The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-24


both concede TO Conchita's wishes and es-
cape the railcries and sneers of his friends
on his apparent apostasy Nothing can be
stronger than the scene in which his wife,
during an evening promenade soon after
their marriage, adroitly beguiles Rameau in
the direction OF the Madeleine" which she
artfully contrives to get him to enter with
her, and then, through the paternal instinct
inherentin the nature Of such a man and the
power of her seductiveness, endeavors 10
make him kneel before the statue of the
Virgin and pray with her for a child. RI.
mean perceives the snare and sorrowfuly
but positively refuses 10 commit an act
which would be, in his own eyes, at once o
moral weakness and dishonorable in him.
Finally when Conchita, trembling and ready
for last effort supplicates him TO "only
bow his head, " what can be stronger or more
logically simple than Ramean's answer, ~
cannot do what you ask Conchita; l do not
believe. II the Divinity TO whom you wish
me 20 submit exists, she cannot
bfayorably accept an act of faith not
at all dictated by conscience; II she
do not exist, TO what a vain, ridiculous
comedy do you pretend TO coIstrain me ?'
From that moment disappointed and cha
grincd at the utter failure of her drcamed-of
triumph, Conchita concevcs n secret rancor
against Rameau. The sentiments Of lad
miration and gratitude which she previously
entertained for her illustrious husband dis
appear under the feeling Of horror inspired
In her by the atheists inhexibility." I'm.
fortunately for Conchita, at this unhappy
period, the death of her mother robs her of
a surer and stronger safeguard than her re-
ligon proves, which, happening TO be the
same creed as that of Frantz Munzcl, a
young German painter aud pianist whom
lameau has befriended, forms the first bond
OF sympathy in a fatal association through
which Conchita soon forgets husband, honor,
God, religion-oycrything save her absorb
ing passion for the man who thus basely
rcquites and bctrays her husbands friend
ship aud confidence. Ramcau does not learn
tho horrible truth until twenty years
aftcrward when Munzel and Con.
chta are both dead, and "Adricnne, "
whom he has always believed TO be
his own daughter, is grown up and
about To marry. "ralvanne," however Ra.
menu's lifelong friend aud comude, acct.
dentally makes the unhappy discovery early
In the affair aud causes Munzel to leave Paris.
The latter aftcrward fights on the German
side In the Franco-Prussian war and Is NOR.
tally wounded In front of Paris, where DIR.
, Rameau cares for and attends him till he
dies. There is no stronger situation In the
book than where Conchita defends herself
from Talyannc's rcproachcs, by charging her
| lad Hi
Of her fault. 1T is his non.belief in God, in
heaven, or in soul. lie believes that hu
man being, are guided only by their in
siincts, that there i no life beyond this and
death Is the end Of everything" And then
she asks by what does he pretend to re-
place a faith 40 consoling rs that she had
been brought up 20 reverence, or a fear :,
-alutary as that Of punishment hereafter
by vague, unreal principles; variable, sine,
they are the conceptions Of minds that ma,
change; fragile, because they are OF hu
man essence" The sophistry Of hci
! reasoning assumes a healthier tone how
ever, In her concluding ayowal that sh,
cannot hope 10 escape the penalty Of he
wrong-doing, no matter how much hel
a husband l. 10 blame for her sin, aud thai
d she alone Is the one God will hold account
able. Conchitas death not long after thai
" Of Munzcl seems like fulhllmcnt Of he
warning prophecy 20 1alyaune against az
i taching himself 10 the iniidel Rameau
that all 30 associated would be struck down
Ramcau RECEIVERS from this poignant sorrow
n only when he discovers the long-hiddci
/, secret Of her trcachcry and guilt aud thef
= his heart hardcns against "Adricnnc," q
= the only one left on whom lac can rcscn
a his Fricyous wrongs. Ohnct's purpose q
y this point Il palpablc. Up 10 this tim
Bamcau's makeup discovers no flaw
Now, however. IN the struggle between hi
G outraged honor aud his all-absorhing low
for Adricnnc the child he had 10 ten
derby reared from infancy, the constant rc
;. mindcr u his dead wifc's shane. Ramcar
D., manifcsis a cruelty Of spirit toward tn
innocent girl totally irrcconcilnblc will
Il" his otherwise noble and generous nature
i aud which nothing but Heavens wratl
Il or the soficnlng influence Of diy.n
4. grace can now rclont Ramcau "hn
believed only IN humanity, humanity la
u betrayed him, his illusions arc dispellcd am
his faith destroyed. In despair hc turns &
his philosophy. IL l. powcrlcss" Then b
thinks AT least the believer has God" 10
which thought he dcspiscs himself momcn
after. only 20 renew the combat again AM
K again. Adicnnc l. dying. Bamcau alon
Il can ave her. when, through his invinoibl
"a love for her. Ramcnu's will NJ last succumb
h, aud be- bends the knee 10 God IN prayer
II Ohnot does not cheaper the conquest Of thI
" great soul by depicting his submission
= uudging one. but rather shows him create
lc In bis humility than In the day Of b
% strength. Tho work j. beautifully roundc
II aud the characters arc thoroughly human
A. Tho incidents carry one irrc-istibly alonI
4 aud IN the Dialogues nothing can be MOI
!. delightful We predict Tor 10 Doctcur Il.
% mcau" a bllliant success, and stIll great,
d. u it ~ ever translated into English. D. y
Is Christian. No. % Fifth avenue, New Yorl
~ has Il Tor sale.
c Whether immoral or not, 'iTcrml
4 suydam. a new novel by Gertrude Fmnl
~ lin Athcrton. i Que Of the boldcst and mos
70 powerful books Of the day. Written wit
"a q mans yrility 81 strength and a woman
s.. kccnncss of psychological insight it
NJ a remarkably original production. licrmI
~ suydam l. q young girl who early In W
N learns b. rcgard tho marriage tic with
b. feeling 81 hatred, mot from innate immol
J. ality. but from a strongly romantic NATURE
D. stimulated 10 an abnormal extreme by Oh