacity
shan my other writer Of phys before or since.
0arrtck, Co1leY Cibber, Footc, and hoft Of
others that might bo mentioned, wero more
actors tba1, draulattsts; and even as actors they
uceo all IN co,nrtlv. fnforaor tn Mn1tero. HlIak-
.nas.o 49, a. ,,oro ,,ro,,ot,st ths, ooto- nn,
spear. "us 'ai "o'u u'"''at'es 'ua" 1..e ""s
no aif'i Moi1efc are tAe ohiy pefsons KNOWN 10
The stage who combined IN 4 pre-emincnt de-
erec both kinds or ability. AZ motors, writer's,
nn, r,ornroro Mc1,cra and nhotrsnc,ro Ind M
ana n.a'as4s "voe " .1,.aa.,as 1a., na., ~
e1pereneo peeaat 10 uease'ses. sa., tnsy ,c2s 90.
Gan rs the cant Of tho profession still dec'ares
al, should beElt, "at the botto,n,'' and worked
IN, sbaksncnre beran on the out,idc. md
,rnrte5 r., o,,t,r1,ng tn tro,ttfon. mn, n world
donnlc.. % h. ] ess. ~ sIo,v ,ron, fl" % notnt NJ of
view Of modern critics, TINT he ncquised while
holding horses al the theatre door dramatic fac
Miles limit ],c,nct, him ]urlnp tho remainder OF
,.s uas.u H. ,'''' "e'p'1 D'' '1'' 'e''' "
aIulicre did not begin at the bottom in the same
scnsu that atShakspcare did. The former was wolf
born. md lad a little fortune left him, Io
s,or,e,l a tneat,e at h,* avn At thc oro IT "a.
Sa'ssa .,. ,"e"s,s ~, w. Tvs s~'s " ss W ~,
AMI suhts his eapitnl IN It more speedily tuah nc
could hars aupposcd possible. Then ho entered
upon hts period Of probation. Ills discipltuc was
.eyer's tlan tint o. sna'ssp'aGe. ,o Eor eleven
sea't 'lo.'t,e t.Asc'cu "oout t''u eo"a'.y y"
provincial circuit, begging permission OF Mn'res
rConnuues to acttu their jurisdictions, or ask
fNtor f,f ntnNqtTIV PFlnrNftftp With
entcranmont. s ,e @ M lo,sl % TO i'is 1 uncrstnnr The
.ass..a'usA 49,. s''s sr''. ~ ~
pays were ''ot o' nieh o.oos iheY."ere 'o.'
tiIa most part rudelY put together; aud II
cial squ'rcs yaw''cdnnd strctcbea their limbs, no
doubt, as couutrYoraSes do at 'tgt,,elass drnu1a
yhiS provincial e1psrtenee, thoNEhit DID rot I'm.
mcltatcly prompt Molicro 70 write good psays,
him To oe TN actor. Itle discplno It gave illsn
rss precisely lint which Sarah s!ddous, John
and tfs res'lit Of T. IN connection %,th industry
y tcHeG.ed Me!tsso tastAer by. giving hi.n
knowIcdge Of stnge machinery, tho necessities
q! draa'at!s representation, %M! the best ways
ot controlling a. nal:enGe. When @ he oSgan to
psrtty arcurate'y not only what Limitations
were Imposed upon lin', but what opportunities
'T TSEs atsssd ra.ose sS ;ha ;s' ,o!msr e haa Me
tist,-a writer OF cou,edles onlv Inferior to our
3Wn Shakespeare aud the Greelan Arlstophanes!
What 70 10 as II, dramatistlAiolterc might have
learned Il he had not been strolltng actor, but
how ~ 90 It 80 perfectly be rou'd never have
toll II he had not gono to the sevcrest school.
with atol!erc's return to pasis, aad his rapid
sdyaMee IN slse fayoF q tAe King, besan US
Ms Mle, which tOs tbs carly part nre scanty. arc
lor THIS abundant They arc not, for oil that,
,.,nntlisiastory' Their aoundasso has produced
af9poun9tu conlQslons 11aTal5 Nh tMp5Elnnt
point reatingt TO Mollere's private a!Tars during
thts period Ids escaped controversy. Two OF
,Ie works Immediately under review t!llslratS
these discrepancies well. . tbs Life Of Mol!ere,"
" Mrs. Otiphant and F: Tavers, N. A., IN.
forms ~ thas the comedlan-dr wa On On
extremely lntiu'ate tcs1ns with the King; that he
vas onco invited to eat with Louis
uat Ills wife WAS hssolMte and unta!thful
70 him, mud tlsat he vas carried to Ills grave
"poorIy, With single reluctant priest, ii. at
teaaauea, with gloomy touches, and q broken
chant, not much moro tlian might fave beo.l
granted TO . ma!etactor." ON tic other has'1
J. BrAnder Matthews, who wrltos on Mollcrc In
lhe Aprli number Of LippIneotts Md1azins,
Without any reference to Mrs. ottphnnt's book,
sss t'tat the frteniahip ot lhn King fur hio'iefe
has been cxaggcrateA; that tlm King never att
%ssh Moiietr, Hor With any other tnnn, except it
Tie nrrly; Tint his wilc was grossly raumul
A.cl; aid that Its funeral took piAcu wltl,ou,
ponn Il il tr11c Int nicr III" ljrnrfinI ~ thr"r
bolv .m wro,n, % hda, rnVnTe1 %s,V IL. IL.
uahE!tKs OF tHc lapl8sleFa, slt DUO bOyt