New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-12
BERNARDIN DE ST. PIERRE.
A FRANK BIOGRAPHY.

TSansa'sd by By E. f' Gofdan NTH greSes
Augustin BlrTell. PIP. xvi, 600. a. c. McClurs
This is not at all biography partial TO It's subject
The genius and good fortune OF the author OF fnu
and Virginia. in finding literary path which, So iai
at least France was concerned had not been 'roo
don, are indeed appreciated highly. But the iacka
dasica ST. Pierre, hair in curls dainty, affected milu
hammered. the gcody -goody creature who was 100
sweat to have n wicked trait and too weak 10 nave
wise one, Is buried. so far as NJ Barine can "coon
phsh the task The glimpses given mere vi inc
man create the impression OF a person Ill "hon u''
Temperament OF genius was dangerously near 'he us
order OF insanity. His selfesteem amounted almost
TO q disease For example, after he had won tie
arrovol Of women by the publication OF the
"yovase 10 the Isle OF France" he was luren INTO
society IN dc saint-Irerre," says his cahoid
bioerapher, "was invited into the lashiohape "oiiu
and charming women flung themselves AT MS heau
with their habtual indscreon, ana caused MN acm'e
suffering lie had scruples and he was vain. Inc
I'D LAUGHED at his scruplcs, his vanity could not
corsole him for its SCOTS, and the women did not
thank him for his respect He became, Tor the uhe
being at least, n morbid hater OF society ana 'heh
his Imagination led him to feel that he was ha'cd III
his turn He suspected that every Witty sally every
laugh was meant to anger him; even people who had
never seen him were supposed to be girdins Of him
pered raiery which he thought he heard aronnd MN
TWn
nerves and strange disorders began to make him fear
Tor bis reason . Bernardln de- S,n'-i1errc
mad not ncgraby So or enough to GG nn the the
world from which he had succeeded In hiding n h;
I. BE- wicked while he was in reality only unhappy
We have arrived at the years OF pam Hl sus
picions o%arrels iii will and alas Of begsng Some
q his friends became eranged by HI, wrre
humor Others gave him up. and OF this number WI" th
the philosophers" D'Alcmbert Coudorse, al hne
simatss ss Of Me AZ hpoce addressed to Nine Nccr
to beg protection nyey Explained t 1nn ne fauS G
relied with the philosophers hscaNr I hnG h"en nv
friends he adds With indignation. could they have
acted SO Pensions ,bs easy ri While to me they only
come to advise me TO leave the co,'IA, q,
showed them that had the greatest rep"s'""'' ~
such course" .
Throughout his life st. Pierre seems never u
have learned or to have learned only lmperl''rN'
the lesson of selfdelendence In practical af'rS' i
France Of the old monarchy seems IN iac' ho' -
have been place I'm which literary man ,o"'r
learn this lesson. And we have the spec'cle VI
the devout advocate of Providence the strenuous w
tender Of the world as constructed by wise ana IN
ouIccnt Petty solely for the happiness OF ma''Ai''
spending great part OF his life In wrl'n'e re''"
and addresses and petitions to the monarchS an"
ministers OF court which made little or no pretehoe
~ godness: beseeching his acquaintance for loans
and favor and In fact acting as II the only rro'"''
no were really conscious OF the caprice oil some
extremely fallibe mortals. There may sui De oees
among literary people, but let us nope ,h"' sum
spcctacle as was presented in more countries INA" '
throughout the eighteenth century may never ne seen
acain. ST. Pierre's doctrine Of final causes carr'u
NTH the most ridiculous minuteness into every ue'
n, human life and human science should AZ least
have convinced him that whatever happened W nm
individually was for his good. judged d! ''''' ""
nil his theorlzing reads like gu e hypocrisy q man
WIN could say in eject, There Is not u "o"''"'"
whose height breadth and site have not been c''c"
for
have been willing TO take things as they came ''u
when he had no money to buy dinner should nave
concluded that God thought it better LOT his h'i'
IN fast on that day. What Is most curious - ~
after he became prosperous through 'le Pop"''!
nj his "studies Of Nature' and particularly oil faui
and Virginia.. he did not quit his almost serNhe Wv
nandence on his friends among the great lie was
oven accused though with less than justice OF her
49, Nono,oon NJ. Barine puts forward the only
argument that can be made for an author VINO h"AeS
virtue Of dependence ,,A
beio nerves he was we must remember possessed
with the that to man carrying IN ms ned means
:ne fair for accomplishing destiny Of er SSoS
artist and tie Se snd aSe and s need the
tim Of superior power which commands MN na 40
sacrifice bis nms ana his his d Rs'S toward
Giving to it work which will bring le happn wa
10 our i that he possessed the word which
the heart and 5 5ahsG a"R have ,erG Begged aims
Jour WIN, mIsh VI Was he right Was he wrong!
Ne owe it TO his great faith to leave our verdict IN
decided
From the point Of view Of more selfrespectfui
AGO n NAV be impossible to speak accurately OF
,,u.e s,ch as those in which st. Pierre lived But
n Is hard 10 imagine any literary work that c0ud
compensate the author for a sacrifice OF his MANN
ness OF course, the world accepts the work. IN
d,1erent 70 the disgrace that may have attended It's
prorress and completion. But the man himself has
dome his task under such circumstances that his
nature Is forever stunted and dwarfed. Fortunately
for peace Of mind, success wells his deic's from
himself and he gains an artificial respect which takes
the Mace Of that natural reverence due 10 we'll
rounded manhood. ST. Pierre, others did. took his
revenge ont OF society. God made the world and lie
made man but man Immediately set TO work TO make
himself over and ruined that which was good at first
This was his theOry-not an uncommon one surely
Thus his Providence, which was all the time taking
anxious about placing volcanoes and laying down
ssndbanks and distributing trees and animals for the
GOOD of man, had neglected the most obvious precal-
tons to insure mans happiness by creating him with
IN inevitable tendency 10 make himself wretched. 1t
,s M wonder that VI. Barine exclams: "Bernardn
de Saint Pierre would have been immensely asonshed
n he had been told that he laboring to prepare
generations OF pessmists by aributng Providence
The cares and solcitude OF nurse In its relations
with men. Nothing further from his thoughts
and vet nothing is certain from the moment his
works became a success with the public and cxcrted
an influence mems minds. For a
thoughtful mind his philosophy has fatal tendency
10 demonstrate the fallibility OF Providence"
The book Is well translated, and II 1t does not
encourage oldfashioned heroworshp. 1t at least re-
stores its subject to the ranks OF ordinary humanity
To he a man is far better than to be an idol.
.-c ,,rrv c1orprvrrvnrvr mr. pEpAJPS