New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
DAUUETS NEW NOVEL.
THE STORY OF "DEvANGELISTE.o
From The LondOn Times.


From The London Times.
NJ Alphonse Daudet's last novel is an attack, from
very French point OF view, ON the salvation Army.
Partisan newspapers have been careful to tell us
that VI. Daudet found most OF his models at the
meetings of the Armee du Sdtut, and that he wrote
his book under the influence of strong resentment
produced by the conversion OF member of his own
household an English gOverness. We only al
Jude TO this dit BECAUSE If true. 1t explains how
the author OF " LIE Nabab has toi once turned out
an inartstc piece of work. He lets II be seen that
he Is angry, and he is so intent on blackenng the
objects of his aversion that they are presented as
mere daubs with no human outlines. This isa
pity for when NJ Daudet works with steady hand
he draws capital sketches OF character; and he
might have made us all laugh If he had thrown
of his usual paytqlness into the descriptions Oh
Jeanne Autheman AMI her people: The story orens
prulnsingly with account OF NJ. Lore ufresne,
an unfortunate sub. project IN Algeria, who ~
haunted by the ceaseless fear OF losing his place.
lie does lose It, IN of those political gusts which
sweep away ofcehOlders by the hundred, and, bis
young wife dying the same time. he is lett with
Two children to support aud no means OF subsist.
ence lie comes TO Paris, and afteI woful
amount of Bringing toward his patron, NJ Cbeml-
neau well-depicted type OF arrogant onicalsn. he
succeeds in getting Government cIerkshlp.
Meanwhile he has made the acquaintance OF a TAM
ily of Danish Professionals named EDsen. VINO louge
i'm the same house he, and who kindly undertake
the Jultion of his children. The Ebsens are poor.
Madame Ebsen. widow. gives lessons IN English
and German; Ellne her daaghter, a sweet u, ana no
Dano-S edish colony. i'll the Rue Chauchat. and
earns a scanty living by doing translatlons. Lime
Torie-a dull ploddng fellow-repavs this tender
ness by a love which induces him to propose TO
Eline, who accepts him. But now bilghl sud
denly falls upon Elines life through heI coming
under the spell of Jeanne Authenan, the Evan
grlist" One day a lady calls upon her. bringing a
hook of 600 PRAYERS TO be translated into English
and German at the rate of three SOUS per prayer
Some of the sentiments ID THIS volume which
preach total remuneration OF all earthly anectiOhs.
revolt the gentle spirit of Ene anu she Is inclined
TO throw the work aside; but her mother urges her
to finish it for the sake of the money and wnen
the trsnslatlons are done she taxes tne'a 70 ane
house of Madame Autheman. his lady Is stony
hearted Protestant bIgot full OF energy aud ainD-
tion Paving been disappointed ID love analr
when gIrl she has married. a jewish Oanker, sur
fering from Iepulsive malady and-ihOugn she is
not a fond wIte-she acquires such an ascenddncv
over him that he not only fOrswears his synagogue.
put places his enormous fortune entirely at her MS
posal for sectarian purposes MS can hardly DO
called touch of nature. Jeanne Autheman has es-
tablished near Paris a religious colony with tab
ernacle. training college tor female MISSIONARIES,
a school for children. dnlshouses Gle; sne piracneS
daily. and she continues 10 treat her uotlng nus
band with such austere indifference that, unable to
endure her GOODNESS, he ends by committing sui
eide A living Jewish banker, keen IN business as
Autheman is to be, might possibly have re-
rected that by tightening his pursestrugs he could
have brought hts wife to SENSE OF her duties; but
let that pass.
