New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
uTIES SINON,S MEMOIRS.


oQ simoH dc rAesdeme Prancase illustrations de
LesDdre savees Sur S SOis par frIsaiiT Jenkins.
This second series Of NJ Jules Simon's "reminiscences
Is fully as interesting the first II Is thrown hlo
the form OF separate episodes, which are parity MAJ,
rative and partly discussion. The book opens WIN
a charming sketch of Christmas usages IN bn''any'
where the authors childhood was passed Inc "iuo
scene is reproduced with marvellous color and c VIC
sec the old farmhouse where NJ Simon's parents lea
semi patriarcha life among superSutous' conseiV"
tive quaint old peasantry the rather bleaN anu u0
pressing landscape; the queer old-fashloneo costumes
of the men and women the procession gong soiei's
ut night to cut the Yule Log; its equally ceremoouS
Transportation to the manorhouse its deposit IN 'e
xawnlnc cavern OF The hearth; and the final formal
blessing of the log by the village priest.
Then follows delightful bit of autobiography III
description of the College OF Vannes IN 1851 ieie "
Simon began his education. and queerer coiese rev
young men have been able to utilize. At TINS ui"e vs.
simon's parents were unable to help him. and ne was
cornelled 10 ele out his meagrc resources by taxing
pupils himself. The curriculum was hopeessS ue-
fective and when the young student went 10 pe'ei
Institution he speedily discovered that aier seVea
wears of hard work he knew absolutely nothing ouV
little Latin His account of the professors ana classes
Of the shifts and lodges rcsorted to by the stdens
al 90 whom, were Door and many nearly indigent-is
highly interesting and speaks well for the PUCK anu
love of learning which kept these Breton youths at
ibe,r sDdics in the teeth Of many and grave dis
touragements ,o,
aJe Vovare dc Nocess is seriocomic eplsode'
related OF a Young professor in tho university
=, Paris vho having married, resolved upon weoolhg
tourney and so took his bride to Rouen. ArrlVms
there after dark the pair put up at very
modest inn and the groom went out to get sh''eu'
He had much difficulty in finding barber was nearly
arrested by a suspicious sergent de vilie'" anu us
covered finally that he had lost his way. HAVING
thxrf ha 0f
che street was situated in his plight was now serious
ue anpealed to the gendarme who had suspected him.
md was referred to theatre manager who was sup
posed to know every hotel IN the o"h
Arriving at the theatre he found there
n state of excitement on account OF 'l'e
sudden illness Of al important member OF the orcesua
The professor was amateur musician OF some lorce
and 10 secure the help of the in finding MS
bride he volunteered to take the place OF the aoSeh'
man for the evening. His success Ill 'no
orchestra was marked, but he couid no.
tejoin his wife that night, ana wheh heA'
morning the hotel found, To- the lazy hao gone
After a night of anxiety and distress she had been
NV, morning paper wherein the professors name
anpeared at full length having played at the the
otre the night before. Naturally enough this news
produced a wrong impression. The poor bride thought
her husband had deliberately preferred theatrcai
orchestra TO her company and she went OIL IN dudgeo
ond returned to her mother. ALPS well that ENDS
satisfactorily to the offended wife, The story Is ~l
tbIv Told and could hardly have been better had 1t
been invented , t., 49, rsno
acconnt of the career Of philosophical revue" WHICH
1uas started rs means of giving fuller expression "
Victor Cousn's views's than could be had thouSh ho
aRevue des Deux Mondes, the editor OF which, buioA
,a oDracod IN, Cousin followers by refusing to PRINT
one e the masters papers on the frivolous grouilu
that he had read it through without beng aoe 10 o
derstand word of it. NJ. simon was contributor 70
the new Lberte de Peuser until It's managers
into Socialism when he ceased to write for H. anu INC
nublcation indeed had not long career though i'S
contributors numbered many hahoS eni'0 U' $780,
in literature. 1900
The ensuing paper, "Valpaioux," gives some
facts abolt little known and archaic pace ca''eu
Dourmartin do VapajouX. This odd ntdle Vowi was
made rich by the benefaction of an eccentric od hope
who had amassed a great fortune by cattle Dreeuhs
and agriculture and bequeathed it all to the town'
Go valnaicuy was able TO have all manner OF nSutu-
,ions and foundations and might have gone on pros
nering Quietly but for certain turbulent DOCTOR "ho'
having been transported TO Cayenne for sedton was
hardened on condition of renouncing pontcs ana or
With soueht q vent for his superluous energy by
converting Valpajoux to agnostcism 1hi9
sNotnh affords fantastic collision bet"een
medieval and nineteenth century ideas and the way IN
which the nhdel doctor after all bafed IS ds'hcy
TO ediication.
ale scrment" IS. one may suspect, vaied
satire directed aga. t these politicians OF the
order of the Vicar of Bray who change their
ppnions with every change Of government IN order TO
keen their places. 1t also contains some slde-Ights
upon the modern scions Of the old Breton nobility,
which will be found suggestive "Therese," the iast
a,,sr &c a striking illustration of French and con-
tnental methods of administering the criminal law.
II is a story of a good daughter pursued by bad
mother who in turn is dsarmed and put 20 rout by
the police and the magistrates, though with no little
dificulty Every page Of NJ Simon's New Memoirs Is
interesting it may be added, and the Illustrations OF
Ieandre are generally excellent.