New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-13
LITERATURE IN PARIS.
WHAT TIE AUTUMN HAS PRODUCED.
Paris, November l, lo9'

YEARLY change in Paris, which is as revolutionary
in its tastes as the round earth is revolving III It's
seasons The foreigner may still imagine that Ioh'
is the chief representative OF 9resent-day FRENCH
literature; but the Partisan, who judges with eyes
omen TO what goes on around him, knows better.
The Parisian indeed who reads-and where is the
one who does not ?devOurs his yellow colored copy
of the Debacle' chosen from the thousands dis
played on the streets in piles that melt away as IL
by magic But 1t il not the magic Of literary quail
ity which now attracts him. That passed dozen
years ago Since that time lola has learned moth
ing new in his would-be scientific explanation OF
human life by hercdiy, though men Of science have
studied at tho problem harder than ever before;
and he has made no material change In DIS pre-
tended realism of style and description, which also
las left no school to carry 1t Oh.
To tho younger writer's, greedy OF his success,
lola il now the master, which Is almost as much
a putting on the shelf as to be made an Academi-
clan The latter has happened to Lott, whose cloy-
ing sweets are also out of season without his ever
having been the master to any disciple. As three
chairs are now vacant among the Forty ImmortaEs,
It. is likely enough that Zoa will at last be grad
uated into the place he has 80 long coveted, where
even the bclated foreign critic will no longer be
able TO take his work az practically autonomous
with literature in France.
Every one reads tho Debacle" but II Is TO get
al the history OF the breaking up of the Empire,
which has left ~ many burning questions in every
French soul 1t is inconceivable that the English
translation Of this really great historical study
should have come out under the prosaic title OF
1.-The Downfall When the giant river ST. law
renee frozen 10 the depth Of many feet, tllaws at
the gradual coming OF spring aud the leo finally
breaks up I'm enormous cakes which 20 floating
down with tho current, crowding together, piling
mountain high against every obstruction. filling all
tho air with the dull fearful rumble and cracking
Of the dsintegrating mass then the boys used To
run through the streets OF the old city Of Montreal
ringing bells and calling aloud that all might come
out TO see Debaclo. Dcbacle.' II IS n like phe-
ncmcnon in the political world which lola has
successfully described. by crudely exposing all the
sef-sceking and Incompetence that led up TO IL.
This il more than literature; and II is because
lola is historian and philosopher that his work IL
read and not, as formerly, for the mere writer's
sake LOti's new volumes will also be read by
many because the habit Of the sweet tooth Is per-
sistcnt-and then his books are short.
II is in the autumn announcements Of the
publishers that the Uamcs must be sought Of
those who are rcapinS the latest rewards of
literature 80 French author, whose works have
can afford 10 neglect the autumn and winter
season Tie French public. in literature as in
politics NAV be- patient OF the ruts through which
its leaders drag II; bat its ore ceaseess demand
is for change Of names and faces The month
Just past has already given us rich sheaves OF
the years harvest They all naturally enough.
trine over golden with the ripeness Of the master
who has Just died The spirit OF Renan: which
IL essentially light, appears in the new stories OF
Anatole France and Jules Lcmaitre; and It is
present by ftful CLEANS in the numbering analysis
Of Paul Boureet's new novel The neo-Christian
spirit. which is essentially heavy brcathes. it
Is true. through a novel Of Edouard Rod but 1t
II only By way Of contrast. Even the demi-monde,
which in the actual civilization is rapidly taking
the place OF the grand-monde OF other times. has
lis own Renanism In the new poems and legends
OF the elect Ca,ulle Mendcs. Then Hughes lie
Roux who has been writing for the English
reading public his "reminiscences of the master.
has begun an exhaustive series Of genre studies 81
People OF To-day" with volume on sailors
and Soldiers
TO begin with the painter OF contemporary
life in France. VI. lie Roux announces that MS
series will form something like little " Comedic
Uumainc" and he will trace for u.s. in succession
portraits of tho modern ecclcsiastic. Of the bour
rcois and the villacer. OF the man OF the world
and the workingman. What is best in this
plan IL that he is 10 deal primarily with nascu-
line types: the portraiture OF the female OF the
rc,e humane has been worked AZ by the Frcrch
writer's OF the day quite enough for ordinary
tastes Hughes L. RouX is true disciple OF
Renan For him. too life is but a promenade
through the world of reality" with no ideal IN
a world 10 come: and, Il life is ever found 10 Ne
tedious. II is because too much hos been a-Re"
Of II In this first iHstalmcnt Of his studies OF
EVERYDAY lives he attaches himself 70 bringing
mt in relief the Joy Of life that. for some sihele
thing. comes to this sailor or that soldier III the
midst of hardships al uniavorable to JOY. some
times. it must he confessed. the joy Is scarcely
more than that luxury Of woe when IL soi'encu
by love 20 homcly souls
The Rcnanlsm q Anatole France Is more pro-
nounccd Az is usual with him. in his Box OF
Mother-of Pearl" lie has rcsuscitated all manner
Of historic characters putting in their mouths
the words and sentiments which would nave
seemed likcest to the dead master. fohtl"'
plate is questioned, long years after, ABOUT 'n'
Jewish peasant he had sentenced to De cruclhe'
he cannot remember the name or the lnclaeh'.
Thus told in the hcoricesweet language o'
this school Of writers. the story with its vague
scepticism may impress certain mihus' o"o !"
il no more probable on the face OF things thah
tbe lifelong remorsc ascribcd by Christion Naol-
ton 20 the judge Of Jesus ard soma hiHory Is
apt TO underllc every rank growth OF traoitoh'
Jules Lcmaitrc's new volume is sure 70 orea'hc
the same spirit, in whatever century lie may
Mace his characters There Is no heartier
odmircr of Remains style and METHODS or thought
On occasion OF the httcr's death he interrupted
his sparkling theatrical criticism in the "Dehats."
70 give touching expression of his thanSfulnes9
nii,riott ti,,,..,
uo,sible without religious belief. believe this
~ be curious s,lf-delusion in which Rcnan,
with his resigned and smiling cyncism, did not
share How far this dclusion has spread may
be seen in recent editorial statements of The
London Times" and other English and American