The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19
Edouord Rod at Harvard.

ward endowed French lectureship at Gam
bridge, for the purpose of bringing over from
France each year man Of letters to lecture
before Harvard university. under the man
agement of the Cercle. in the interests of
French art, literature and science. The first
series of these lectures was given in March
OF last year by M. Rene Doumic, literary
critic of the Revue des Deux- Mondes, whose
subject was the History of French Roman
ticism," which he treated IN eight lectures.
This year the second series Of lectures un-
der the auspices of the Cercle is to be deIiv-
red by NJ Edouard Rod. His theme will be
the History of French Dramatic Poetry"
also to be treated in eight lectures, under the
following dates and subjects:
1. THE Origin of the Tragedy" Wednes-
day, March 1.
2. The Struggle Between the Regular and
the Irregular Drama. The Cid" Friday,
March 3.
8. 'oThe Triumph of the Regular Drama
Britannicus. Monday, March g..
T. The Religious Drama Athalie,
Wednesday, March 8.
March 10.
6. The Romantic Drama. Chatterton,
L '''The Classical Reaction. Lucia"
Wednesday, March Is.
s. 'Contemporaneous Dramatic Poetry.
Cyrano de Bergerac," Friday March IT.
The following sketch of the life and works
of NJ Rod may prove interesting reading to
those who will hear him lecture at Harvard
or at some other of our great university
centers; for he has been invited by many Of
our colleges and other organizations, as, TOT
instance, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell,
Worcester French club, Smith college, Adel-
phi college and Packer institute, of Brooklyn;
the French Club of Chicago, Williams college
and many others to so extend his visit that
they may have the privilege of hearing him.
Edouard Rod was born at NyOn, near &C.
neya in 1851 After excellent studies in
classical philoIogy in Switzerland and in
Germany, he made his first appearance in
French literature in 1879 by pamphlet en-
titled "A propcs de PAssommoir." in which
he warmly and ably took the part of NJ. Emile
lola, who was violently attacked at that
time. This was followed by several novels
among them being such wePks as Les Allie
mands a Paris (1SS0): Palmyra VeulardP'
QSSD; la Chute de Miss Topsy" QSS2);
Les Professionals; cote a cote QS62); "L'Au-
topsie du Docteur II QSS4); and La Femme
dHenri Vaneau" GSS4)-but by none Of these
was the true personality of The young writer
disclosed. The earliest book to really assert
the ability of NJ Rod was La Course a la
Mort" QS85). At the time of the publication
of this book which WAS then much talked
Of, NJ. Rod was contributor to several pa
pers and magazines; besides which he had
founded with the assistance of a few young
mer of hfs-ewn age, La Revue Contem-
poraine," which became the most important
of the small magazines of the period. Shortly
thereafter he was appointed professor Of for
egn literature at the University Of Geneva,
and was soon given charge there of the in
struction in French also. While fulfilling
his functions as professor with distinction, NJ.
Rod id not slacken his literary activity. AS
4 critic he published an interesting volume OF
''Etudes sur le XIX Steele; de Ia literature
cCmparee" and les Idees Morales du temps
present''-the last named work proving the
signal for complete intellectual movement.
As novelist he wrote in 1886 4'Titiana Leilof''
and in 1883 ''le Sens de la Vie9 "a moral
sequel to La Course a la Mort'D. which was
crowned by the French academy and won for
it's author the Cross of the Legion of Honor.
His versatility is remarkable, for with ap
parentIy equal ease he produced such bio
graphical works as ''Stendhal'' and Lamar
tine criticisms like "Nouyelles etudes au
XIX Steele and such novels La
Sacrifice" His 'Essais sur Goethe also
call for particular attention as another in
stance of his talent. as does his translation
from the Italian of LES Malayogha' de
Verga.''
Among the novels which contributed much
to establish this reputation are Les Srois
Coeurs;" lies Scenes de la Vie Cosnopo1ite; -
La Vie privee de Michal Tester" (which was
so successfully dramatized}, and ia seconde
Vie de Michel Tessier. His lie Silence"
Lies Roches B,anches;" ''Dernier Refugee
La Haul" LIE Manage du Pasteur Naudie; -
Il Innocente" and Scenes de la vie Suisse
finally placed him, during the course Of late
years, in the front rank Of contemporaneous
writer's.
Following Monsieur Rod the CercIe ex-
pect Monsieur Paul Bourget, the famous
French academician, to lecture in 1900. With
the accomplishment of next years pro-
gramme therefore the Cercle will have had
as lecturers a literary critic. a philosopher
and a novelist. and the intention of the
management is to pass on, from year to year,
through all the many walks of literature, art
and science and to invite savants from each
to give them the benefit of their knowledge.
Het US hope that they too may derive some
benefit in return for their exertions, and that
in their journeys to this great new world,
something may be added to Their stores Of
learning, which they can carry back to their
own people.
The vigor of the Cercle Franchise cannot
be too highly commended. In addition to the
work already mentioned, they have for many
years made it a custom to produce French
play at Harvard, ana the following summary
will show what remarkable progress has been
made by them in dramatic art:
In 1SSS-Le Misanthrope ct PAuvergnat de
Labiche
In 1S89-Les Leux Sounds de MN Waffiard ct
Fulgence
In 1851 Afaire de Ia Rue de Lourcine de
Labiche
In 1S9G-Le Voyage Dieppe, d Anicet Bour-
geois.
In 18s1-Les Priecieuses Rldicules de
Moliere
In 1S91-La Poudre aux Yeux de Labiche
In 1S92-Le Bourgeois GentiIhomme de
Moliere.
In 1S93-Le Marriage Force de MQlere
In 1894-Les Fourberies de Scapin de
Moliere.
In 1895-Le Malade Imaginaire de Moliere.
In 1S9I-Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme de
Moliere.
In 1s9s-Le Medecin Malgre lui de Moliere.
In N98-La Ccmtesse dEscarbagnas.
In 1S9S-Le Stcilien.
Anyone desiring to attend the lectures OF
NJ. Rod at Harvard can obtain tickets and any
Information desired from the president Of the
Cercle Francois de PUniversfte Harvard,
Cambridge, Mass, on application.
SAND MEN OF CUDDLEDOWNToWN
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