the Paris house of the PorG-Sauveur community
Mrs Watson, of Cardiff, ges up TO testify that she
has deserted her husband and children Tor the sake
of higher things; out she does this III sgch doubt
full French that the Evangelist requests Elne TO act
as interpreter. ElIne ascends the platform, ana
the excitement OF speaking IN puDlc wofks SO
powerfully on her that from that moment she Is
half-won to the SalvatiOnsJ cause. In relating all
this however. N. Daudets hatred OF the monster he
has cOnjured up leads him to commit curious
blunder lie is so anxious TO make NADINE Au-
thenan ridiculous that he describes the meeting
room rs being My half full the congregation az
somnolent and private soldier who has strolied III
from curiosity walks out yawnlug II this were 30,
how are 10 believe in the EvangelIsts magical
power OF sut duiug her hearers, and 10 Lne pleas
urable emotion at speaking On a girl OF sensitive
shrinking nature the chilly silence OF hlll-hlied
room wOuld surely produce an ehect the reverse Oh
encouraging What follows is made 20 look quite
as unnatural. owing to NJ Daudets cholerlc style OF
narration. ElIne is offered the post OF schoolmls-
tress at Port-Sauveur with handsome salary, and
she is gradually drawn into sympathy with the
work of the community by dining every day with
some of its choicest members" three or iour I'M
beetles II n nols, termagant two, Mrs. Watson, of
Cardiff who ls always snlvelllng. and hypOcrite
of a boy, a converted ai-brd who, IN moments OF
forgetiuness uses foul language. Having spent
some months with these delightful associates, Lime
becomes persuaded that those who fix their alec
tions on mother, husband or child are sure to ne
punished by the early death OF the beloved one tbs
being the Evangellsts" doctrine. Accordingly
size ts LOrle-after having hrst compelled Zoe
wretched man to change his rellglon tnen she
writes to her mother. saying that she intends to de-
vote herself to missionary work and VdnlsDrs Idou
Paris, leaving 30 clew as to Der W whereabouts Inc
sympathies of French mothers who real VI. Dau-
diets hook are sure TO be enlisted on behalf of poor
Madame Ebscn III her frantic attempts 10 recover
her doughter: bnt without entering into religious
nor IN this matter COMPOUNDED Protestant with
Roman Catholic customs. The doctrine OF sever
ance from all earthly ties is more favored by tile
religion which maintains converts. than Dy the
scots which promote female preaching. III real
Eue fell into Protestant II is to he feared
she might becOu ea sore worry 10 her friends by
wearing an ugly bonnet and taking TO them
through the nose subjects which II Is most agree
able TO hear discussed natural voice; but there
would certainly be very little mystery ABOUT wnat
she did and her mother would he at pains 10 mod
erate her arlor for publicity rather than 10 get
news of where she was lurkGg. NJ Daudet. now
ever has made up his mind To paint Jeanne Au
theman us q woman v no takes ianatcal pleasure
i'm parting relatives. and under these circumstances,
whether the character be the creation OF per-
tnrbed fancy or be q sketch having touches of per-
sonaty it ceases TO possess much literary interest.
There are or two amusing passages III tho
novel. An artisan named Magnabos paints statues
for churches. but IN his private OPINIONS an
atheist, aud has won celebrity by his speeches at
civil burials. Being at the point of death, he re.
quests that funeral Grafton may be pronounced
over his grave as he can trust no man TO speak 50
e0quently as he himself used TO do Lore, again.
is well sketched char acter, quite ovabIe IN MS IN
tense but honorable mediocrity. He Is employer az
the Bureau de LIS Presse at the Home once, ana us
business is TO cut out CT newspapers All paiaeraPs
being. One day he gets a terrible lecture from
chief clerk who asks him how ne daies take sucn
liberties with his superi0rs. " " nat Hoertesi
asks II @ dismayed LORE aud IT turns OUT tnat III
docketing an extract he had USED the aODfeVIatIon
Non Uair. for MORiteW DRirerSet NO Mlnlster
snonld be called upon TO interpret abbreviatlons"
declares the chief clerk impresslyely. III all tile
chanters Of "LEvangeliste' had been written Ia
FIN, vein one might have laid d0wn.the book with
ant that feeling OF disappointment which follows
the perusal of q novel which Is not quite a novel,
nor yet a pamphlet, but 4 mixture of both.