The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-29
THE FRENCH ACADEMY.
Voting for a Candidate-Three Competitors
at HugO's Table.

al IuSO
Y. D., in the Century.
When Theirs, the Warwick of the bour-
geois monarchy, paid the customary round of
visits, in 1888, he wore a camlet mantle, fast
ened at the neck with a large buckle. In
every house where he called he left the
cloak in the ante-room, and in again dom
ming it slipped a golden coin into the hand
of the servant who helped him to put it on.
This ~profusion arose from his native shrewd-
ness. Partisan servants talk freely to their
employers. The widow of an academician
whom NJ. Theirs visited to obtain his sup
port has related to me her first impressions
of him. M. Laya was the author of "BAmi
de la Loi," a drama written to defend
Louis XVI and played in the Reign of
Terror. He was out when the candidate
for Immortality called. But Madame
Laya asked the visitor to stay until her hus-
band returned. She thought him odd. They
fell into conversation. He had something
original to say in a falsetto voice on every
topic that she preached. 1t did not occur to
her that he was the king-maker of the days
of July, until NJ. Lava came in and recog-
nized in him the statesman and historian.
When the visitor had gone, Madame Laya
said to her husband:
"Of course you will vote for him?'
Il don't know"
"WhyF'
"He is not a man of the world; he is petu-
lent and i'll brooks contradiction"
But what of that?"
"Why, because at the Academy he would
be CONNIE un diable dams un benitier Qike
Satan in the holywater font(."
What matter, since he is charming? In
voting for him you will do me a pleasure"
IF monsieur will allow me to risk an OBJ
servation," broke in the maid, who was sew
ing in the d-rawing-room, II shall take the
liberty of saying that generous men, like
good wine, soften down with age"
How doyou know he's generous?'
"Why, he handed me a twenty-franc piece
when | buckled his cloak. Monsieur has two
sons. The friendship of a man in NJ. Thiers's
position is not to be thrown away" This
argument was conclusive. M. Laya voted
for the little great man, who was ever ready
afterward to oblige any member of his fam
lily.
Victor Hugo, who feels that he should not
attend private meetings unless to vote, only
receives candidates at dinner. / was at his
table in the society of three rival competit-
ors. They were NM. Paul st. Victor, Renan
and Eugene Manuel, the poet. st. Victor
and Manuel talked, as we'll as listened to
their illustrious host. Paul st. Victor was
an old and much-cherished friend of the
poet, but angular, and held to his own opin-
ions on socialism, religion and philosophy.
He was a Catholic and ~Bonapartlst. Renan
for three hours only listened, except to ejac-
ulate every two or three minutes, when Vic
tor Hugo was speaking, "Maitre,
vous avez %raison." He kept his head
hung on one side, and continued to smile as
if IN a state of beatitude. Need l say that
on the day of the election ''the Master
voted for him? Hugo excused himself to
the older friend, st. Victor, on the ground
that he was bound to protest against the ia
n~aticism of the Bishop of Orleans.
The Academy is a place where literary men
rub shoulders with polished men of the
world and forensic aud parliamentary ora
tors or the highest eminence. This ming
ling of classics in a little republic of letters
is good for all the Forty. Owing to it, con-
troyersy among them loses its sting. Geniuses
who are unable to master their irritable
nerves are not held desirable associates,
To mental power combined with social
amenity, the Academy is of easy
access. Chateaubriand, whose vanity
took a rudely self-assertive form, would not
probably have been elected if the immortals
had not felt obliged to him for standing out
against Napoleon's tyranny. Victor Hugo,
who won an armchair in his fortieth year,
was then a |lady-killer as well as a great poet.
The virile strength of his body, soul and
mind were toned down by chivalrous respect
for women and an almost feminine tender
ness for little children. He was a lion in
whose presence a lamb might play fearlessly.
Lamartine got into the Academy on the basis
OF dandyism and poetry. Palpably, he had
blood, and he had acquired the shibboleth>of
fashionable society in diplomacy.