New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-07
REMAINS SISTER.
d PAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF woMAN's
MIND.
MA sOEUR HENRIETTE. Par Ernest Renan. On
VOL lSmo PIP 1856 Calmann Levy. Paris.

MA sOEUR HENRIETTE Par Ernest Renan. One
vol, lSmo, PIP. 1856 Calmann Levy. Paris
II IL now twelve years since Ernest Renan con-
fessed In the preface Of his Souvenirs d'Enfance
ct de Jeunesse' that the person who had exerted
the greatest influence his life was his sister
Henrictte: and forthwith proceeded to exasperate
a curious public by announcing that this interest
ing parsonage would occupy little or no place IN
his recollections. Small consolation was TO De
drawn from the knowledge that twenty-on years
earlier in 1862 just after Henriette Remains tragic
death in Amschit. her brother had written ana
privately printed full account OF his relations
with his sister. but that owing to the intimate
and personal character OF the revelations the III
tie volume would never with his consent be oehV-
cred into the hands Of Phstine public. Inc
motive OF Remains reserve was appreciated new
ertheess II was felt that until the contents Of this
UNIQUE brochure should be made known all exact
por,raiture of Ernest Renan would be impossible
I1o was accordingly repeatedly urged to remove
the embargo and finally consented to insert
nrovision in his will whereby his wife was au-
thorized n reissue the booklet after his death.
Nine Renan has now fulfilled this important
commission and the reading public Is at last able
not only to measure the degree Of Henrietta Re
mans influence upon her brother. but to learn the
character Of this influence. Furthermore MIS-
tory and literature enriched by the addition OF
a most interesting character. The type exemph-
fed by Henriette Renan is rarely met witn' COM
bining 1t does that di Interested love which Is
generally associated with maternity with VII
ility and originality Of mind which Is FOUND IN
relatively large proportion of men, but IN very he"
women 1t is of Importance to note that these
qualities preserved throughout her life a nice
and harmonious poise. Invariably they acted as
mutually helpful SCENTS. and with a single excep-
tional case there was never moment IN the
whole course of Henrette Remains life when
there was the least conflict between these TOO
often discordant forces Of mind and instinct
While she was in certain particulars-especlaiy
In the field OF modern hstory-her brothers su-
perior and while she was thoroughly conscious OF
her intellectual and scholarly ability. her life was
singulary free from personal ambition she
shrunk naturally from publicity valuing her
ideas only so far as they might be helpful to her
friends and particularly to her brother
Mile. Renan was twelve years her brothers
senior. having been born in 1911 In TreguicT, the
beautiful Breton city to which Ernest never
weary of referring. The family circumstances at
the time of her birth were comfortable The
grandfather on the paternal side was the master
of ship and had amassed a comfortable fortune
same craft, after period Of service in the Re-
publican fleet became himself the master Of
mercantile squadron. and was rapidly rolling up
fortune when the disasters Of 1915 threw him into
complete bankruptcy Weak and sentimental by
nature, he made but feeble attempt to repair his
losses and in 1928 came to an untimely end.
Her fathers death vas crushing blow to
Henrietta for she loved him dearly. and had In
herited from him that tender. reflective nature
which had been his undoing as man OF anairs'
but which destined to be her crown OF glory
through life. Predisposed TO reverie, her father
tragic end turned her thoughts more and more
toward a religious life. and had II not been tor
her brother. at the time vivacious and MAMA
tive child OF FIVE she would probably nave entered
a convent A trif1ing circumstance was 10 be the
cause of her complete and irrevocable surrender
"One day." writes her brother. finding that my
movements we're embarrassed. she saw that was
trying 20 conceal defect In M worn clothes
She burst into tears: the sight Of this poor child
destined 70 a life Of misery. in spite OF his In
stincts Being toward something different. wrung
her heart She resolved to accept the struggle OF
life and assumed :ne task of bridging the chasm
which on: fathers misfortunes had opened for
US"
In fulfiinnent of this resolution. Henriette seems
sort. but abandoned the plan on account Of physi-
cal incapacty and the insuffciency of the re-
turns She determined, therefore. to teach. 1r
spite OF the family's poverty she had received. or
TO be exact had acquired, a excellent education.
She learned Latin from company OF sisters VINO
ned settled in Treguier after being driven from
their convent by the Revolution. and she taught
herself Italian Later her studies were directed
by a young lady belonging to one OF the many
Legitimist families who hac been reduced to pow
erty by the Revolution. The young ladI in ques-
ton had received her education in England; she
was person of marked refinement both OF mind
and manners. and exerted strong influence over
her pupil When. therefore. Henriette decided to
be an "institutrce," she found herself thoroughly
equipped for the task She finally consented 10 ac-
cept a position as assistant instructor In young
lady's school in Paris She was twenty-four years
of age when she set out on this voluntary exile
Her beauty of mind and feature now at their
full flower. "Those who knew her only later.
saws her brother when she was worn out by the
rigors of the climate. cannot conceive how dell
cate and dangerous were her features at this
time Her eyes were of rare softness; her hand
the Anest and most ravishing hand to be seem
Trying as was the separation from those she
loved. her enforced residence in Paris not only
had an important influence upon the development
OF Henriette's mind, but. through her. upon her
brother as well. Partly owing to Inherited quail
ties but still more to the example and precept OF
his sister Ernest betrayed. at an early age,
strong inclination to devote his life 10 religion.
In a charming passage In this memoir he tells how
on the snowy. winter evenings at Treguier his Sis
ter would take him. wrapped under the folds OF
her long cloak to the beautiful fourteenth-century
cathedral which. with its towering spire and its
noble severity Of architecture silhouetted against
a moonlit sky, Was a direct and potent challenge
TO reverie. In obedience 10 disposition OF mind
thus cngendered Ernest entered the little local
seminary and made rapid progress according TO
the meagre opportunities there provided. Hen
rlette was delighted with his success; but her