The New York herald., 1879-09-27
LITERATURE.

"rur CONQUEST OF pLAssANs," BY EMILE zoLA
This is the second novel in the series of the
sRouron Macquart Family" published by Peterson
Brothers. of Phadelphia). but the fifth or sixth in
the order of translation 1t is called tale or pro-
ylncial life but it should be 1.-The Priest In Politics.
In the Fortune of the Rougons" We see how Plas-
sans Welded to the coup d'sdt. but Plas-
sans was equally legitimist and Orleanist.
and went over to the opposition, elect
ing the Marquis de Langifort as Deputy
The Abb3 Fanjas, tall, square shouldered and hard
featured to Plassans and takes lodgings with
the Mourets. His rusty and we'll worn soutane, his
poverty and his humble ways make him few friends.
ana he seems to avoid association alike with the
aity aud the Church and scarcely attracts notice as
he passes through the streets within the shadow OF
the buildings. One evening. however. he appeared
in the salon of Nine. Rougon, now the grande dame
of the town. His rusty soutane and its care
full darns are more conspicuous under the
bright light of the chandeliers The iaaies
to whom he is presented receive him with petty
scorn and soon u rumor runs through the salon
that abbe had sranged his cure been engaged IN
some swndng transaction an6 been sent to Piassans
in disgrace Yet Nine. Rougon is very courteous.
speaks ysterously of some power in Paris and bids
the abbe as quits salon to strive to please the
women if he wishes to succeed. The disgrace and
seems moro lowly and humble as he glides through
the streets on his missions of mercy to the poor.
Many of the young girls of the town. from too
much license go to the bad. and the abbe suggests
TO Nine. Mouret the founding of an asylum for that
class. She is taken with the dea and. consulting
with other ladies' money enough is now raised to pur-
chase house. In the organization OF the soclety
the abbs the suggestor and familiar with one OF
similar nature at Besaneon is brought into rela-
tions with these ladies' and by his modest unobtru-
siveness soon obtains their good will. He
no longer seeks the shadow Of the houses
but takes the bright side Of the street. with head
erect and bowling to the most potential. Again he
appears at the salon of Nine. Rougon. now in SOU
tame satin and receives the homage OF
the men and graceful courtesies Of the fair danes
He is made cure of st. Sulpce and becomes the IA
vorite confessor. His next move is to redeem the
youth freauenting cafes and given to cards and
absinthe. A club is established at his suggestion,
where billiards, lemonade and the newspapers offer
attractions. He does not scrup.e to attend it HIM
self, and thus ingratiates himself with the young
and the old and at the next pebescite Plassans is
reganed to the Empire.
This summary Of the conquest does not. how
ever convey any idea of the novel. 1t is undoubt-
edly the most logically and artsticaly constructed
Of all the series. and abounds in interest from the
opening to the closing page. The quiet home OF
the Mourets, its gradually breaking up. the gentle
mother deserting her duties to the abbe. her
lnfatuation and unholy love. the husband driven
10 insanity. the hard and relentless abbe, his
devoted mother and his scamp Of brother-in-law
and his wife. the rival camps. the bishop. the
clergy. the Rougons. the Uncle Macquart and the
nnal catastrophe presented as distinctly to the
reader as If he them in all the light. sharp
ness and minute detail of Messonier. The trans
lator, John Sterling has done his WORK with
celicacy and fidelity to be commended.