New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-19
THE RECEPTION OF REMAIN.

RENAN LOOKED
lrRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PARIS. April Though very remarkable event.
the admission of VI. Ernest Renan to the Academy
can be hardly said to mark new epoch IN
its annals 1t is merely a return TO an
old tradition never wholly abandoned. Noltaire SAT
among the Forty lmmortalS at the Palais MaZarln'
and many other llustrous champions of freedom OF
Thought. When Theirs was elected to the chair no"
occupied by NJ. Henri Martin. he was an ardent de-
fender of the principles of the Revolution. In 1850
the Academy passed under the clerical YOKE ana
remained subject to it until the day VI. LitrGs cam
didature succeeded, on which occasion Bishop Du-
nanlonp. il NAV he remembered. vacated I'm high
dudgcon his fauteul. Since then NM Jules
Simon. Charles Blanc and Taine knocked at the
door of tho Palais Mazarin and were admitted
The LATTER il is true became a rcactonist TO con-
ouer the green palms supposed to give immortality
TO those who wear them embroidered on the collars
of their academica uniforms. There is no puDhc
assembly which the PariSicnne IL so eager 10
grace with her presence as reception at the Acau-
emy, and there is not any in which the sensations
expcricnccd are so dchcatelv mild. The speeches
ore not improyiscd; they arc read, and generally bv
men long past the prime of fe 1t would be against
the custom Of the Forty for strong emotion to ma
uttcrancc. The tint of the decorations of the cupoa
q
analogous to il in the tone pcrvadng the eulogum
which the new member delivers on the dead I'm
mortal to whom he succeeds 4 spice of ill-nature
is demanded of the director for the time being,
mon whom devolvcs the task Of complimentlng the
new member on the additions he has made TO
French literature But it toomust betoned downto
the orisqUe lme and while it pricks and s,ing'' 1t
should be palpaolv harmless. The wound should
only be skin deep. Nobody, believe, ever yet heard
of the annoying things said in hatternG and indeed
afTcctionate terms at tho Paldis M1zarin to new
members having given rise to a duel. they also
enjoy being seen i'm the front rows Of the galleries
orunder the cupola It's very hard TO obtain admit
tance. and the elect are generally chosen from the
cream of French society. which believe at the IN
sttute took the Democratic color. that distinguishes
il from the upper circles Of every other European
nation. II may be that IN founding the republic OF
letters there, Cardinal Richclicu laid the germ
of the Republic under which ,e live. The deep
gulf which was fixed between the fine gentleman
and the literary man was filled mp at the Academy.
From contact with the courty scigncurs who sat or
aspircd 10 sit among the Forty, the professional
author acquired a brilliant polish and more just
taste than he otherwise could have acquired. Genius
is headlong thing. In Paris II had TO appear in a
more amablc form than elsewhere. Above every
thing else the Academy pCued itself on being an
assembly Of distpgufand well-manncrcd men.
Yesterday the crowd before the doors was very
great. NJ. Pingard, the secretary, as he usually
does issued more tickets than the places to fill. 1t
is so hard to say no 10 charming Parisennes, who
when they fail arc sure to return to the charge
The Academcians have also right to distribute
orders for more seats than there are either in the
galleries or under the dome. Hence the long lines
Of people which assemble before the doors on tho
Quail and in the court from early hour of the
morning Sending servants, ticket pOrteTs and street
sweepers to take up positions was an innovation.
Ladies used most bravcly 10 bear for hours expos
ure 70 Summers sun and Winters snow and rain
sooner than miss being present at sitting have
seen often tOilcttes Of the most recherche and ex-
pensivc character IN miserable condition ny the
time the doors were opened They were fresh and
elegant before their weaTerS took up positions III the
files After admission Is conquered there is
further strain on the patience when cannot De gou
through VCaTlOusly. Those fortunate enough 10
obtain admittauce have to wait for two hours on
narrow and very hard benches Tor Ihe commence
ment of the sitting
Yesterday the garden dresses and the garden hats
impaired a Spring physiOGnomy to the Palals Maza-
rim. "The Muse Of the Republic" Madame Arnaud
de TAriecc was one of the few who were attired IN
sober black. Madame Edmond ,Juliette Lamber)
Adam sat beside her, and wore Directory dress
very much befowered. The corsago-square cut
at a distance rcsembled a window garden. The
sparkling Juliette looked twenty years less than
her age. She entered on the arm of Victor Hugo
who to mark his diSpeasure at the pictorial
lamnoou in the It'll La, taken her under his august
protection The final word Of the last sentence is
TO be taken IN its most chvalrous sense. Victor
Hugo also has been told that Madame Juliette
Ianber is like Ariadnc bcwaling the fckleneSs and
trcachcrv of the male SEX Pity is a dominant SEN
timeut in the breast Of the poet He condemns The
sens and cspouscs the cause Of the deserted widow.
The Due PAumalc obtained leave OF absence 10 be
present at the aCadcWlcal sOclnnltN or Yesterday.
A considerable number of his brethren wore their
palm-cm brOdered coats. Victor Hugo, as sponsor,
sLould have douucd uniform. lie preferred how
ever to appear IN his ordinary coat winch he wears
at the Senate. The pca-CreCn leaves on dark green
cloth would perhaps he felt, have made HIM LOOK
older than his years tie bore himself WIN me
carriage and looked king among the other lmmor-
faIs among whom sat three DukcS-De NOallIes,
a. Audiilret-PasqHer, and DE BIogie.
NJ Ernest Renan entered, leaning on the arm OF
jules Favre. and dragged himself rather than
walked 10 his seat. lie is very short-not much
taller | should say, than NJ. Louis Blanc. but
Of different build. His head aud face are mas
sive. and the latter has the indclibe cast
which tour years passed in a seminary always give.
NJ. Renan has grown quite gray, and he allows his
hair to fall over his shoulders. There is not much
expression in his eye. His nose If less feshy, might
be classed among the Roman types The tnge OF
redness which used to dIsfgure ii has disappeared
Where You see the mans true character is i'll the
mouth. which though wide and full is eXqusitely
foImcd and expresses a capacity for cloQuence
and refined speech At first the voice was little
husky, hut as the new academcian got well into
his speech il became full. clear, very distinct and
agreeable. Madame Rcnan sat on the round bench
nndcr the dome and near the platform. She was in
white aud dark fur Her toilette was distlneu6
and very artistic. From where | sat i could OBJ
serve she was deeply moved by the triumph 81 her
husband, 10 whom she is deyO cdly attached ana
She wept with JOY each time he was applauded. Be
side her were her two children, one Of whom Is the
living image OF portrait of his dead uncle, AIRY
Scheffcr the painter which was exhibited last
Summer at the IrocadeIO. The part which was