Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-10

The coming to Worcester of Monsieur
Rene Doumic of Paris, to give what the
French call Conference" brought,
yesterday afternoon to Mrs. Buffing-
toms house in Chestnut street, a quite
representative gathering. The go persons
who were present were delightfully."- en-
tertained, and the hope was expressed
by several that the speaker might come
again to Worcester before leaving
America.
NJ. Doumic shows himself French
man more by his atmosphere than by his
exterior. He Is IS, pale, slight and fair
in complexion. He has the scholars look,
and might pass as well for Saxon as
French He is Of the newer literary cir
Gle in Paris, and has published seven
volumes-chie1y studies of manners and
letters-since 1892. Like most men of let
ters In France, he arrived by way of
journalism. M Doumic was long critic
OH the Mouiteur, the Journal des Debats
and other newspapers; and later was
taken to the staff Of the great Revue
des Deux Mondes, where he has now the
direction of the chronique lltteraire. He
succeeds, in that post, the distinguished
M. Brunetiere, who was last year in
America.
NJ Doumic's visit to America was
brought about by Mr.. ]. H. Hyde, who
has established fund to encourage
French studies at Harvard and his
Conferences" are understood to be part
Of an unfinished book.
Rev. A. s. Carver briefly introduced
M. Doumic, who spoke from very brief
notes, choosing his words carefully, and
frequently searching for better phrase.
He was animated, but restrained, using
his words as tools, and not as a back
ground. His effort was to show the So
ciety and letters of today in their mu-
tual relations. He declared good litera-
ture to be composed of things worthily
seen and recounted. He named precision
as a first element of the literary art:
and next, an abounding sympathy, with
which the French above all people, are
said to receive the things presented to
them. He instanced Flaubert, De Mau-
passant Zola; but declared that there
Is a higher plane than these men are
capable of, viz: the permanently good
the permanently interesting. He was ap-
preciative toward the "raillerie," so
much quality of French letters. 1t does
not descend to bitterness, but is the pre-
servative salt in a good composition He
conceived of the literary art as the high
est Of all, and set up standard not
much different from that of Sainte-
Beuve when he defined classic.
NJ. Doumic's style is so simple, so di-
rect, that even hearers who are weak in
French are carried along by it. He sew
eral times elected approval, and re-
ceived very hearty applause at the last.
The Conference" finished, the people
present were presented to the speaker,
a thing which semed very much to
please him. A bevy of high school girls,
stronger in their enthusiasm than their
French, seemed to give him special
pleasure. AS NJ. Doumic does not speak
English, these young ladies were obliged
to use their newly acquired gifts.
NJ. Doumic dined with Mrs. Burlington
and few friends, and then returned to
Boston. His coming here was due chiefly
to the efforts of Miss White, who has a
French department at the high school;
but the "Cercle Francois" feels itself
under obligation to Mrs. Burlington for
her hospitality.