New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20

sonal belongings except the photographs OF bufn~
Jones's paintings, which hung about the wan.
"Burne-Jones is my favorte modern painter' ne
exclaimed. as he waved his hand about the roon''
and gazed tenderly at the group OF women IN Inv
Mirror Of Venice" 49,
He had entered the sttins-room from an adJoin-
ing apartment and It was clear at glance tnat u
his art was decadent there nothing OF the
decadent about The author OF "Llntruse no
was tall and vigorous. His blue eyes were hazy.
but were full of expression. His hair was trimmed
in the prevailing French mode. styled derfsvely
zen brossc." and his heavy mustache. twired IA
Franz Haiz. plainly showed that he did not hold
his mirror in the same contempt In which he pre-
tended to hold the public.
In talking he seldom addressed one directly. the
exception being when he is spurred into anina-
ton by some particularly cutting or distastefui
criticism. As rule he talks little. Owing to this
habit. the first minutes spent In his company are
distressing. They broken by long and agoniz-
ing pauses during which Maeter,inck stsres alb
stractedly out into space, and his visitor falls TO
wondering IL the silence is not symbolic hint that
the time has come TO take his hat and be off, To
know Maeterlinck is. however TO know that these
pauses are absolutely necessary means o pre-
pairing him for conversation. He has the air OF
having forgotten that you in the room. hut
actually he Is wildly conscious OF your presence.
wishes to say Something Important. he taxes long
time 10 prepare himself HE must let his ideas
only those which are worth s" ntterins says n.
Brisson. one OF his admirers. Like all men who are
monologue lie will listen condescendingiy 10 what
You say ana then answer some one q your par
that plainly shows that he has not heard single
In matters Of literature Maeterlnck svowed the
greats, admiration for the ancents especially for
saying explicitly he eft It to be Inferred i' that
he liked himself best. The modern aesthetic ten
contemplate, 10
NOT think that some progress had been made I'm art,
had advanced step we are inferior to the poets
OF antiquity" he said who based the fiction on
metaphysics and represented the struggle OF man
with the gods; that is to say, with the problem OF
human destiny. The noble and inspiring inqui-
der the influence OF the vaudevilsts'
Contrary to his habit Maeternck consented q
explain what he meant by this sweeping denuncia-
ton by reminding his visitor that desperate as tho
present position of the theatre was II still not
past regeneration. and he sounded the first note Of
optimism by observing that not only has the time
arrived to begin the regeneration process, but that
he said, that a movement is on foot which only
the 6nd refuse to see The soul Is beginning to
1t. We are beginning 20 understand that there -
vulgar existence; that there is higher form OF
me- which until now has baffed the efforts OF hui
ginning to reveal itself by undoubted signs ] may
make my meaning clear by asking you If IT II not
magnetism and suggestion-are exciting our curl
osity. Very well How explain the phenomenon ex-
cept by attriDutlnR II 10 our desire TO pierce tho
shadows by which we are surrounded. We wish to
so.ve the enigma. We are circled by the unknown:
the least of actions Is subjected to influences
which reason cannot hope to explain. For instance.
how explain what II is that attracts or reDels US
from certain persons? What law governs the cleo
tive affinities? Here. maintain are fields OF study
far mora interesting tina that offered by the anay-
sis OF some puny passion. For the only true phi
losophy is that trarscendent philosophy which II
directly concerned with the relation of one soul TO
another. and has absolutely no re.ation with that
elementary philosophy whose reign is thank God.
rapidly passing away
Az ham cd nv Snck effOr f Of finuOu
speech the poet fell into a profound revere. which
was broken only as his visitor passing through
the door Then. rising from his chair, with his
eyes still focused the distance, he exclaimed
propheticay. speaking In a dream: Yes.
surely. a time will cone when shall be able to
see without the help of our senses Like the sleeper
who tries to move an arm-such is the soul. lt
be restored to It's heritage. and will again master
and direct our sleer-numbed members"