The Portland daily press., 1899-02-04
CONCERNING BOOKS.

One of the notable books just published
by Little, Brown & Company is the Life
of Alphonso Daudet. written by his son
Leon Daudet,-to which is added The
Daudet Family ("Mon Frere ct Moi } by
Ernest Daudet. The translation is by
Charles De Kay, and as whole is salts
factory.
NJ. Leon Daudet adored his father whose
com panion and confidant he was. Be
twee them existed the most perfect in
tellectual sympathy, a. well as devoted
affection.
The son writes thus of his father, his
eyes still wet with the tears occasioned
by his loss and his heart Oiled with
emotion and regret: "There was not a
line written by me which l did not read
to him before the ink was dry there was
| not thought of mine the true value Of
which did not beg him to state: there
was not one of my feelings. the power or
the origin of which / concealed from him
- have never seen my father
angry except when justice was defrauded.
He never swerved from justice save when
carried away by pity; and his training
was obtained through the pain which he
heroically tore for the love of his family
and the honor of human life. :"
OF the works of Alphonse Daudet The
Academy says: mo living French writer
has penetrated so far, filled so many
hearts. frightened so many homes, cast
light and air and laughter into gloom,
touched the source of tears and made us
all feel younger and fresher for an even
ing spent in his society. Though u
naturalist, even the austere NJ. Bruno
there saluted him with the heavy artillery
of his praise" And, again, Boyeson
writes: His books are historic docu-
ments of unimpeaohable value. To the
future historian of the Second Empire
and the Third Republic they will be of
greater Importance than any nunter of
diplomatic blue books and protocols of
Legislative proceedings.
These memoirs of the great French ar
tist are of much interest and value. In
no wise chatty, gossipping story Of
Daudet's khabits and experience, but a
skillful and sympathetic introspective
analysis of his character, qualities and
genius. The son, Leon, has been his
fathers Boswell and has learned by heart
the many wise sayings which have espec-
tally appealed to him as being both in
teresting and suggestive to the world at
large and more especially to the world of
letters "In the human being" says AL
phonse Dauiet, 'there is centre, a
nucleus, which never changes and never
takes on wrinkles. hence our astonish-
ment at the swift flight of the years and
the functional and physical notifications
that befall u.s. Herein lies a strong
argument for Immortality.
Again he says in regard to authorship:
at is necessary to have respect for the
reader. An author has morally guard
ianshi over souls. Surs of his mea ms
and being able co corrupt, he is culpable
If he atu SEES his trust, IT he ruins vital
nobility. If he does not go from below
upward, which is the direction of an
honest conscience. intellectually, too, he
should have respect for the reader and
insist only upon the essential things. not
falsify enthusiasm but keep his scrupu-
lousness simple and pure" Would that
some of the young writer's of the present
day might take this lesson to hearti
OF Victor Hugo. Daudet says that his
works are simply the various phases of
himself and that he has most encroach-
ing per sonality. Mat Javart Is tho sure
ness of Victor Hugo; Sister Simplice Ia
his feeling for beauty; Jean Vatican is
the whole of Hugo, his revolt. his mag
Daudet had warm admir- alton for
Tolstoi but considered parts of the
Kreutza Sonata revolving. and the neo.
mysticism of this author, and his last
evangelical works did not interest him
at ALL
Ernest Daudet's recollections Of himself
and his brother, which complete the vol
| ume, were finished in 1881, when AL
phonse oaudet was at the height of his
fame. This Is family history, with in
| teresting "reminiscences of childhood and
youth. and of the struggles. restrictions
and successes of later life, all of which
supplements most delightfully."- the pro-
found study by III. Leon Daudst of his
fathers charming personality, his trend
Of thought. and his literary aims and
methods. portland: Loring, Short &
Harmony
| Another volume from the publishing
house of Little, Brown Il Co. PORTLAND
Loring, Short Harmon is Joel: A Boz