New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-01

than ever before and far 81 'Onger expectation
of being elected. So strong. indeed was ms
support that his success was generally looked
for. even by his opponents. The Academic
poets" worked earnestly for him. ana the Minis
ter Of Public Worship appointed him TO speak
as the representative of the Government at an
annual distribution Of prizes. HIS book on toine
won him favor in some directions. ana
his championship of the Jews. or perhaps
rather the attacks of the Jew -baitcrs upon him.
increased his popularity elsewhere. Ncverthe-
less, he WAS beaten. on Thursday last by NJ
CASTOR Paris who is an eminent phloogiat. but
is not nearly as widely known to the world aS
Is the author Of Mana" and La Tcrrc.
The comments made upon this result ny the
friends of VI. lola. in both Europe and America
are Obvious They first attack the Academy for
It's DTudishncss and narrovncss. AMI declare IL
TO be the abode Of mediOcrity. Then they ell
deayor to vindicate their hero; declaring that
his most notorious works are not really so Dad
after al: that if they are pretty bad, they
are tr,le to life and are redeemed by their liter
airy merit: and that. finally, if they are irredecm-
ablf bad. there are others, which he has VIII
ten recently. which entirely above criticism
on the score of morals. upon which latter ms
candidacy for Immortality Is based. All ol
which is Intellectual and beside the point. III is
of course. the fashion 10 dcrde the Academy
No one has done SO more forcby than NJ. Al
phonse Daudct Yet NJ. Daudet would himself
at one time have been grateful for election to
the Forty The fact that he and few other
men of unqucstioned supremacy have remained
outside only emphasizes the rarity of such
cases With all It's faults the Academy Is OH
the whole we'll chosen and is justly represent
alive of the best intellectual life of France.
Still less convincing is the other plea based
on the character Of VI. Zola's writings. Let us
grant for sake Of. OF rather TO avoid. argument,
that his books are true TO certain phases OF life
So doubtless are the contents Of the secret
museum" Of Pompcii, but they are not TO be
placed on general view. The operations OF hos
pital clinics are intensely realistic" but they
are not TO be performed In the markct-placc
Most fnllacious of all is the argument that
the Academy should overlook "LAssommoir
"L'Agent' and la Terrc" and have regard
only TO lie Rove" and Rome" The former are
the more characteristic of his works pom them
his fame rests. Had they not first appeared his
other works would have attracted little atten-
ton 1t would moreover. be lntolcrahle TO LEI
a man gain publicity and prestige by means OF
scandalous works written for that purpose. ana
then 10 gain pardon and acceptance and the
beauty of holiness by means of a few decent
works written for that purpose. Apparently.
that has been NJ Zola's game. He wrote
n lot OF literary filth. for the sake OF the noto-
rctv and the profit il would bring him. Then.
coveting a seat among the Forty, he wrote som"
clean books for the sake of securing H. He has
thus far been beaten in the game. and he de-
corves to be hpatpn 10 the end. and his rN-
ample should he To al mcn washable object
lesson in favor Of cleanliness and high con
sistent principle in literary work.