New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SAPCEY'S MEMOIRS.

cisane sarcey Translated BY Elizabeth Luther
Cary. with Portrait l2nio. PIP 3D. Charles
Scrfbner's sons.
All who have read the earlier memoirs OF NJ Sdfcey
will be eager possess his latest "reminiscences ior
he belongs to TINT loval. frank and Candid race OIL
Frenchmen who born apparently With Khach
for taking irresistibly into their confidence all who"
they approach. OF less lively nina mleh'
have found It somewha, difficult 10 extract falrszeo
volume of notes from the Tecolections OF occurring
experience; but NJ Sarcey knows how to extract every
grain OF interest from his material. and theh 'oo'
he has many things to say which VIII be qui'e iresh
to the American reader. In the first place IL must
be understood that he Is reco"n'ins recurring eA.
per1encc had In a country 10 which, when he hrst
made beginning, the lecture was not only nc" ou'
emphatcaly unattractivc.
Frenchmen. whether Of Paris or OF the Provinces
wanted no such recreation; did not believe IN IT,
would not 60 hear it. 1t was consequently begun
under very great and apparently overwhelming o'H''
cues II appears that the idea OF starting lectures
on sunday afternoon really what saved the
scheme. The notion unheard of. but for ah 'hat
there was q distinct element Paris which did not
know what TO do with Its Sunday Afternoons ana
which regarded the plan as happy thought
The price Of admission had to be put very low IN
srder to tempt the public. and, as VI. Sacey has 10
admit, the men who did all tie worh-the men VINO
lectured in short-got, a rule. little or nothing
And this most unjust and unreasonable arrangement
seems to have been adhered to for twenty years ana
until lecturng had become to a certain extent acch
mated But II is very clear that the lecture In France
has never to this day become what 1t has been Tor
ct least full generations In this country.
It did not appear TO address Itself 10 the French
popular genius 1t did not, the advertisements put
IT, "6ll a long-felt want" 1t simply Initiated the
general curiosity and the French are naturally very
curious they went TO see what il like and came
away doubtful and hut half satisfied. Nothing could
~ y,s lvCiS
OF the average audience and nothing could be acuter
than his differences from the various strange expert
cnces he encountered II not always the codness
or the dulness Of the audience that paralyzed MIN.
He has to confess not few breakdowns on MS own
mart in fact, II took him years Of r1al and patience
to know his hearers 10 feel what was necessary IN
dealing with them, TO succeed In crcumventins wha'
Catholics might call their nvinciblc ignorance.
In this very entertaining volume NJ Sarcey lays
down q whole body Of laws for the government OF
lecturers though he has occasionally TO confess mat
every man who ascends the rostrun must Judge lor
himself as to the best means Of establishing inc
necessary rapport" with his hearers Certain II Is
that between French and American audiences there
is q great gulf fixed that what would pass easily
with the latter will not 60 down with the former ao
all that the French hearers are far more exsen' anu
pitiless and make the man who fails 10 amuse 'he"'
feel his failure sharply According TO the aulhor'
the French lecturer must, TO succeed, be almost as
an infallibe instinct for pcrceing the moment wneh
he approaches boredom. II be cannot avoid that pit
fall his career is closed in short order, ana IL Is
danger which continually threatens
In Paris indeed 1t Is possible to secure auoiehces
for long courses but outside OF Paris ectui1ng wouu
appear to be almost lost art. NJ. Sarcey candidly
relates the odd history his provincial faii
ures He never could obtain the SURFACES OF inc
rural communities and 1t is evident that even TO 'hls
moment he does not understand the reason OF MS
monotonois succession OF failures. lie had con
siderable reputation n critic. and especially as Il
theatrical critic He was a Partisan OF "lgAt nho
leading But he never could win toe commence
or obtain the applause Of the rural foks lie Went
10 Relctum and had a marvellous success there. ana
was royalty entertained by the most hosptapie ana
,ovous bonyivants But in France. outside OF the
capital he was of no account. and even within the
capital. 1t must be confessed that Ms harra'Ne 10
NOT inspiring to an ambitious Frenchman.
For NJ Sarcey says quite frankly that there never
has been any profit In lecturing in his country. lie
went 10 England and amazed at the munlnceh'
farms offered him. At home he had to be content
With at the most, his expenses. Now when man
has earned a national reputation. and when he De
serves It. as NJ Sarcey certainly does. this hnd OF
work cannot be regarded satisfying. In 1act'
moreover II is TIE rule In France. No lecturer Is
maid reasonably, and no wonder. under the circum
stances that lecturing does not succeed there Inc
book is Interesting in many ways. and throws quito
a new light upon French amusements. IL Is written
with much sparkle and ceverness. and Will no oouDt
be read with eagerness