The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-12

entitled "A propos de rAssommoir," in
which he warmly and ably took the part
of NJ. Emile lola, who was violently at
tackled at that time. This was followed
such works as Les Ailemands Paris"
$3.50: palmyra, Veulard" CSsD; La
Chute de Miss Topsy'' qSS2); Les Pro-
t d, ndsie cote eq ts qSS2 Il ATtopsis
d'Henri Vaneau" dSS4)-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 QSS5) At the time
of the publication of this book, which
was then much talked of, M. Rod was a
contributor to several papers and maya
zines. besides which he had founded, with
the assistance of a few young men of his
own age. La Revue Contemporaine, .
which became the most important of the
small magazines of the period. Shortly
thereafter he was appointed professor of
foreign literature at the University of
Geneva, and was soon given charge there
Of the instruction in French also. While
fulfilling his functions as professor with
distinction. NJ. Rod did not slacken his
literary activity. AS critic he published
| XIX Steele, de la Literature comparee"
and Les Idees Morales du temps pres
ent'-the last named work proving the
signal for q complete intellectual move
ment. AS novelist he wrote in 1886 'aTi-
tiana Leilof" and in 1888 lie Sens de la
Vie "a moral sequel to La Course a la
Mort') which was crowned. by the French
/ Academy. and won for its author the
/ Cross Of the Legion of Honour. His ver-
satility is remarkable, for with apparently
equal ease he produced such biographical
criticisms like "Nouvelles etudes au les
XIX Steele, and such novels ag La
Sacrifice" His 'Essais sur Goethe also
call for particular attention as another
| instance of his talent, as does his transla-
| ton from the Italian of Les Malavoglia'
de verga Among the novels which con
| tributed much to establish his reputation
are Les Trois Occurs" lie Scenes de la
| Vie Cosmopolite" La Vie privee de Mi
chel Tessier" (Which was so successfully
dramatized) and La 5econde We De Mi
Roches Blanches," "Dernier Refuge" la
Haut," lie Menage du Pasteur Naudie, .
Sc finally placed him during the course
| of later years in the front rank of con-
1 temporaneous writers.
Following Monsieur Rod, the cercle eX-
pect Monsieur Paul Bourget, the famous
French academcan, to lecture in 1900.
With the accomplishment Of next year s
program, therefore, the cercle will have
| had as lecturers a literary critic, a phil
| osopher and novelist, and the intention
| of the management is to pass on, from
year to year, through all of the many
| walks of literature, art and science, and
/ the benefit of their knowledge. Let us
hope that they, too may derive some ben
eft 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 can
not be 100 highly commended In addi-
| ton to the work already mentioned, they
have for many years made it custom to
| produce a French play at Harvard, and
the following summary will show what
remarkable progress has been made by
them in dramatic art:
In 1sSS-Le Misanthrope ct lAuvergnat de
Labiche.
In 1SS9-Les Deux Sounds de NM. Waflard
ct Fulgence.
In 1851 Affaire de la Rue de Lourcine
| de Labiche.
| In 1890-Le Voyage a Dieppe, d'Anicet
I Bourgeois.
In 1S91-Les Precieuses ridicules de Mo-
liere.
In 1s91-La Loudre aux Yeux de Labiche
In 1S92-L.e Bourgeois gentilhomme de Mo-
liere.
In 1s93-Le Marriage force de Moliere.
In 1S94-Les Fourberies de Scapin de Mo-
liere.
In 1S95-Le Malade imaginaire de Molere.
In 1Ss7-Le Bourgeois gentilhomme de Mo-
liere.
In 1S9s-Le Medecin Malgre lul de Moliere.
In 1S9S-L4a Comptesse d'Escarbagnas.
In 1S9S-Le Sicilien.
Any one desiring to attend the lectures
of NJ Rod at Harvard can obtain any in
formation desired from the president of
the Cercle Francois de PUnversite Har-
ward Cambridge, Mass, on application.
"sull selling books?" asked Higson.
mo; I've turned over a new leaf" re-
lad ha rot Ill