New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-22
The POETS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE.

ufa1V WGIe0 anu It's covers are Monty illuminated.
THE POETS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE.
JASMINE; BARBER, POET, PHILANTHRoPIsT. BY
samuel Smiles, Ii. D., 12mo PIP. 800 Harper
Brothers
Jacques Jasmin, Gascon poet barber and philan-
thropist is probably known to the majority of Amerf-
cans only through Longfeow's translation Of one OF
his best poems, "The Blind Girl Of Castel-Cuille."
The life Of such man well worth writing, and
Nj. Smiles has produced very interesting and effect
i've biography. Born at Agen, the banks Of
the Garonne in very poor family, his father
hump bscked tailor in small way, Jacques expert
enoed during his early years all the pains and
prvstions OF Indulgence. He was however, helped
TO get little education, and being dingent lad he
made his way until In early manhood after serving
the necessary apprenticeship he started independently
as barber. Long before this, however he began to
make verses. Az first he tiled his hand at CLASSIC
French, but his native bent toward his vernacu-
lar Gasoon, the sonorous and harmonious language
Of the Troubadours," Mr.. Smiles puts it,; and ~
was In that dialect that he achieved his fame and
The astonishing popularity he was TO earn. The
first work OF Jasmdn's which attracted marked attention
IL Paris was entitled Mes Souvenirs and was an
photographed sketch of his childhood and youth.
salnte- Beuve saw this and recognized its sriking
merits and the vgor and originality of the Southern
poet. He, Charles Nodier, Vileman and many
other men Of letters and poets published euogisiic
reviews of the new singer. But long before this his
fellow tovnsmea of Agen had known that they had
poet among them, for the young barber was in the
habit OF reodtfng his to his customers while
he shaved them, and his humble ltte shop gradually
came to be rendezvous for the most intelligent and
hest educated citizens.
But Jasmin was practical as well poetieal. lie
knew that his razor was his one solid dependence. and
ls did not neglect 1t to firt with the muses.. lie de-
cared himself that in the exercise Of his handcraft he
had "a velvet hand" and his skill In shaving Kept
the customers who were first attracted by the fame
OF his verses Soon he married. and his wife proved
a wise and tender helpmeet, though for short time
she failed 10 understand the poetic side OF her nus
hand and tried to disSuade him from further culnvar
ton of his genius The steady growth OF his reputation
opened the good woman's eyes, and tn Aeeforth she
Helped instead of hindering JasmIn. pccuharT In
Gascon manners and customs did much to spread ana
establish his fame. This was the practice OF recitao
tions in public, which may perhaps be traced IN an
tnbroke line back TO the time of the Troubados But
Jssmn ennobled the custom by recting his poems only
for charitable purposes and by refusing TO accept any
other compensation than the bare amount OF MS
travelling expenses which also he cut down whenever
he could by walking from Agen to the place OF meeung
These recitatons must have been extremely IN
teresting for Jasmin was born elocutonist ana
largely gifted with dramatic faculty. HIS voice anu
action are said to have been Tohertuy linpleseiIe-
He completely dominated his fervid ana sorohsS
emotional Southern audiences ana later Oh ho 0''a'
and fascinated the colder North.
As the years passed and his genius maturea' tle
noise OF his irenown increased everywhere, but Jasn
kept the even tenor OF his way, never ost MS heau
n.ver despised his trade carried the barber-shop
steadily and diligently and remained the same pain
modest unaffected man he had ever peen' inns
superiority to the temptations OF the slthauon 10 ~
OF the most admirable of his qualities II Is true TIC
was vain He relished and yearned lot applause
This he freely admitted. But 1t was nlosO naNo
and harmless vanity that he exhibited and perhaps
a WAS not vanity at all but merely that appreciation
OF his gifts which comes to genius always Inc use
he made of those gifts shows that he was al MS e
devoted 10 his feowmen. so greatly IN request "eio
his Rotations for charitable purposes thaV HIS "'o
soon became engaged months in advance anu we
more success he had IN collecting. the more incessat
were the calls upon him. BY degrees ne DecS'no q
absorbed in this phianthropic work, and until lew
DAYS before his death he continued TO spenu hiiS0
IN the cause OF the poor and the suffering his Pop
ularty was immense. lie was felt 10 De INC Po0P'S
poet and the peoples friend and helper. "heh ~
was expected at any town or village 10 leoi"o .,i
poems the whole population would 80 Out Oh .ne
road TO meet him. and escort him with accianlauoh
10 4l. naee az meeting lie never would accept pay
for his services but the municipalities ana inc Popo
often bestowed upon Jasmn such gifts as poet may
take-crowns Of laurel, wreaths OF ivy)asnhhe Vas
play upon his name) and someumes' wheh kie"'
people were concerned, some Jewel Oh price, ihu'
King Louis Philippe gave the poet watch ana uls
Duchess OF orleans gave him handsome nng' ana an
these trophies the honest proudly exhibited IN his
bsrbershop at Agen.
salnte- Beuve has observed TINT Jasmin Is to the
South O. France what Burns is TO Scotland. But
Jamn is at least as celebrated for philanthropy rs ior
his poetry and he has The signal and unique hohor OF
having earned in the most legitimate way nan
million Of francs every centimo OF which went 10 heip
The poor The labor lie undertook In his peregfh"-
tons was very great. lie walked almost always, Tor
there were 40 railways in his day. and other forms Oh
transportation were expensive. lie walked, too' i'll
all kinds Of weather, and sometimes he was COM
pletey exhausted by fatigue and exposure when no
reached his journeys end. But he would Eot dlSap-
point the eagerly eXpectant audience hnc even houSh
oaFse and stin, he invariably carried out the pro
gamme 10 the end Many provincial celebrities nave
gone TO Paris, and the visit has caused their rum
Jasmn went 10 Paris, and feted ana praised ana
caresed there alike by the court and by the republic Oh
letters He enjoyed IT all thoroughly bur he kept MS
balance and returned TO Agen unspoiled ana unchanged
10 any respect for the worse. Few pools can Doasl
more uniformly successful career than the barocT
Poet Some OF letters. indeed, 1T one tune Sought
70 persuade him that be ought 70 put his verses into
french and abandon his "native wOodnotes wf,' but
That.