The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-22

poetry ran be more finished than "V0ie
Lactee." SulIy-Prudhomme has thoroughly
studied the human soul, aud his power as an
artist is measured by his internal sight. But
Sully-Prudhonme is pessimist, for when
one lives continually with his own soul,
when one continually probes the souls Of
others, the thoughts may be intellectual,
but they cannot be joyful. The pOet him
self acknowledges that he cannot write for
the theater. IL have great admiration for
dramatic authors who make their person
ages live" he once wrote to me. "lf |
wrote for the stage should write plays as [ do
my poetry-that is, should paint well SEN
tment, but not the details Of life My per-
sonages would be passers-by, but they
would not live"
Sully- Prudhomme lives at 50 Rued u Eau
bOurg, ST. Honore, opposite the Elysee
Palace. His salon is filed with pictures.
among them some GeromeS and Detailles.
There is portrait of Suly-Prud-
homme by Carolus Duran. another
by Leloir and Diana at the Bath" by
the poets grandfather On the mantel Is
bronze Venus de Milo, and what strikes
the eve most in the furnishing of the room
is q Flemish carved secretary with panels,
representing various scenes in the life Of
Christ. In this secretary Sniy-PTudh0mm
keeps all the letters he receives, for he does
net believe in burning letters. That re-
quires too much time. Whenever he
wishes TO destroy a letter he tears 1t in bits.
ttibf lIlONo INC piCCCo III NdlcI Ouli1-
Prndhomme'S library is small room, of
which the four walls are covered with
books, aud his dining-Toom is furnished in
the simplest manner. with a sideboard,
table and chairs. One entire side of
the room is covered by map Of Rome, and
in the poets leisure moments he studies
this map and reviews his visits TO Italy.
Tue bedroom of the poet contains an i'm
mense wardrobe with gallery; this ward
robe is filed with drawers, and each drawer
has a separate key. All his furniture is
family inheritance, for he probably never
in his life chose chair or table.
Sully-P rudhomme has had three passions
in his life. philosophy, science and poetry.
Now, he occupies himself with philosophy,
and follows science only IN its connection
with progress and new discoveries. To
poetry, however, he devotes the best of his
life for after the publication of his first
poem -Prudhomme knew that he had
discovered his vocation. Before deyoting
himself to poetry he had tried little OF
everything; he took the degree bachelor
of science, entered the Polytechnic School,
studied law, and even entered notary's
office.
Sully-Prudhomme has great admiration
for poets like Francois COppee, who write
without forethought and without plan.
"If !, like Francois C0ppee. could prepare
a great poem after only fifteen days work, l
should consider myself most fortunate.
Alas! / must think and plan. think and
plan until my poem is wei! arranged in my
mind, when, with patience, l must weigh
every word My work resem bles embr0ld-
cry where every stitch helps in the forma-
ton af a perfect whole. TO produce
something like Francois Coppee, | should
be miserable, no, not miserable. but preoc-
cupied during three months. and then do
not think my work would have his sparkle,
his brilliant originality. l knew that once
he was appointed TO write poem for some
and | said him
have but little time, not more than six
weeks. so you will be obliged TO labor
seriously
L shall not touch the work until two
weeks before it is required, was his reply.
and l assure you that he never wrote finer
poem
Sully- Prudhomme has an especial table
or tablet for writing in bed; he prefers 10
work in the morning, but finds inspiration
often comes before rising de thinks that
it is almost impossible to work we'll in Paris,
for there are continual distractions. For
him there is no life like that in the country,
and he envies those who are not obliged 10
live In crowded towns. Every summer,
and even in autumn, he accepts an invita-
ton from friend who has delightful
country place, but with the express stpuia-
tion that he is to work when, where and as
he pleases. He pleases to work all day
long In the woods and his friends only see
him al the hours Of breakfast and dinner.
A few years ago Sully-PrudhOmme was an
inveterate smoker. but now he smokes very
little.
Many have tried to account for the an
alyticsl style of -Prpdhomme's writ
ings by calling them the outcome OF some
youthful experience. Not AT all, says the
poet. I'm my youth l was POLITICALLY in
in love, but have only written of my sen-
sations, OF OF circumstances connected with
my love histories The sentiment is set Co
verse, but not the facts themselves. But
everybody has had the same experience,
and / describe only what everybody has
felt"
The Vase Brise" is certainly the most
popular Of all y-Prudhomme's poems.
and it was at the time this poem was writ
ten, IN 1864, / think, that his talent gave
promise of great future. 1t was Sainte
Beure himself, who taught his contempor-
aries to appreciate the serene melancholy
grace of this exquisite poem.
Among the prose writings of Sully-Prud-
homme is life of Pascal, in which Pascal
is studied from philosophical point OF
view.
When appeared his Expression in Fine
Arts some one said that the extraordinary
tension necessary to write such a work was
perilous from the mind of poet and TO
accomplish such labor was to charge the
brain with dynamite. However, Sally-
Prudhomme's brain is in as perfect order
as before this most interesting work was
written. AS the poet is only a little past
so years old we shall probably have from
his pen even greater prose works than
Expression in Fine Arts, greater poems
than "Solitudes."
BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR
Paris, Jan. 4, 1893.