New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13

medieval records Engaged as he is upon an en-
trey irresponsible task we feel it right for MN "
give free rein TO his fancy, and TO SET DOWN "i'
impressions with little regard TO sequence OF
method 1t is all so light and gossippy, and yeo
n strain of earnestness runs through the sparkling
tok, and gives q certain body to it.
NJ. Bonrget does not trouble himself much WIN
descriptions, yet he describes well, and his little
sketches are invariably graphic and striking. IN
art he obeys no rules follows 10 authorities "heh
lie comes upon painting that plcases MN lie Is "
little apt TO go into raptures over IL, ana sone-
times finds il necessary to Justify his enthusiasm
by the theory that. though most observers may
fail to find in the work all the beauties he ascrbcs
20 it, the very fact that he perceivcs them should
be regarded as proof that at least the artist had
a great lift of suggestion. OF course this Is
dangerous hypothesis for out of it may be defended
an artistic anarchy menacing to intellectual and
creative progress. But it does not signify IN thc
circumstances novelist on holiday, and bent
upon vindcatinc his individuality, must not be
criticised in cheese pairing way. Such traveller
Is In manner bound TO utter some extravaganccs,
and We echo them, If we are sane-minded, as part
of the amusement he provides for US And mingled
with these little cxtravagances curiously subtle
ideas in which the psychologist reveals HIM
SELF perhaps unconsciously.
NJ Bourget makes one mistake in common
with other psychologists. lie assumes too
confidently that we always understand our
own actions and their motives. The proba-
bility is that great many actions which
bnfie us In life are the product of impulses which
the actions themselves could not explain. The
idea that nothing is ever done without some CON-
pick motive is misleading. Nevertheless, NJ.
Bourgeois remarks concerning the difficulties OF
;,l In In p,oip md no
cause they are true, a few wise men have refused
to put reliance upon the so-called verdlcts Of his
tory-and have been pitied and scorned for their
heretcal temerity. But we are diverdns from
the main current Of our authors book as reckessly
as he himself DIVORCES from it. and perhaps his
tendency to wander is infectious. II Is. indeed.
q principal attraction Of his volume that
he is in no way concerned for its conference
and continuity. lie writes so brilliantly
upon every topic he takes up that one does not re-
grct his excursions. and that is the one criterion
of his method which has any real value.
Once only do we seem TO catch him tripping
Some Of his passages on Realism might he thought
10 indicate naivete which few readers OF NJ
Paul Bourgeois novels would be willing to impute
to him. In other words, he condemns here either
directly by implication. theories of fctions
which all the world serously-and 1t must be said
Observation-Disclosures TO be precisely those upon
which his own work has been guided. But as
we have remarked responsibility Is the keynote
of such holiday book. and nothing he has said in
il can be thought 10 bind the author 10 any new
departure, or CONCESSIONS or compromises What
he says about the essential and ineradicable diver
sity OF races is suggestive, but there are no data
upon which 10 examine the question. IL is prob
lem which il is perhaps part Of the destiny OF the
| nitel States 20 solve for here assembled men
Of every roce and placed under similar conditions,
il must he demonstrated in process of time
whether or not hercdty and environment In past
ages have fixed in them any traits which cannot be
eliminated Those who do not care for serious
ideas will find In these bright pages plenty Of
lighter matter The translation is on the whole
satisfactory but the proof reading is not quite
There are several misprnts and IN one Instance
4 msprint has been several times repeated