The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21
A Great French Novelist.

memes" procured for this young writer
the decoration of the Legion of Honor and
certainly man of IS years who can write
book of such force is somebody and
must be made known to lovers OF artistic
literature in all countries.
Paul Hervieu personally is one of the
most interesting men | know, tall and
blond he speaks slowly, distinctly and in
rich, melodious, low tone of voice. Most
striking is the expression of his eyes-the
expression of physician, who everywhere
sees invalids and everywhere delivers his
lectures on social physiology.
Paul Hervieu has special place in the
new generation; beside Marcel Provost, the
novelist, whose style is like that of George
Sand; beside Paul Marguerite, the pesslm-
istic writer; beside Abel Hermant, who
studies society in all countries, all times;
beside Jules Case, who writes of French
customs with bitter criticism-he stands
forth as an original exponent OF life.
For his debut in the literary world, Paul
Hervieu gave us "Diogene lie Chen" the
history of a man who disclaimed hui
mainly and hated civilized society. Then
tourney through Switzerland inspired
him to write "L' Alpe Homicide, recital
Of crimes committed by the mountains,
and afterward appeared LA Betlse Parl-
sienne," purely ironical under its mask OF
dramatic cruelty.
A series of mysterious works showed
that Paul Hervieu was influenced by the
writings of Edgar Poe, the friendship OF
Octave Mirbeau: Lies Yeux Verts ct
les Yeux Bleus," "LInconnu" and
az Exorcisee" were the publications dur
ing this period.
Paul Hervieu loves the gay world, be-
cause he considers it comedy, in which
he is spectator and critic. His society
novels are "Flirt," "Peints par eux-
memes" and "L'Armature, the book
which is now the literary sensation OF
vieu proves that the world is wicked only
on the surface. In this novel there are no
crimes, very little love, but great amount
of harmless Irritation. "Peint par eux-
memes" goes to the extreme. The person
ages love with ardor, kill and are killed,
and yet the author describes society
truthfully. Each character speaks the
correct language of the salons, and in tone,
sentiment and style "Peints par eux-
memes," is masterpiece OF originality.
In LArmature, his latest work, Paul
Hervieu shows his talent for painting the
age in which he lives. For by Armature
he means money, the support OF all human
sentiments in this century. To thoroughly
understand this work, one should visit
sculptor's studio and see in what manner
his blocks of plaster are held by species
of iron skeleton, on which he models the
exterior portions of statue. If piece of
plaster falls or becomes dry, the iron frame
preserves the appearance OF the statue.
This is the immature, the mysterious me-
tallic skeleton which holds together the
decaying portions of modern society.
On this idea is based the novel, and al
though each character seems to us ia
miliar not one can be considered por-
trait. The author has taken the corruption
of one, the pride of another, the weak
mind of this one, the rude manners Of that
one, and fabricated people, to whom many
names might be applied. To these villains
of the plot he has added two or three per-
sonages of fine character, and thus the
novel becomes drama. The heroic, ten
der, graceful Gisele d'Exirenil, to save her
husband, whom she adores, accepts the af-
lection of Baron SATIRE, who, with his gold,
rules Paris. The husband learns the truth
and rushes to the house of the financier,
intending to put an end to the life OF the
destroyer of his happiness. He enters, and
at the door of the Baron's room finds
hospital nurse, who leaves him alone with
his enemy. He finds Satire wearing
straitjacket, fastened in an armchair, his
ewes bloodshot and without ray of intel
ligence.
Exirenil is in despair because the venge-
ance has not been his. The Baron re-
mains in absolute stupidity as Exirenil
bowls imprecation after imprecation, but
finds himself powerless to produce the
least impression upon this mass of inert
matter. Wonderful in strength is the
history of the hideous Baron SATIRE, his
grandeur and his fall. After ruling Paris
the bankrupt tinancier has the living death
of an intelligence completely destroyed.
The Baroness Satire is avaricious, and
makes speculation of her pretended i'll
ness, as her husband does of stocks at the
| Bourse. The Countess de Grom melain
their eldest daughter, is a typical victim
| of the morphine habit. In Armature,
/ there is a marvellous gallery of contempt
rary portraits-Olivier Breland, the petit
bourgeois, who wishes to be a grand seign-
eur; Catherine Satire, Princess Nagear
Count de Gommelain; and when one has
finished reading the book, so terrible are
the accusations against society, accusations
which are based on a solid foundation, one
feels anxious to leave civilization and
dwell far from the haunts of men.
M. Paul Hervieu has only written two
plays. Lies Paroles Restent" was pro
duced at the Vaudeville Theater in 189;
and treats of the social SANDER which
always leaves its mark. He is putting the
Hn1Snlng IOuCneS TO anOUneT play WnlCf
will be produced at the Theater Francai!
next season.
Although Paul Hervieu is misanthropic
he has not abandoned his .early career
for in his works he is diplomatist. HI
believes that virtue exists, but in tn,
world it occupies very small place. O
life he sees the tragic side. Dram al
which we pass by with indifference, be
cause if we reflected on them we should
lose taste for life, are by Paul Herviel
analysed and held up as example,
of the worlds wickedness For hin
there is much more bad than gooc
to be found in this existence o
ours, and for him appears always tn,
dark side of every event. But Paul Her
vieu does not believe in trite ideas
In trite expressions. Although b,
makes one understand much which
he does not explain, he never uses an I'm
proper word, never vulgar phrase. On
never finds a word which denotes tn,
emotion of the writer, never an opinion
which might be considered personal. HI
is never indignant and never rants, never
laughs and is never angry.
The chief quality of Paul Hervieu's book
is their fidelity to life. He discovers unde
the mask of society the ugliness of human
nature, the silent dramas where the actor!
are exquisite creatures, where the victims
do not com p1aip har the Witnesses payp