The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-17

NJ. Georges Rennrd OF La Nouce,e Rer.e.
poet crowned hy tho french Academy"
an author whose works appear in frequent
editions. writer on such literary sub
lccts rs tho influence Of classical antiquity
on French literature from 1880 to 1920"
has wooed tho tenth muse. that OF Fiction.
and has entered the lists on the side OF Boil
lamy ct al. with novel. La Conversion
TAnJrt Sare,,av paris: f. Dentul As is evil
dent from its name. NJ. Renards story does
not give us Bellanyism ms an established fact.
but undertakes to describe how Andre Saw
enay. wealthy man Of the middle class. Is
converted to socialism. The tale Ia interest
ing and logical; but 1t only shows. the moro
clearly for it's very logic. that reformers are not
horn. but made-made by somo personal dis
appointment with the existing state OF things.
Andre Savcnay Is a wealthy bourgeois who.
having dined with two friends. attends u So
cialistc meeting to pass the evening. One OF
the friends arouses the wrath OF the meeting
by his remarks. and Is assaulted Andrs In
terferes to save him. and Ia him self saved
from rough handling by the interpositon OF
Jeanne Dcschamps. with whom he strat highway
falls In love. He Visits her and hor grand
father. from whom he i'm bihes dilute socialism
but 1t requires the loss Of his fortune to make
him indeed n Socialist. His mother has put
her all In a phosphate company managed by
Baron Turkheim. and Is frozen out when TINT
magnate's plans are ready. AndrA no by
profession is barrister. brings suit against
Tnrkhoim and tho managers of the company.
but is nonsuited and finds himself cast in
costs which, ndded to the amount lost in the
crash. ruin him and his family.
He becomes private secretary to NJ de Ser
moze. the father OF the friend whose indiscre-
ton aused the trouble at the Socialist meet
Ing. NJ. de SermoIze Is running for tho Corps
L6gisntif. and at the last Ia beaten badly,
despite every effort. Andre is enlightened by
his experiences in the campaign. but is not
convinced. However. his sister. Germaine.
dies. and then his mother: he Is converted.
becomes n famous writer in behalf OF theorat-
zeal socialism aud mhrries Jeanne Descha mps.
The book is more interesting than convince
ing: and the most interesting parts are not tho
socialistic conversations between N. Des-
champs. Jeanne. and Andre. but the account OF
the wrecking Of tho phosphate company--if
Baron Turkheim did not copy our American
tricks It is evident that French fnanciers are
indeed fin de siecle-and that OF the campaign.
This latter might give our practical politicians
points on managing elections though 1t is
doubtful il they really need them.
The personal campaign Of NJ. de Sermoze
and Andrc began on June %. 1881: the cleo
ton was on Sept. % II. de Scrmoize, being IL
manufacturer. threatened to discharge all his
workmen who failed to vote for him. In his
journal. which he deliberately keeps. as he saws.
like boarding school girl" Andre notes that
the election agent. having received tho ballots.
inks again those bearing the name Of M. de
Sermoize. 80 that the ink shows through thus
thnt gen,leman's watcher at the factory polls
will he able to tell whether the workmen cast
Bal
received only l55 votes at the factory polls. his
chief antagonist got 80. and the desplsed
Socialist candidate received 30! You ought
to know who cast those ballots for Denis!"
cried NJ. de Sermoiye to his agent: and tho
latter answered piteously. Alas. mol 1t Ia
not my fault! Who would have believed that
those damned worl:men would have linked
every ballot over again.
In tho end. the principal competitor wins.
with M. dc Sermoize a poor second. and Denis.
the Socialist. in the distant rear. "Thcy do.
bauched orr men," writes Andre: those to
whom wc paid 10 francs. they paid IL francs:
and the election agent proposed to NJ. d Scr
moize. We can sot aside the election on the
ground of his corrupting tho voters: I'll get
all the nflidavlts YOU want: but NJ. do Sermolze
couldn't answer"
Tho election methods In vogue in Franco in
1899 opened Andres eyes to the necessity of
reform; but it is the death Of his sister and
mother. his love for Jeanne and his rivalry
with Sigsmond l.oGuet. red Socialist. that
give the finishing touch to Andres spirit OF
reformation. Finally. when he has married
Jeanne no settles down n Socialist indeed.
but not u violent Socialist. n sort of unec-
cesiastia Robert Elsmcre with large intcn-
tions. but with even fcwer ideas ms TO their full
flment than that cobweb-b Drained person had.
The chief interest Of the book lies In its
sketches OF character and in the SHE scenes
OF the story M Renard indicates character
with few sure strokes: and in his single
small! volume has succeeded in creating some
Of great fascination and truthiu'aess. The
scenes OF tho election have been Indicated
sufficiently: but not less worthy Of descrip.
ton. did space afford IRE the scenes In the
court room during the trial of Baron Turk
helm. the death OF Germatne, the funeral
Preparations and the obs"lnies themselves.
and the trip to Saint Cloud, during which
andre learned that sigismond Roguet
u them p''"n Aro aM P Eabc Leman having
, been ,cxtremaly successful; and no has
ture to bear with charming elect on the chap
ter IN which Andres and Jeanne's future Is
~ Is interesting to net" the bits q English
serve. however, that instead 81 our phrase IL
will he Il cold tnv for him NJ. Rennrd writes
+" il fern chanG il, Jour. change due to res-
time invent and discuss AZ their leisure.