New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-30
DAUDE1,S NEW YoTEL.

From The London Standard.
There are, ! should hope, but lew Englishmen ac-
quaiulcd Wit French literature no have not been
touched by the sad lot oi Z" Ic Petlt Chose, and
s,mplthzcd with the mis-. tunes OF Fremont
j,unc ct Rlslcr anne aud therefore no apology Is
required for introducing to their notice Vi. Aphunse
DludctS new production, which appeared to-day.
with all due Difference To- the high priest OF Hatur-
aisu' there can be- uOdOubt that since the days Of
Bdl2IC no novelist has occupied IN France the mBh
rank to which NJ Aphonsc Daudct has attained,
and his popularity - unqurStonably al souhder
aud more durable character than that excited BY VI.
Emile lola. NJ. Alphonsc Daudet IN fact, combines
much OF Balzacs analytical power with true patho,,
ana a gIit OF poetic description which lew french
writer's have attained since the days oi Madame
sand. The secret, however, oG the success OF ms
novels Is thai th.y ara true To- nature, and from an
extremely interesting biography OF hun published
by IN, brother, NJ Ernest Daudet, IN tho HtrRe A0H-
r'Hc, 1t appears tAtt some OF ms characters are
drawn largely from his own LIE. -
Numa Rouncstan, VI. DdudctS new hero, ~ IKE
mos OF hls heroes, native OF the sunny SOulh VINO
comes to Pans and takes 10 pOlluCs rs uadtj ne
comes successful iawytriu the defence OF political
prisoners, AMI Liberal times coming on, works MS
way up to become Minister. The character Is so
well drawn and so llclhc that all acquainted WIN
Paris life feel tempted 10 ne gard VI. Numa koulueS
tan the sltlrcal PRESERVATION Of another lll,trl
Gus nClldlonal whose existence IS hubslahiIal II,
ahty. hat III NJ NuIna .Oumrstan there are TRAITS
tat it this or that political pcrsonag' stands 10
a.On hui IL Is the type OF the political advcn-
turcr coming from tho south 10 conquer the world
by dht of audaclty AMI bidgHc that NJ. Daudet
meant 10 denGatc and nc has done with llOgartht
ian Uutllil duu uuillDI. As ~ Nllb t.ht ~ ii"o-
OF NJ Dauuets Stories the plot IS nothing but a
mere peg to hang his puppets upon, There Is
young and trusiul wife one of those dellcaley -hu-
turcu French girls whom fond but IIJudlcous
parents thrust into hast, marriages, who Is maze
over to this political advcnturer. Ills code OF NOR
atty as lax rs his political creed ~ unprncipitd
By one of those accidents frequent enough IN me-
sue accidentally discovers her husband lllucil.y,
An alteration which follows IS about 10 issue IN
suit for separate H. but the lady father ana mother
eutreat her to consider that such lawsuit WOulu
rrctreyably damage the position of her husband,
NJ. lc MlnistTe. and IN order 10 convince her' heI
mother tells her that it Is the common lot OF wives
to be be rayed instances her own case, ana points
out that OF all women in the world the vic Oh ii
man who has become III. lo Ministre should NOT DC
so absurdly particular re- oncindtlOn Is elected
and the novel ends.
As picture OF triumphant political chariatanlsm,
the social and political sketches OF tins great WORK
are perfect chefs dGHCre and alone would confer
lasting renOwn on their author. But III Is as u
whole that the book must be considered, ana more
graphic cruel accurate ana interesting pOrlfaItuIe
of French society IN the present day no future
annalIst can hope to produce. Let me add tlat
there is also just enough political animus III Nuna
ROumestan To give IL zest, but not enough 10 give
offence Nay, every youth who comes up rom
Bordeaux MaTsees, Mines, CahOrs or Toulouse
TO carve his way TO fortune III Paris, may solace
himself with the reflection That hc is made OF the
same stun with Numa Roumestan, and that he may
meet with the same luck.