Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-09

HENRI TAME the inventor Of
that powerful machine called scientific
criticism, criticism immovable, mex
orable, which in some way destroys in
dYldual liberty, making of man the
simple product OF precise and defined
factors, from which he can, under no
pretext, disengage himself, such as race,
epoch, surroundings, which classifies
and labels all literary works like speci.
mems in museum of natural history;
which seeks, above all, the law, and for
gets, in its desire TO bring all things into
common, this element of difference
which is felt, this vibration of soul TO
soul, this something which escapes and
constitutes genius"
And yet Taine has written some beauti-
full poetry, thus combating the very
theory which no labors almost constantly
to maintain. Enthusiastic admirers |
have declared that Taine is the first
writer of our time. Be that as it NAV. |
he is a genius and an analyst of the first |
magnitude. His power of expressing |
much in little is remarkable. Perhaps |
the most conspicuous example of this |
faculty is to be found in 1.-THE Nor
mans, where, in describing them, he
speaks OF them as ''these heroic seekers
after profitable adventures"
Talne Is a thoroughly domestic man.
IN that he spends all of his time at
nome; but he can scarcely beconsidered
an ideal husband, for apart from the
meetings at meal time he sees little of
his family. Mime. Taine is hospitable
entertainer, and she and her beautiful
daughter are prominent figures at most
OF the social events Of the fashionable
literary circles of Paris; but the great
philosopher has so arranged matters
That he Is by common consent absolyed
from all social obligations. From early
morning until far into the night. with
put brief lntermissions for the 'consti-
tutlonals" which he compels himself 70
take, Taine is immersed in his study-a
1lngy sort of den isolated from the fam
iys apartments and richly stocked
With valuable books. The great writer
md thinker is morbid in his dread of
lotoriety, and would not even permit
3onnat to exhibit his portrait in the
salon. He is, perhaps, the most mac
,esslble OF all the great men of to-
lay.
Taine's career is lesson to young men
# genius. He did not burst, like a me-
cor, upon the literary armament. On
he contrary, his rise was the result of
aborlous and 1nremitting effort, coupled
I course with his wonderful mentality.
'orn in 1880, Taine, as soon as he was
Bile, was obliged to work, not only for /,
is own support, but also for that Of hi.
iother, to whom he exhibited up to the =
ay of her death devotion that was al z
lost sublime. His first work, "Philo- .
'phe Francais,' appeared in 1855. and >
as followed successfully, and at rea- =
,nable intervals, by LA Fonta; me- y
La Litterateur Anglaise," lie VOYAGE Ii
Italie" and "LIntelligence. He
arried, when he felt that his future
as assured, Nile. Dennel, the daughter
an eminent architect. Two children
I'VE resulted from this union. which has
owed a most happy one. Tame adores
ifidren and is very fond of cats. His J
MINER home Is magnificent estate,
orenge Mention, st. Bernard, on the
ores of Lac d'Annecy. His wife super
tends the vineyard and looks after all f,
business details of the place. Their ~
inter home is in Paris and is sumptu- az
sly appointed W