New-York tribune., 1892-02-05
JULES SIMON Of ANERICANiSM
he THINKS 1T IS LEADING EUROPE TOO RAPTr
LY AWAY FROM THE PAST.

LY AWAY FROM TIE PANI
The opinions of NJ. Jules simon, the great French
writer phiIo> >ophcr and exMniSer Of Educ@'pn' are
always read with interest and profit His deep
scholarship, his long and brilliant career. eniltc ms
words 10 careful consideration. lie has, ash tle
courage Of his convictions and always expresses hn
self fcarlcssly and unrcscrvedly lie is friend, TOO
II America and an admirrr Of her history and many
Of her institutions. Iut he docs not hesitate whlie
praising American virtues 90 throw strong search
light upon American vices.
81 love the Americans" he said recently In an
article contributed to a Partisan journal. "but do
not love Amercanism we'll
ain 1foo. Europeans discovered America and trans
ported Europe to American shores Americans, hav-
ing foGrshcd and become very powerful in the course
Of four centuries have invaded Europe ahd trals'
ported America here
"The American having no past always looks toward
the future lie is traveller who does not believe that
his journey i, ever finished. In marching ahead of
us. he accu,tomS us to move on too ana for tat am
thankful. He induces Us also to accuStom ourselves
to lighter luggage but FOR that am less grateful
Gladly would | tighten material baggage. but scnti-
mental baggage and burdens ] rcnounce Win re
luctance. believe that the twentieth century, which
shall never see, will have It's merits: but the
sixteenth the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries
which | know, were beautiful enough
"During these centuries past there was an
institution which. acknowledge has been retarded In
its progress, but WHICH Hlauc lHS WIZ S""'' WV
very pure II was the family.
zone lived then at home. one died IN tlc hoIAo
wher, he was born one closed the eyes OF his
father Thcr was in the blessed homo when
did NOT recall cares or a pre'opt vi t"c
mother Of the family she always the model ana
the apostle of virtue. She was vcncraed ana on her
acoount no. whole scx was Veneratcd. There was no
question then lax morals Of crimes Of passion Ihe
law respect. love reoeiv~i and given. honor ana
probity inherited and treasured. shields against
crime and against error. People said OF man nc
was man well born he man we'll cdncaed'
one a.pl.ed TO become the founder of a family
picture to myself happy and vIrtuouS family OF
that past time. II Is respectable and not TOO du'tee
II Is acquainted with the pleasures Of life. but they are
oasurcs I'm accord with duty and self respect II cu
tiyaes .clcnc. and good literature and pays no heed
td frivolo,l, literature. The art cultivated In 'uch
family i only that grand art which a"ak'hs dcds oi
eternity In tho human mind The memteTs OF the ram
iy receive and associate with ONLY polished peope' nav
ng the same beliefs and similar tastes. They have
,bc git of ,cas as well rs that II smiles. because they
feel strong enough to acknowledge that they are moved
10 enthusiasm rapture BY heroic deed. and beauu
full works.
And again fancy n family OF persons pressed and
busy who dsdan everything that is not new. and
trnmplc upon everything which might Interfere with
their progress The father and mother have merely
consented to marry another: the marriage Is
matter of ngcmcnt. business or convenience. As
honest peopl" they observe the binding 'tlpuEuIohS
until they find them too strong. too heavy. Ihcy
then announce in straightforward way that th'y
wish to separate. and ask magistrate 10 put m end
their unon thus declaring publicly that they love
in other places. The children do not bear the yoke Of
obedience as I'm that age when IT was absolutely
neccs ,ary that they be guided and protected Even
In this happy age. however. they must also be sup
ported and this necessity IS the principal band which
binds ,hcm to their parents. At the age Of one Hd
twenty years they are cmanclpaed 10y law. unless
they have already had to the courts. which
can shorten the time Of servtude IN the family tn"
strong and holy bond Of former years has given place
10 the marriage Of adventure. facilitated by the di-
vorcc. and To- u guardianship made easy by the
boarding school and 10y the laws governing the emln-
clpation from family control.
"Aguin, while TIA" family exists as hInllN-m"h-
aced bi divorce and these laws- i often diminished
much possible. In acoordancc with the decree, nl
fashion! The child !, first sent 10 nurse ana acr
ward whether boy or girl, /, placed In boarilng
school. Ths father and mother have house wher'
they receive their hieud, Inc father deserts II Iot
the club. lie finds in the club The solitude which he
desires game, of clance. If they be to his Hiking ana
all the luxuI1es which he cannot have at home NE
even goe, there to take hi, meals; win the day At
the Exchange and the evening with his friends what
becomes Of hi, wife she calls upon h'r hc-"pVi'
She make, her own plans she prepares lcF'eh py
II to believe the enemies of the great
American Republic. there are the great hotelS lmio
rs auxiarIes of the clubs hotelI which arr are worlds
within themselves They have their good polnts !,
possible 10 live wthig them and cNapc scrutiny, and
they Offer great variety Of cnteVhnincht. ple may
sleep there and thu, dispense with tho hypocrisy oi
having hi, own fc,dc. Monsieur aud Madame may
have their rooms there and eat at the table d'hote
IL Is not necessary. that the rooms adlon one
another.
we must remember the dinners @ls@ rs rs Teil as
the clubs and hotels. do not speak OF oIltlh dhncrs
dinners Tor friends The dinners Of which
speak are al institution which grows daily ana which
furnish the married man. who i wi,irS 10 I'VE .d aN
bachelor with excuse, for not remailhS AT nome
There are more dinners continues VI. 9lhoH
than one can count. There The annual dinner OF
the Institute the monthly dinner of the Nauefhy OK
Fine Ats the dinner OF the Economists, the dinner of
tle society of Political EromOIny. the dinner of the |
men OF letter, the dinner Of the Universal Literary
Association the dinner Of the Alpine .iD the dinner
Of the Celtic club II wold Hi 'Hc '"ii,hiS o
a newspaper to recount them all. ~ haI ah |
excuse T. live away from home 10 hiNc l1 Holc; ~
be a husband only occasionally hIipW lial |
these customs not preclude Pastcur ana AcNamic
Dumas but the former customs dld hot prtrWnc "a |
Dcscartcs COruclll" Eniih'lpd'oh - HcCSs,hN'
Iut too much T.. moi necessary. II man wishes |
10 grow he should not dctach himself from the world
lie can do nothing without the ald Oh Others.
The master Of tie future Is the past