New-York tribune., 1901-04-08

and enemies alike. who wish to receive impress
sons and make diagnosis. Thence came the
choruses of lamentation over the alleged de-
generation of France. He continues:
God knows we have been most imprudent in
drawing down upon our country these storm
clouds and lightning bolts We seem to persist
in leading other nations astray as to our man
ners and customs. We distribute to every new
conner rods with which TO lash us. Every
where and especially here in America, people
are reading French novels with conscientious
care. Now, these stories tell only of prank5,
escap apades. unfaithfulness, and our most pro-
ductive writer's devote themselves exclusively
to the mad study of the seven deadly sins.
Let us not be surprised. then, if beyond our
boundaries they speak of Paris with a most an
noying infection and wink Of the eye. 1t has been
our own doing, through the exaggeration OF our
faults and the confession of vices with which,
thank Heaven, We are not afflicted.
He takes occasion then to warn the writers
and publishers of this sort of stuff that they are
spelling their business. People getting
little tired everywhere OF improper stories He
tells of a Boston bookseller who showed him
cases full of copies of QUO Vads' and Rudyard
Kipling's books, and quite inhospitable to recent
French publications. The yellow book was
not wanted. and NJ Deschamps had no difficulty
in understanding why. The same bookseller OBJ
served that Rostand had had a brilliant idea in
having his books published in green paper. and
then he showed him the display of copies of
"CyranO' and Il L'Aigion.' The interest In Ro-
stand impresses NJ. Deschamps:
.I.Aiglon." "LAigIon" .L'AiGlon"' "Cyrano."
.'Cyrano' "Cyrano'' / am never tired of seeing
these words printed in hamboyant letters on
posters. in circulars. in the advertising pages
Of the magazines This extraordinary Rostand
has bawitched America. after having won over
and dlsarned the critical spirit Of the French
II Is an indescrba bic enthusiasm. an intoXica-
tlon. Il macneSs.
He tells how. in lecture on Victor Hugo. he
quoted a famous stanza. ending:
'L'Angleterre prit raigle. ct IAutriche iaiGlon-
Whereupon there were thunders OF applause,
He is impressed by the fact that at Wellesley
Rostand's "Cyrano" completes the course in
French literature begun with "Chanson de Ro-
stand: by the report from the Province Of
Michigan from Buffalo. from Philadelphia,
from the country of the Mormons, from San
Francisco from Worcester and from Toronto.
that "Cyrano' is among the most popular
books: by the prominence given to Mr.. Richard
MansheId's inpersonatiOn of the character. He
is not sorry:
He who would complain must have a bad soul.
For my part / rejoice 10 see this victorious IL
vaIrv 10 the growing vogue of English romances
and German idyllS Success to these green
books" which uphold beyond our borders the
good name of our country! we We're IN
a sorry position in the eyes of the world when
a French poet rudely. bravely, routed the band
of ..dGcadents" NJ. ROStandS works are
an argument in the hands Of those who would
from afar preach the great religion or French
letters and who undertake 10 show that the
genius OF our race has not ceased to be at
tracted by heroism. by love. by the divine charm
OF the ideal. The poet must be thanked
who has so effectively aided in raising ma
tional literature in the eyes of strangers