New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-28

prphenU because
Balzac has been accused of Overwhelming ms
descriptions of interiors We cannot agree with MS
critics in this As a rule his descriptions OF houses
Grounds rooms. ETC. are carefully worked ont
because they are intended t. have and do nave
hearing upon the story. Often they explain
characters and situations of themselves. lSuilIY
they are as necessary to the completeness Oh lhe
whole rs the background and surroundings are
necessary to a figure painting. In Cesar olto'I'"u
+h,ro j. no :ou Of a house or room which
docs not tell it's Iart of tie story The differences
bctocen the apartments Of old MolncuT and OF the
uprient retired merchant, Pllrrault. the luxury OF
the bachelor chambers OF Da IilIct. the s'-"II
baroness of the Ciaparon den. are not less Si2aIi-
cant and instructive than the narrative ltSch'
Tlcrr il nothing suparluOIs or meaningless Ia ANY
corner OF Balzac's canvas.
Tie authors mastery Of commercial law las
served him well in this book. NothnI can be more
lucd than his account OF tie bankruptcy processes
in the Partisan courts. and that nc th 'roughIi
understood the subject Is shown bY ~ anecd'te
which his sister. Nine. Surviir, tells III hrr ''""
rophy of him. She SAYS that she knew ro'aiN III
Paris who kent a copy Of" Cesar Brottrau among
hi low hanks declaring that he had foHud II very
pacr,l work Of reference ~ relation TO bankrapt'E
nroceeturs Not the least skilui point IN the DOCS
ia the reaction OF CCsars noble behavior upon pune
oniniop The reader has been introduced u ''Se
orl s,rdi1 circle n Gree Of adventures binds OF
prey. corrupt millionaire, men IKE l'n l"c',
Cobscck the Ke,.crs and NUcinrcn. The first OF
these is the evil genius of poor Cesar lie hates MN
he ause he has injured him, AMI lie works ms rHih
bocausc the prob.ty and the honorable p'ston OF
the victim are gall and wormwOod TO the scou dIcI
who knows himself for tnlet. Nothing more
natural ;han the cnmity of Du TI.let can be con
cciyed But when hc has ruined the r'ilum"r;
when he has plunged him into psnury when he
Los tortnrrd and inundated hun piitlrSSy and to
tne fall extent of hi, power; the crushed wretch
rises from the earth to which he has beeA beaten
aud BIZ his honor and seli-renunclat"n cohTeS
even from the soulless company ol the none!
hunters the tribute Of their admiration Ilu lII't
is made to feel the futility of his vengeance, and Icy
= refinement Of art he is forced By the memory OF
| his own shame to contribute TO the rehabilitation
OF his enemy.
The death of Cesar Birottcau is fine Nothing
else VA, left for him. Restitution had been made
Int the vital mechanism had been worn 0at IN
performing the great task Jog completes what
despair hal begun. The great ~ mp"ony j"
| C-ninor is the finale of this sorclys tired ont
nuyielding soul and rs tic curtain falls upon the
solemn apostrophe Of the Able LorauN we feel That
we have been assisting al one OF those tragedies o!
humanity which sun up the hest and the worst NE
otlersto the race But The death Of Cesar !rottcau
is not less triumph than that OF any martyr ana
the dominion of honor and truth over the com!H'n
and icno5e vices of al times is most s;ukhsi}
| asserted ia tie powerful closing scene.
| The book has long been hailed a masterpiece. and
| the present generation Will do well TO read 1t lie
its English dress not only because II is the work OF
2 GREAT writer but for wholesome purposes OF
comparison. The translation is very good We
| had marked few minor errors. bnt on consIde'a-
ton they appear SO trivial that to specify them
! would give them an undue consequence. Inc
! authors meaning has never been missed inc
vigor and swing of ms narrative are faithfully ana
! fully preserved in the translation. The hNis."n
into chapters Is justified. ALTOGETHER the work has
been exceilently done. AMI both the translator amt
the publishers deserve the thanks Of the pa'hc Tor
putting within their reach 50 conscientious a
version of great masters work.