The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-06

uenly.
"Taine," said a French writer once.
''is the inventor OF that powerful machine
called scientific criticism. n criticism inn
movable, inexorable, which in sore way
destroys individual liberty. making Of
man the simple product OF precise and
defined factors from which he an under
no pretext disengage himself, such as
race, epoch, surroundings: which class
ifies and labels all literary works like
specimens in a museum OF natural his
tory; which seeks. above all the law, and
forgets, in its desir. TO bring all things
into common, this element of difference
capes and which constitutes genius"
In these words is summed up that part
OF Taine's life struggle which raised him
to the French Academy, which made
him one Of the greatest thinkers of his
day, and which will give him an ever
lasting place in the history of his coun-
try. He was in many respects a literary
iconoclast, destroying not by vigorous
attack, but by calm, dissecting analysis
and criticism.
The life Of literary man is told by his
books. Outside of his works Taine was
one of the least known and least accessi.
BILE of the great men of his time. He had
horror of being interviewed or photo
graphed. In the privacy OF bis study he
wrote his books, and when these had
been given to the public he devoted him
self to his family.
Hippolyte Adolphe Taine was born in
Vouziers. department of Ardennes, on
April 81. 1S2s. His career in the College
Bourbon was brilliant success. At the
general competition in lS47 he gained the
prize of honor for rhetoric and in the
following year he headed the list OF the
scholars who were admitted To the de-
partment OF literature OF the Normal
School.
In 1853 he obtained the degree Of doc
tor of laws. In March, 1868, he was APP
| pointed examiner in literature at the
| Military School If St. Cjr, aud in Octo-
| ber, 1864 professor OF the history OF art
| and aesthetics at the Ecole des Beaux-
| Arts. After the death of NJ. Thiers, Tame
was candidate for the vacant seat In
the French Academy, but he was de-
ieated by Henri Martin. the historian.
The work of NJ Taine which has be-
| come the most popular and most widely
read of all his writings is his "Histotis
de la Literature Anglaise." In the
| T. lgiish translation by Mr ii. Van Laun
| this work is familiar TO nearly every
reading man in this country, In the
competition of the French Academy this
| work was rejected by that learned body
| on account OF the materialist ana atnels-
tical opinions it contained.
| NJ. Iaine's early life was a struggle
against fortune, He had 10 work, not
only for his own livelihood, but for the
support of mother, whom he adored
and attended lovingly until her death.
The habits which this struggle enSen.-
dered in him clung To him in the days OF
his fame and prosperity. The phlloso-
pber, Q iItterateur, the critic, the ar
list, spent many an bour calculating
prosaically the percentag, which he
hoped to derive from sucn ana such an
Investment. Aud when affairs on the
BOurse were troubulous NJ. Tame specu
lated upon them not "a philosopher,
but as shareholder and business IN l..
In June, 1868. he married the daughter
of NJ. Denuelle, n wealthy architect. Hl'
domestic life was very happy. lie a.
extremely fond of children ana woul'
spend hours playing with little ones
| Oace n well-known author went 10 se'
Taine, carrying one Of his works whlci
the master had consented 10 look over
lie was ushered into room where, u
corner. he saw Taine seated on tue hoo
in front Of an armchair In whlcn sat
boy of 3 years.
Pardon me-" said Taine, hardly look
ing up. will you excuse me a min
ute This is my nephew aud he vii
permit nobody elseto put his sho on"