The New York herald., 1879-12-29
LITER r AT U r E.


l. i T. II A u IL r..
THE STORY OF A DRAUGHTsMAN.
| The of Eugene viollet-le-Duc household
word in France. has long been familiar even IN
America. and thero doubtless but few educsted
people throughout the world who have never heard
of the illustrious aulhor and architect recently
deceased Though arrived at an age when most men
from laboring. he left unfinished q task to
which he had still hoped to devote many years. This
place within the reach of ALL aud particularly
of the young. the fruits of his immense learning.
and OF his reflections great variety OF subjects.
illustrated by his own speaking and accurate de-
signs The work just published (''The Story of
Draughtsman; or. How to Learn to Draw"Jis the
last Of series comprising "Habitations Of Man In
All Ages" "Annals of Fortress" 1.-The History Of
q City and of Cathedral" But this series to
have been much more comprehensive. and it IL
known that NJ violletle-Duc thought Of writing
history of France from her monuments. All the
materials for such work were stored In his won
drous memory aud inexhaustible portfolios. He
knew France thoroughly; her political religious.
military and literary history; her manners. GUS
toms. buildings. furniture and arms. He had seen
all. sketched ali, remembered all. His knowledge
not only vast but living. His restorations OF
French cathedrals in reality resurrections of
bygone times. He had profoundly penetrated the
various subjects to which he turned his mind that
he seemed to have seen the things he drew. and to
have actor in the events which he described
He possessed in its highest development the rare
and precious faculty of illustrating with psn or PEN
cn and it is sincerely to be regretted that he
unable to carry out plan which no man living has
such facilities for executing.
''The Story of q DrsuGhtsman" Is not dogmatio
treatise. Al in M. viollet-e-Duc's previous works
OF Q similar kind. the instruction is framed In
SIMPLE but interesting. romance. The story is that
of two children-the son Of n. Mellinot. disttn-
guished professor. who represents prevailing ideas
accepted opinions; ana Petit-Jean tho of his
farmer. who is adopted and brought up by NJ.
Majorin, the head Of an important factory-sn
original character who has his ideas and is not
backward in expressing them. His judgments
sound, his methods rational and his opinions the
study OF drawing and thousand other things are
really those of viollet-e-Duc. He has persuaded
PetitJeans parents to give THAR child into his keep
ing for six months. II at the expiration Of that
period he has had to feel encouraged he will
adopt him and bring him up in his peculiar
way. 81 know scarce any career" he says, "in
which drawing is not useful IL not absolutely
sary for the simple that 1t teaches to
accurately, to remember what he has seen. and to
correctly express his thoughts He will not attempt
to make Petit-Jean an artist; the child vii,
present
essary that he shall render Of what he sees
and dispose Of it in such that his observations
shall be of service to him. whstever he may
choose. M. Majorin seeks to develop his mind. to
nourish his intelligence. to give him taste for learn
ing and the power to retain It; and to this end he
employs the art Of drawing To observe. to compare
reflect to understandthat is his principle Of edu
cation. He considers 1t Of tho first importance that
q child shall his eyes instead OF burdeninR his
memory with conclusions at which he has not
rvod by the exercise Of his powers Of observa-
ton. t8rl
NJ Violletle-Duc has not given his book SUM-
cently comprehensive tle for 1t contains In reality
q complete educational systom. One may follow.
step by step, the development Of this young intel
ligence. under the direction Of kind and skilful
guide. There are. outside Of and beyond the some
what limited instruction Of the class room. OBJ
servations on solid bodies and the leaves Of
plants, In which M. Majorin shows to his pupil .
well defined plan and certain regular forms. changed
but seldom and only by accident. Then. besides Q
little geometry, with its applications. there
operations In trigonometry and o
vast number Of instructive remarks. made casually
but appropriately during the long walks which the
boy and his guardian take together. On their
turn to the house. when the weather is bad they
sketch what they have seen. Then the anatomy Of
that of other animals. Mineralogy. geology and by
consequence the study Of the primitive stages Of the
world not forgotten. Five years passed In
the pursuit Of these pleasant and fruitful studies.
Petit-Jean is twelve years OF age. It s time to
think of fitting him for some career. So NJ Majorin
places his pupil in instituton whore he receives
an education such Saint-Beuve described whom
he wrote:-"without too many traditions univer-
sity forms-st once professional and classical
enough-that is the kind which hope some day to
see q majority Of our FELLOW countrymen receive
The advantage of such education to those who do
not intend to faithful Levites the affairs of
antiquity that gives liberty to the brightest
minds; that IL does not prolong unnecessarily the
college term; that sords. nevertheless. oppor
tunity Of pursuing later f the spirit moves) this
that branch OF learning bordering on antiquity.
that tho age OF sixteen seventeen the young
ready to apply himself to whatever is to be his
chief employment"
It IL at this age that Petit.Jean, furnished with
much and solid information. quits tho establishment
at Bourg-la-Rsine. It 10 necessary to choose pro-
fession. NJ. Majorin IL anxiouS. The young man
sketches easily and WE'LL Shall he become an artistf
His adopted father takes him frequently to the
Louvre. sounds his inclinstions and having made
thorough examination advises him to become neither
painter o sculptor. but to turn his attention to
the industrial arts. After reverses Of fortune
PetitJoan becomes manager OF large and successful
establishment Young Mellinot has not Jared 30
we'll. Having turned his hand to many things which
led to nothing. he only too glad to accept posi-
ton railroad. which Petit-Jean obtains for him.
In this way ends . work Of novel interest and one
which may fairly be regarded autobiography
Of vioiletie-Duc. Though the facts his outer life
not given. learn here his spirit his sem
timent his opinions. his most intimate and uental
thoughts. And he who gains this knowledge will
find among his acquantances one Of the most gifted
Frenchynen Of the century.
REMAINS ''cHRIsTIAN CHURCH"
1t Is now nearly seventeen years since M. Renan
startled the orthodox world with his Life o.
Jesus" AZ he then ammo unced. that was but the