The times., 1898-06-05
ECHOES FROM PARIS.

! not without an underground connection
| with the Zola case. The intense per-
sonal animosity felt by the great ma
jority of Frenchmen against the writer
| who has managed to identify campaign
for justice to an individual Jew with
revolutionary campaign against the
French army or France as she really ex-
lists is bound to be extended to all his
friends. 1t was through Zola's influence
that the Society of French Authors gave
out to the sculptor Rodin the commission
for the statue of Balzac, which 1t was
intended both by the society and muni-
cipality should adorn an open space of
the Luxembourg. 1t is a pet idea of
Zola's admirers that he alone has ade-
quately continued the work of that inde-
fatigable student of the 'Comedie HUI
maine However this may be, there has
been trouble with Rodin from the be-
ginning No one doubt his genius. which
he has proved many times over, with the
slight touch of artistic insanity thought
necessary nowadays to all true genius
Genius Is also fitfui in its work. and the
years passed by without any sign OF the
statue which had been contracted for.
Zola again calmed the tempest. and Rodin
paid back the sum advanced to him, in
order TO be free TO await inspiration hon
orably The society consented to wait
also for the finished statue.
This year 1t was al last announced that
the BalZac would furnish chief attrac-
ton of the united salons. 1t was the first
thing looked for by many on the opening
day. Those who had already been favor
ed with q RiinlnSG of what
be masterpiece after ten years of in
cubation spoke enigmaticaly. 1t was a
revelation. but. like all supernatural
things. somewhat mysterious and need
ing elucidation. The statue was large
enough, indeed, to be easily discovered;
but IL required to be viewed from many
points of view to discern the human form
in it Some irreverently said that it rep
resented the great novelist preparing to
run a sack race while others contended
bluntly that the production resembled
most of all an enormous frog. 1t was
finally understood that ii was the result
of a long and painfully exact study of all
the human documents in the case.
Il is Balzac waking to his work-at 4
o'clock in the morning. if we can rely on
his biogBaphers. He stalks from his bed
presumably 70 his writing table draped
in an immense dressing-gown. which
wraps him round shapelessly. The fea-
lures of the man which in real life were
rudimentary, terminate in the portentous
neck which continues, rather than emerges
from, the lines of the drapery. Parisiaus
have tried brayely TO educate their eyes
up TO this new and occult ART. \ few
descendants OF Voltaire ventured to say
that Rodin, after forcing the Society of
Authors TO bde his own time had ended
by playing a disrespectful joke on their
intelligence Others, among whom IS Ben
jamin-Constant. remark. not without bit
terness: We know that such art is in
tended only for the Intellectuels Ga pal
pable hit at the university and literary
circles where a satisfactory solution Of
the Dreyfus case is thought both neces-
sary and not inconsistent with the exist
ence of France: and IL is not intended
for those who are modestly content to be
only Intelligent With stilI more sweep
ing emphasis. the popular painter. who
has neVer been on the losing side. goes on
to declare: yet another master who Is
on the way to be lost, or whom others
have destroyed by aaJtering only his de-
fects. It is the punishment of great men
who are vain of those who delight in le-
ting themselves be deceived
These words are contained in criti-
cism of an unusually yelled panel which
Eugene Carriere exhibits this year, and
which is to go to the Sorbonne. AS in
Rodin's block of marble. where the thing
represented has TO be carefully looked
for, so on this canvas 1t is only by dint
of observation that We discern amid the
darkness the touching outlines of female
figures looking out over a city of dread
full night. Whether Benjamin-Constau
intends his criticism to apply universally
to all the 'intelIectuels.'' whom il is now
the patriotic thing to despise. commiser-
atingly may be left TO himself. But
Rodin, In various interviews, allowed
himself TO disclaim any idea of trifiing
with the intelligence of the Society of
French Authors.
He has taken all these years to per
meate himself thoroughly with the spirit
of BalZac, reading the many volumes OF
his works. studying the province OF Tour
aine which, by heredity and environment,
produced his receptive genius. Perhaps.
he has admitted, the neck is a bit stout;
but the effect in general is what he
wishes-it is his idea of the creative Bal
Zac. Only place yourself twenty PAGES to
one side at the proper angle, and you
will see ii for yoUrself-with only the
necessary good will.
Indignation. nursed silently at first out
of ;imidity in the presence of reputed
genius, has finally grown so warm that
the explosion has taken place. The So
ciety of Authors has solemnly voted
resolution, refusing to recognize a
''sta atue" in the ebauche which the sculp-
tor has presented to the public The Mu-
nicipal Council, although profoundly So
cialist and, therefore, not Philistine in
its acceptance of the most startlingly new
art, is said TO be trying to smooth over
the dissension by offering good sum for
ano her statue exhibited also in the Sa-
lon by Rodin, and executed in his most
charming manner The second statue.
concerning a beautiful woman, will also
agree better with the Parisian's idea of
the essence of life, when it is set up in
one of the public squares.
Rodin does not need to be magnanimous
in the matter. He owes the city and So
ciety nothing. and he had given notice
that for his BalZac, he should consult
only his own taste and inspiration. Like
Zola, he has his will. Those who have
their admirations robust naturally side
with the artist. Many-not all of them
young-maintain that here is an advance
in art comparable to that from the ori-
ginal trunklike forms of Argos (Which
this recalls by atavism perhaps to the
disengaged limbs and gestures of per-
fected Greek sculpture. This new art is
the sculpture of Suggestion, which is
seemingly a variant of impressionism.
Tempers are lost daily about the matter:
opd hotI, rafirad NH ,,cae