The San Francisco call., 1898-01-23


 Paris is now appearing serially
 in Le Journal and Is attracting
 considerable comment in literary < circles It is a continuation or
 "Lourdes' and Rome" presenting |
 familiar characters under new con- ditions and in 9 different environment. | Tn regard to the character and scope Of this work, as well as to his method in | writing 1t, Zola has made the following | statements to the Paris correspondent of the St. Petersburg Novy Dieu:
 Tt is true that Paris has not re- quired as much time as either of the | other parts of the trilcgy. I have not had to travel, yet 1t has not been much easier task than the writing of Rome having consumed about eight months. It has been necessary to resort to 'docu- ments' most assiduously. since I have had to touch upon every sphere Of civil ized human activity to introduce the reader into every movement and school of Partisan thought. literary. artistic, po- litical and financial. The reader will be- come acquainted with every aspect ot the rich life of the French capital and though the treatment is necessarily sU- perficial-kaleidoscopic as 1t were-still I cannot write on any matter except upon 8 thorough knowledge of 1t. This requires observation, verifcation and
 
 speak of 8 factory, and having selected, on account of the novelty, bicycle fac tory, I was obliged to spend some days in mastering the bicycle industry. In fact, I bestowed more labor on Paris than on either of the other novels in the three cities series. Paris Is a romance in the true sense of the term. It con- tains much movement and action, many personages and many changing scenes. Most conspicuous. of course, is the Abbe Froment. In his company l study the role of Paris in modern history and indi- cate its future mission. It is. in my opinion. very great I point to Paris as the beacon Illuminating the path of the intellectual life and progress of all man kind. You foreigners may not agree with me in regarding Paris as the capital of the world; but I have done everything possible to justify the title. City of Light which Paris has so properly gained for Itself.
 But do not think that l eulogize and laud Paris. do not cover up its dark side and do not ignore the evils which undermine it. I simply show that the Hfe-giving and invigorating spring which will quench mans thirst for knowledge and satisfy his yearning for moral de- velopment and perfection takes its course from-originates in-Paris. The purity and power of this spring depend on the material prosperity of Paris. Rome Is to be dismantled in favor of Paris, where Abbe Froment will acquire his new cult of science and human solidarity, and where he will finally find spiritual peace and joy, after having vainly sought them at Lourdes and Rome"
 More explicit and clear is Zola's refer. ence to the social and political teachings of his novel in an interview with the representative of Le Temps. Paris. We translate from 1t as follows
 'fI do not spare the vices of Paris. but even the crime committed in the cours, of my study only serves to accentuate tn, virtue and nobility of the great city, thi. refuge of life and goodness to whicf Eroment comes to warm his heart. Here in Paris, he conceives the idea of the new religion of the future, of the better socia order slowly developing out of the tra vail of so many workers Thus Paris with all its philanthropy. proves the utte impotence of charity. which rests on sentiment that IS Christian and anti social. It is necessary that the idea o justice which places the weak on theit own feet, should supplant the idea O. philanthropy, which merely supports th' weak in their fallen and degraded condi ton. The era of justice Is dawning fl Paris. After three years life in Paris my hero. Abbe Froment who left Rom, in despair. welcomes with sweet whis pers of gratitude the new heaven ant earth he Is permitted to behold. Tht solution give accords with my own ma tlred views of the benefcence of life, O the greatness of human destiny. when tn sole foundation Of society shall be labor
 Zola declares that while he has intro duced all kinds and conditions of men nobles fnanciers. revolutionists. anarch fists decadents. savants. workmen an, politicians he has nowhere photographs reality and has not painted the portrait of contemporary individuals. The lover of scandal he says. will be dsa ppointe though there Is plenty Of material fo excited polenics. Anticipating advers criticism. Zola says;
 'I expect the same reception as tha accorded to previous works. but I hop that after my death I may be judge with greater fairness. Then 1t will, per haps, be recognized that I was nelthe a pessimist nor corrupter. He Is nc 6 pessimist who on every occasion sing hymns to life; he is not corrupter wh tirelessly and earnestly proclaims tn high dignity and worth Of labor. Let an one go through the entire Rougon-Mat quart series and he win find that iov of lifs and passion for work shine throug every ono of It's pages. There Is E1thin worse than solitude. idieness and deatl and against these foes have I striyen. Is utterly unjust to charge that l hay sought to pervert and confuse minds am indifferent to this false verdict,