New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
REVIVING LANGUE DOC.
CELEBRATION BY A SOCIETY DEVOTED TO
RESTORING A NATIVE LITERATURE
Paris, June 26.

Paris, June 26.
The Felibres made the other day their annual
evanston 70 Sceaux. q small suburban town lying
70 the south of the capital. The Felibres are
literary association who propose 20 revive ITO
vcnca the rich and sonOrous dialect spoken py
the people along the lower course OF the khohe'
as a literary language. Meanwhile they
cndeavor to popular7e the study OF the southern
dialects of France, which are adapted, In a hlgh
degree for songs, romanceS and every prahch vi
lyric poetry. The leaders of the "Felibrige"
movement diSclaim any motives of hostility 10
the French language. which is the outgrowth OF
the northern dialects. Though LOVING u'elr
country. which extends from the Mediterranean
inland as far as the olive-tree can be grown they
are none the less good Frenchmen. But they can
rot endure the neglect into which the tongue Of
their childhood has been allowed to fall.
The literature of the Langue doc since its
revival forty years ago by JaSmin in Gascony
and Roumanie and Mistral in Provence has
already become rich and varied Mistral, the
only surviving member Of this triumvrate. IS
the greatest master of this newly revived tongue
His admirers place him on q level with Goethe
as dramatist. His masterpiece, Mircillc7 he's
been translated into French and the principal
languages of Europe and inspired GounOds opera
The Felibre movement originated in MlrsCillcs,
but its chief centre is now Paris. The explanation
of this is that the larger number OF the leading
writers Of the South come to Paris where they
devote themselves to French literature, only com
posing Provencal verses by way of paStme. The
Felibres of Paris have formed a society called La
Cigale 1.-THE grasshopper', which holds its meetings
At the Cafe Voltaire, behind the OdcOn, under the
presidency of NJ Sextius Michel, the mayor Of the
XVIII ACCOMPLISHMENT, in which the Latin Quarter
is situated.
The Felibres as anybody who has the pleasure
of knowing them will testify, are the most KIND
and pleasant set of companions imaginable Their
ranks are open TO sympathizers d all natonalities
and literary creeds 1t is significant of this broad
disposition Of mind that NJ. Renan. the Chairman
of the Cigale, is not Provcncal at all but native
of Brittany Although of late sufferer from
govt, he took part last Sunday in the annual pill
grimage to SceauX. A special train was in readi-
ness at o'clock, and brought us in half an hour
TO our destination. The Felibres. wearing as
ralying sign a bronze grasSboppcr in their bat
tonhOlps were received at the station with all tho
pomp and display this little town could afford.
TIE men of the local fire brigade, commanded by
q captain, who fourishcd sword on our approach,
were drawn up in line outside the station. In
front of them was q parallel line of young gym
nass. dressed in white knicZerbOckerS and gait
ers and red shirt jackets NJ. Rcnan, on alighting,
was received by the Mayor and Corporation the
latter looking as if the eyes Of Europe were upon
them and with their sunburned faces, oldfaShiOned
Sunday clothes and ungainly manners forming n
curious contrast to the lively, sleek Parisians.
The cortege, headed by the brass band, which
PLAYED all the while marched along the High
Street. beneath the gaze of people sitting at the
windows passed by the church and went down
lane TO the house where Florian the fabust Of
the end of last century, died. A commemorative
plate of the centenary of his death was dedicated
by the Mayor The brass band then led the way
back to the church. which stands beside the grave
ward where Florian was buried which has not been
used since monument with the poets bust was
erected here in recent years. The bust is that Of
a young man, the face is handsome and intel
lectual the head is oval, the brow is lofty one,
and the whole countenance gives an impression
of repose and harmony.
Florian was native of the South of France, and
and on this account his resting place has been
selected as the annual rendezvous of the Paris
Felibres Another and probably better reason
of their partiality for SccauX is that it is only
short distance from Paris, and stands a site
of extraordinary beauty, surrounded by old trees,
and not being situated near any main line OF
railway, has remained slow. old-fashioned
town
An ode TO Florian having been read and his
bust crowned with wreath Of double peOnieS,
which fell down over his eyes, the fellbres pro
ceeded TO the town hail. where NJ. Renun delivered
speech on the South of France and It's literature,
on Brittany and on philosophical and other mat
ters 1t is impossible to convey in a summary
the magic of NJ. Remains eloquence. From the
first words he electrified his audience NJ. Renan,
who was educated at Saint Sulpice for the priest
hood has much of the priests subducd manner
left in him Although he read his speech. il
seemed as though he were holding a conversation
with us, SO simple was the STYLE and so free from
literary effort.
Il am glad 10 see all these smiling faces around
me-" were his opening words. " | have pondercd
a great deal over the infinite and have come to
think that our knowledge of it can never be any
otherwise but very imperfect. But believe that
the moments Of our life devoted 10 healthy enter
tainment among those which answer best u
the intentions Of the Creator
"Alstract science and philosophy he con-
tinued, "have local color nor even nationality,
but poetry and song are associated with the coun-
try"
Fragile Structure.