New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
ZOLA AND DAUDET.
A STORY OF MPrLSIYE CRIME.

| now being puDISntu ScTlalIN III lhc VIC i"P"
laire" This book bids fair to Guido even the
most realistic Of the writer's Other works. The
hero is another member of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
family the brother of Claude Lantier, the unluclV
paintcr whose cruelty disappointed life is described
| in LOeuvre." La Bette Humane is poig-
nant drama enacted during the last years of the
Second Empire, and beginning with murder in
railway carriage which reminds one of the
AfIaire Birreme' and of the &" Affairc Jud.'
| The scrupulOus and conscientious eXactitude which
| forms feature Of everything which he writes Is
even more apparent in La Bette Ilumaine' than
| in NJ. Zola's other works The book contaipS
description Of the life of an engine-driver; and
| with the view Of realizing fully and examining
more closely the existence of these men, who hold
| so many lives in their hands, and whose slightest
| carclcSsness may bring Gu such awful catas-
| trophe NJ. lola made several trips by night
and by day between Paris and Nantes in the cab
Of locomotive. Several of the scenes in the
| book are exceptionally dramatic A train
| blocked up in the snow and The cour dasslses
at Rouen' vivid pictures drawn by master
| hand.
NJ Zoa has evidently wished to prove that
reasoning crime hardly exists, and his Bette
Humane is perfect illustration of the impulsive
crime dictated inspired to every living creature
by fury, passion, or mere instinct NJ. Zola
carries his love for truth and his realism SO
far that, whilst writing this book he had in his
study at Medan the working model of a loco
motive, given to him by one Of the most prominent
railroad men in France. The favored few WHO
have had t. privilege Of reading NJ Zolas manu-.
script of the last of the Rougon-N [acquart series
acknowledge that the chief of Frances realistic
school has surpassed himself, and that of his
l,olye Of
accuracy and perfection His next work will be
entitled, LArgent," and will initiate his readers
| into the mysteries of the Bourse. 1t will also
touch on politics, and His EXccllency, Eugene
Rougon, will r2appear in all his splendOr. After
this will come another romance called La Guerre,"
in which the public will be treated 70 W. Iola's
view Of the campaign Of / $40 and of the capitula-
ton OF Sedan. As soon as he has completed
his ACKNOWLEDGMENT SERIES it is VI. IOlas inten-
ton to devote himself TO the stage, and TO write
several dramas which he has long had in his
mind 1t remains TO be whether or no
La Bette Humane" will further NJ Zolas
prospects Of election to the seat in tn Academy
left vacant by the death of Emile Angler. lie
has already been promised seventeen votes but
Of the forty, and his election, therefore, appears
more probable than it. seemed fortnight
ago. His last book is, however, too powerful,
and especially too confirmed realistic work 30
meet with the unanimous approval of the
Academicians, many of whom will doubtless urge
that il contains too much vice and too little
virtue TO make it anything but rcpulsive
VI. Aphonse Daudet has recommended his
| weekly receptions al his charming house in the
| Rue de Bellechasse. The home of the eminent
novelist is one Of the most artistic and lovely
spots in Paris. Surrounded by shady garden
an unusual luxury in so crowded a clty-lt Is
covered with creepers and flowers, which hang
from the balconies and climb up to the rool.
The hail. lighted by lantern of the XVth century,
is hung with old tapestries and contains some
remarkable bits of antique furniture. NJ.
Daudets study is filed with souvenirs of all kinds;
statues. etchngs dmperies, bronzes, enamcls,
worries. are tastefully scattered about in pictu-
resaue confusion, but without the slightest desire
70 producc effect Both the master and mistress
| of the house possess this fine feeling which
| enables them to produce without an effort artistic
results which require the most laborious trouble
on thc part Of persons less highly gifted. VI.
| Daudqt's writing table is very lOng-egecd, so as
70 prevent the author, who is extremely short
sighted. from bending down when writing. The
! draving-r has the aspect of a museum, so
many are the valuable pieces of brica-brac which
crowd the inlaid tables and carved brackets
| Nine Daudet's boudOir, vcritahle bower of
flowers and ferns is hung with splendid Oriental
sill,en stuff. through which softly glimmer gold
and silver threads The dining, fencing and
billiard rocms as well the sleeping apartments
arc pcrfect Ct their kind, and the receptions Of the
Ruc dc BeechasSe are always delightful, interest
ing and attractive.
Marshal MacMahon and the Duchess dc
Magenta will return here in few days
During the summer months the Marshal
has been very busy putting the finish
ing touches to his Memoirs, which will be entirely
completed by January next 1t is deeply to be
regretted that this work. which Will pos 30
great military and historical value, is not TO be
made public 1t is the Marshals desire that only
six copies thereof shall be printed, one for hims If
| and the others for his wife, his sons Patrice,
| Eugrnc. and Emmanuel, and his daughter, the
| Ccmtcsse dc Piennes. There is not an editor in
Paris but would dem himself fortunate if he
| could purchase the old warriors "reminiscences at
| any pricp and both they and the public must
lament the obstinacy with which the eX-Presi(rnt
! refused the most tmpting offers with regard to
| The publication of the volume
| 4 great sensation was created at thu opening of
tbc Chamber of Deputies by the appearance at tn,
poais Bourbon of NJ. Thivrer wearing over his
frock coat blue blouse, like those worn by the
working classes and peasants OF France. The
Socialist Deputy worked In mine for over
eighteen years, and was dismissed by his chiefs
for INSTRUMENTATION ana revolutionary tcndcncl"s.
lie then entered the wine trade, and had but little
trouble in converting many of his poorer custom
crs 10 the theories of rabid Socialism which he Ia
bcgun to profess while still in the mines An
almost eoualy great sensation was caused VIII n
the wealthy Comte de Grcfluhle, the husband of
the Princess de Caramnn Chimay, who has now
entered Parliamentary lifr for the first time de-
clncd the invitation extended TO him by his
friends TO take his seat on the Monarchcal side
of the house, and crossing the floor to tn, other
side of the chamber, requested that his name
should be inscribed as member Of the Rcpub.
lican party.