New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
THE NEW IMMORTAL.
NJ. DE FREYCINETS RECEPTION INTO THE
FRENCH ACADEMY.

NJ. DE FREYCINETS RECEPTION lNIO HE
FRENCH ACADEMY.
Paris December l.
The reception of NJ. de Freycinet into the french
Academy as the successor Of NJ Emile Angler is
| one Of the most interesting events in the recent
history Of the Immortals Too often the pubic.
never overawed, and seldom burdened with ultra
reverence, have been inclined TO jeer at the Forty.
and especially at the Fortieth. Men have been
chosen through curious influences. and often
irst-rate candidate has been rejected in favor OF
thrd-rate one. In the present case, however, the
Academy is universally held to have done highly
proper thing The difference between the satlrst
of the Empire and the statesman of the Re
| public is great. But there is, on the whole
probably no man in France whose election would
| have been regarded as q more fitting recognition
| of public services and intrinsic worth.
| IL one should analyze fully the causes that
led to the election of " de Freycinet, he would.
through a curious process, attain curious re-
suit The common superstition is that an I'M
mortal is chosen because Of his literary attain
ments; which is not true, Of course, but perhaps
rs nearly so as the average popular supposltion.
| Well NJ de Freycinct chosen for no such
treason. A scholarly and graceful writer he IS
! but il was not for that that he was put III
| the chair of Emile Angler. Neither was IL De
cause of his otatory, though in clearness ana
ucidity Of speech he stands among the half-dozen
| foremost orators Of the world. Nor yet was IL
| on account of his wonderful works civil
engineer, though in that respect lie has done more
for France than any other living man has done
for any other country in the world. Finally, IL
was not his eminence a stateman, nor his
charm of personality, nor all these things put
| together that won him the red ribbon. No
| doubt these considerations all had due weight
| But the one dominant reason was far other
than any or all of these.
1t will be remembered that when NJ. de Frey
cinet was made Minister of War there were many
shakngs of heads High as were his undoupted
| merits, he was only civilian. And 1t was I'M
possible TO regard with entire confidence the
| placng of a civilian at the head of the War
| Denartmeut The ultra-ardent patriots OF the
Patriotic League saw in it the degradation OF the
army, the suppression of material spirit, and the
aba ndonment OF all thoughts of revenge upon Ger
| many. And even the thoughtful feared his adj
ministration would he a failure. Well, it has
| hoer n sunerb success He has done what his
| military predecessors were unable to do. lie has
| reconstructed and reorganized the army, and made
il stronger and more efficient than any one dreamed
il could be- And it is for this, above all else, that
he was elected to a seat among the lmmortals
So this new Academician was formally received
to-day Not for many years has there been so
| much general interest shown in such an event.
Every one wanted to be there. and the throng at
the doors was very great few privileged guests
were admitted privately but nearly all had 10
stand in line and file in one by one. Three or
four hours before the door was opened there was
a long line thus waiting. 1t was composed oil
footmcn and other servants who had been sent
by their employers 20 secure and hold their
| places As tie time for opening the doors APP
| nroacbcd the employers came anr took their
places in person. relieving the patiently waiting
I,ckevs. In this way Nine. de Freycinet and her
daughter got their places. and so did the lnfan'a
Calale. and many other ladies of highest social
rork Only Mime Carnot and Nine Floquct
cpioyed the privilege OF special entry. The Pres
iden;s NJ the Senate and Chamber of deputies
wero there and General Fevrier, the head of the
| 7 orion of Honor: General Gallifet Mcssrs. Spul
Ier Goblet and Tirard; Baron Mohrenheim, anu
other members of the Diplomatic Corps; the Dnc
dAumalc. aud nearly every member Of the
Academy
NJ de Freycinet entered with his sponsors,
NIcssrs bertrand and Mezeres The little graz
mouse as he has often been called ana ho'
disrtspectfully, either has become llt'le wni'c
MOUSE Hair and beard are almost snowy, an"
the skin of the face is nearly as white. Inc ish'
blue eyes however, are as young ana as prisn1 a.
,,..r and those who think him superannuated and
reckon upon his retirement from politics as uKe'
70 follow his reception into the Academy ate
badly mistaken. He is not an old man. py any
means and his mind is as powerful ana "i,Iiui
.s subtle and as lively, as II ever WIS lie mas
not the slightest ida OF retiring from puoho iie
for vet MANY year; nor does any true lrieiu VI
rho Republic desire that he shall do 80. Oiu-
fashioned IIuguenot as he is in manner CIVIL ell
;noor nc he IS by profession scientist as he Is by
inclination he is one OF the most SUCCESSFUL parry
,oodors in q country where party leadership Is
80 difficult than anywhere else in the world.
And the Puritan sincerity and exalted honor OF
~. uso .nneor 70 be more than match for the
nnr,;citv and intrigue that unhappily mar the
i,.;os ~ France as we'll as of other countries.
The Grafton of NJ de Freycnet was, OF course,
devoted 10 a consideration of the career ana
ohoracter OF his predecessor. And that fact added
81, interest to the occasion. For it would be
roedful 10 eulogize Angler, and to do SO he would
harc 70 make him out, in some way, and in Some
5roo n Repnblcan Could even the polite
"a toctful NJ de Freycinct do that? For Angler
ms assuredlv no devoted lover OF the Republic
IN The contrary. he was Orleanist in his sympa-
thies though he cordially supported the F'hpire
that showered so many favors upon MN. IL WIS.,
,dod OWING 70 the combined action of the
| Ronapartists and the "parti DIES dues tha' he
was able to force open the doors OF the AcadehhS'
,.Loro bo had encountered strenuous opposition
oonsod nv his singing satires in his Fills de
Cibovcr and other pieces NJ. de Laprade called
him the Pegasus Of the Court; Louis Veuillot
defined him as "a vaudevillist devoid of life and
rayetya: while Barley d'Aurevilly dubbed him
- the rotten fruit of contemporaneous poetry.
Such were a few of the amenities showered on him
bv the Ielitimists, who hated him intensely.
But NJ de Freycinet was equal to the task
before HIM 1t is known. he said that Emile
Angler used 20 he received with great kindness
rnnernllY