New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-21
LITERARY NOTES.

classical fiction being brought out again at thls
time is another volume in Professor SAINTS
burys new edition of Balzac. published by the
Macmillan Company This volume Is one OF the
most remarkable of the long series. inasmuch
as it contains both "Seraphita" and Louis Lam
bert" Clara Bell has rendered the tales into ex-
cellent English though in neither case has she
quite equalled the translation Of Miss Wormeley.
We call these tales" but matter Of fact
they belong among those curious productions OF
Balzac for which the right name has not yet been
discovered. they are in that class Of romantic
metaphysics to which he was always wanting to
return but which he never built up on anything
like the scale which marks his purely sociolog-
cal novels. Professor Saintsbury notes that 10
those who care most for BaZ2c on the side Of
Conservation of ordinary life this volume must
seem rather dreary and repellent stun,
but, he adds others at yields in interest 10 no
volume of the Coincide" The point is we'll
taken On his mystical side Balzac either bores
or enthralls his reader. There is no middle
course. Accordingly, the critic who has sur
rendered to the spell Of "Seraphita' or Of lie
Peau de Chagrin' is fan to regard them as mas
terpieces They certainly show the imagination
Of the author at it's highest pitch. and. what is
more. although detractors of the book never seem
to realize it, they reveal his narrative gifts in a
Lambert" and the pages move with something
of the spontanety of an autobiography, in spite
Of their subtle philosophizing. Altogether, the
present volume IS of the best In Professor
Saintsbury's edition; it is one Of those which
yield the charm Of the author in its most init
mate character
Page Co.. Of Boston, send us a new transla-
ton of Gautiers "Capitaine Fracasse." illus
tratod pOOrlV fair shane otherwise.
and on the whole. welcome. The story is clearly
rendered and since it is romantic, thrilling and
moves with celebrity, the book will be appreciated
among casual readers of fiction. On the other
hand there is no equivalent here for Gautier's
inin,itable style. The transator's excuse might
be that the story - very long-Gautier himself
did not sustain to the end that brilliancy which
Is familiar in his shorter pieces-and since IT
takes a master to render adequately Of his
vignettes. a Journeyman is hardly to blame who
turns "Capitaine Fracasse" into very middling
English prose
The Macmillan Company prints III its series
Of TRANSACTIONS from Zola son Excellence Eu-
gene Rougon." under the title of His Excel
lency." and the much talked OF "Lourdes.' Ii
cannot be said that these transations of
any Importance TO American readers. Neither
book Is interesting. Those who care for NJ.
LOlG lONS uTaNn OUT descriptions can turn 10
the originals. If they do not know French we
recommend them to possess their souls in
patience and let NJ. lola go by the board. They
do not lose anything in leaving his works
read. No French writer of our time has been
more foolishy beauded. His observation is
superficial. his fancy is crude, his philosophy is
infertiie. and his taste of the lowest. The
trilogy OF "Lourdes.' Rome" and Paris" of
which the last member is before long to come
from the press. has received a good deal Of ad-
ventitous aid from its discussion of topics of
the day. but the discussion is poor and leads to
nothing. There is nothing stranger than the
way In which novelists of to-day gain audi
ence through annexing some province of thought
calculated to stir up familiar emotions. Write
a novel about yellow fever when there is
epidemic Of the disease somewhere and your
book is tolerably sure to sell. The novel may be
trash; that does not matter Mr. Hall Caine
knows this. He Is that religious argu-
ment appeals to thousands. so he produces THE
Christian" 1t is read in spite Of it's demerits
VI. lola knew what he about when he wrote
'Lourdes'' and Rome" These subjects gave
him catchwords and catchwords are potent at
this end Of the century. But they do not make
literature, and. we repeat the reader loses moth
ling who passes NJ lola and his catchwords by
the other side.
Ouida, by the way has discovered new
French novelist whom. in The Fortnightly."
she cannot praise too cordially. He il Georges
Darien. the author Of "Bribi" and ''Bas les
Cpurs" There is great originality in his liter
airy talent. she says. His style Is all his
His manner Of relation resembles other He
has nothing Of the modern school, except its
hopelessness; he Is strong. intense, virile,
rough: he seeks no ornament. he strives for
he ,vrita he feels
ly. with that eloquence which is the offspring
Of simplicity and veracity. and that potency
which comes from wide knowledge OF literatures
and OF mankind. Belonging by birth TO the
bourgeoise. son Of a Catholic father and Cal
whist mother. his early years were embittered
by religious strife. He has later on travelled
much; he has known the lowest classes and the
hardest ways OF life: he Is still young In years,
but old in the most varied experiences; and he
has. certainly, uncommon powers. which have
as yet not been duly recognized. for he offends
the prejudices and vested interests OF his gen.
Grafton, and even in France prejudice and vest
ed interests are strong and close many chan
nels.
Georges Darien has been the man whom he
6escr,hes. treated as the worst OF criminals.
though wholly gulltless Of breaking any criminal
law Georges Darien in using the first person,
both In 'Biribi and In Bias les Cpurs,' is but
writing portions OF his own autobiography; he
was boy of ten, like his young hero In the
latter book and volunteer like the gunner Of
the second class in the 41st Artillery in the
former work. and to this fact there are owing
that drectness, simplicity and virility which
are the distinguishing characteristics OF both
these volumes. They are alive with life. The
reader may resent them. detest them. dread
them and their revelations but he must be
araiN frnf
perusal that thrill which can only from
reality They are saturated with the tears of
blood of strong man who feels his own i'm
notency 10 rouse his generation and TO change