New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
PARIS.
A CHECK on FRENCH SPELLING RE-
FORMERS
THE ACADEMY BLOCKS RADICAL CHANGES
OPENING OF THE REMoDELLED
THEATRE FRANCAIs


Ioopyright. 1900: By The New-YOrk Tribune.l
IBx CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.J
Paris Dec 29-The drastic reforms in or
biography and syntax proposed by the Minister
Of Public instruction and supported by the
Superior Council OF National Education, with
view to the simplifcation Of the French Ian
euage. received yesterday a rude check from
the Academy, the assent of which, by virtue OF
a statute of Louis XIII, confirmed by a decree
Of Napoleon J. must be obtained before mocl-
heations Of spelling grammar can be officially
promulgated in schools or colleges. Last July
a special committee OF Academicians was ap-
pointed to consider the proposed reforms.
Among the members Of this committee were
MN Henri Houssaye Castor Boissier Paul
Heryieu, Melchior de Vogue, Brunetiere. De
Heredia, Henri Lavedan, FRANCOIS Coppee, Jules
I,enaitre and Gabriel Hanotaux. The report OF
this Commission, drawn up by its secretary,
\ Gabriel Hanotaux, formerly Minister of For
eign Affairs, is now published, and is regarded
as one of the most noteworthy documents that
has enanated from the French Academy during
the present century. It occupies half a page
OF the daily papers, and nothing more happily
illustrates the true character and bent Of the
Partisan mind than the fact that the gram
matical niceties and purisms pronounced upon
in this report have become the dominating topic
Of discussion over the tea cups and at fashion
able dinners. Society beauties dispute over the
intricacies of French syntax and prosody; popu-
lar actresses are appealed to for the most ef-
fective pronunciation OF the verses Of Victor
Hugo or Rostand; the leading newspapers
throughout the country devote. elaborate edi-
torials to the subject. It seems as if Paris for
the moment has been tnsnssoutness into. q VeSt
grammar school. The question, moreover IS. a.
practical one, because the rules OF spelling and
syntax indicated in the report Of the Academy
will regulate the competitive examinations
which in this country are obligatory for almost
\ all professional or official appointments The
sentiment Of the French people the whole
approves the conservative report Of the Acad-
envy. which assents TO certain reforms, pre-
venting oVerzealous grammatical purists from
laying traps in their examination papers for
candidates. but emphatically disapproves of the
bulk Of the proposed notifications, especially
the measure intended to simplify the rules gov
erning the agreement of the past participIe,
which, if adopted. would work irreparable
injury TO the French classics and relegate to
archaism all the poets who have ever written in
the language. The feminine rhythm Of French
poetry is such that the suppression Of the mute
E would utterly destroy harmony and versih-
cation Numerous instances are cited from
Corneille' Racine, Alfred de Musset and Victor
Hugo in support of this decision. NJ. Georges
Ieygues Minister of Public Instruction has
consequently decided to put into force only the
minor reforms approved by the Academy.
Meanwhile mixed commission of Academiciaus
and members Of the Superior Council of Edu-
cation has been constituted to investigate
those points upon which the Academy and the
Educational Board disagree.
". Georges Clemenceau's intention to resume
an active part in politics is pretty sure to bring
rev elements of wit and amusement into the
parliamentary arena. II is as a journalist that
the former Radical leader will re-enter public
life He is however, at present suffering from
a serious attack Of nervous prostration and in
somnia, and his physician prescribes absolute
rest NJ. Clemenceau. nevertheless, says he is
eonhoent that by the middle of January he win
pesln the publication of a weekly political PAM
phlet, 10 be called the Bloc" In appearance
ard as regards the nature of its contents the
Bloc" will recall N. Henri Rochefort's famous
weekly pamphlet, the "Lanterne," which did SO
much to undermine the Second Empire It is
not NJ Clemenceau's intention to shorten the
days OF a Third Republic. but as it is his nature