New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
nFlGAkO" AND IFS POLICY.
,,,,,rursSANT'S UNSCRUPULOUS OPTI
MISM CARRIED ON SUCCESS
FULLY BY MAGNARD.
From Macmillan's Magazine.

az ha, Il cnntrives To entertain its readers 1t
achieves this purpose by the rare 'ssIemi VI pe.
feet arrangement and lSht hanu. ma pa
of it. AT least which is not poeInical never dp
breaches a serious topic with a serious IToNi
The citizen may read his Figaro Wlthou' iasn
ing himself into a fury or cTanlhiinE NE ,t,tl
lent brain with the platitudes OF IN" PDiIl,. a.
,,, ,,,ri,.r And il is because the Figaro
nrofesses an interest in something else IMAM 'Ie
scandal OF the moment that IT'S influence hdS e,'
dured for forty years. 1t does not rePl ~.
parieian iournalism for its tradition ~ al lt9
own: il represents the mddie-class htciIls
~ France Ii has no principles ana no ~
rule il is content to follow the lend ., US -
"a wa ~, the rare occasions on which IT has
attempted To- shape public opinion IL mas Iv t.i
cd from ,hc truth directly "A lalllh6 '"'"'
proved the truth unpalatl nlr ,,,, j. tho
PM the real distinction Oi the rls"' - .
continuity Of its method. 1t remains TO-DAY very
much what il was when NJ. de NllIelnr' ,,,
founded ii. and NJ. de NilleuesHant va - he
of genius Like Dclanc. he vas HAS ~
c.rcmonies rather than writer. ne hcNc' ' p,
tributcd a single article to his own Jou ih,' Du
no handled his staff as a practlCai ca. ",,
handles a fourth hand. and not LOT an ~ :
IA Do reIax his control If he could not write IL
cnuId suggest and many Of his most famous a.
,icIcs wcrc inspired and even phraseu ~ .'S
non u,ho never welded pen. lie was III "'1
,necrupulous self centred. he knew Du' onv on,
bt,ionrsuccess: and but one opportunity
For a while failure logged his steps, pu' VIII
once fortune had smiled upon MN ne ,od and
tho rnasierful tyrant whom all men Iedr'u' anu
u.boee luminous influence sun ru''s INC
Figaro He was hampered neither ny loya'S
nor respect. H.. . ,irgIo
\ contributor was nothing to MN Sins'
word of disapprobation heard as NJ Daude'
saws between the cheese ana the pear d' plV"n
fast was sufficient To insure the u's'"'' - "
the most trusted colleague. one interest," a'p,l" .
s,,,inatod htm-the prosperity of the Figaro
and his Judgment told him that th' riN"'"
was better served by brilliant succession oil
occasional contributors than by the coh'l"ueu
scintillation II the same talents tN'lS man
said he with his habitual frankness' mas one
article in his belly; and II was NiiiemesSant
business to get that article out one DAY loi ~,
stance he picked up sweep III me S'ce';
brought him 20 his office. had nm 'l.s,''u' anu
set him down to a writing table. The sweep
achieved his article. and Nillcmessah' was re-
wardcd BY the curiosity Of all Parls.
WHERE NOBODY STAYS LONG.
Thus while the world Of letters passed
tbr,urh the Figaro" nobody stayed there long.
and his fierce cditor never hestated 10 uts'oS
contracts or to forget services lie ptyltS'SH
f.w opinions. and the one principle "hl'h NJ
cherished until the end was To pI.scrNe nv
nnnularitv Of his journal. H. fought no battle
ne led no forlorn hope; he recognized 'he Ne
euce Of no man. writer or politician. u'tlI Nv
had arrived To vaunt his skin IN prophecy W
say exultantly Il told you 50. was no par ~
H., ambition. He did not gird AT tne risIns sen
Grafton ne merely ignored II, ana mus ne ,ui
filed a useful mission since IT is Dut just una
10 old az well as the young should have their
champion in the press. He admired me WIN
ing or said NJ did; but he knew mat IL was C
no Use in shop, anu lllt pIoh' va
WAS superior in his eyes 10 'hc c'eu'' VI ~
eratufe -. -. ,,
q colossal triumph He made the Figaro the
perfect representative Of the well-fed, gay m
telIigcnt Partisan. The writer maybe desplsed
II but he read il none the less, ana ne us'n H.
too whrnrger It served his turn. The hrst arl'-
Gle in the Figaro" was for many years anu
siul is the end Of every mans desire. TO sign
Il is to pose ones self definitely before me pup
lie. whether for praise or blame TO oe I ,if
N
time is to taste the perfect JOY OF arrival
Such in brief. was the end attained ny Nnic
messant's cynical opportunsm, ana IL IS To the
founders undying glory that the uauI'Io" u. ~
established remains unbrOkcn to this day Al
VulenpSsant'S death the torch was handed 10
Francis Maynard who besides being an editor
emf IN the very pattern Of his predecessor. was
also a writer Of force and CONCESSION. For many
wears he contributed daily comment upon the
situation To the columns Of his Journal, IN when
he brought to perfection the art Of jumping with
the cat He too. called cynic. and
cvnic he was but at least hc preserved the
Figaro" al the high level Of cunning Orpor-
,uri,m al which he found il: and he was never
persuaded by any privat" or public interest
to outrage the worldly conventions Of the
founder.
A BRIEF WEEK OF SINCERITY
Indeed it was not until last year that the
"Tigarn" for the first time sacrificed It's sub
scription IL. ID what appeared the cause Of
truth. It cspoused for brief week the caus" Of
NJ. XOa ana Of Captain DrryfuS. not, We may
well believe. Tor any abstract lpNr OF justice
but bccausc il imprudently thought that il was
following tn popular lead. However, reparation
was speedily made. The editor offered tenn
poIary resignation. the Figaro printed pub
lie rccantaton. ana hastily brought back its
allegiance To- the army. To our more literal APP
probation this conduct seems coWardly OF even !
trcachrrOu- ", should argue. and argue sin |
Ccrely ihat before il undertook 10 be tn" mouth |
piece If NJ /Old the "Fgarn' had examined the /
soundness # tn, novelist's charges. and that |
once convinced Of Judicial error. il could not /
IN honor rec .Ir from il. CAMPAIGN. But would |
object IN" editor. the "FigarpS' one duty is /
toWard its subscribers Nh sD approval ~ more |
precious t. il than thc hottest cause; and la /