The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-02

for II is Hike those rivers which dry up wher
men try TO alter their course. Strange
/ merchants must. be burdened by no vexa-
tious dues or inquisltions: native indus
tries must be encouraged, not hampered
by authorities; II was enough II frauds
and bankruptcies be punished. and oil
! excessive hazards be forbidden; no man
might risk his neighbours fortune, or more
than half his own Il was not 70 free
trade alone, however. that Fenelon looked
for social salvation; in matters Of commerce
he was no more than a keen-witted OBJ
server, but 1t was from the heart that he
spoke when he babe France make fast
her ascendancy over other nations by
insuring the moral and physical welfare
Of her sons. The true cure for all her evils
he found in agriculture. the one pursuit
that could offer "the most natural and best
natured OF all delights. the satisfaction OF
looking around him and seeing nothing
but the effects and improvements Of his
own art and diligence. and seeing, like
God. that all his works were good
While. however. the author OF "Tele-
maque' shows himself q philanthropist
and a patriot, IL La not disputed that po-
ltical economy can bring many ~reproaches
against him. as, for instance. the clashing
OF the patriots wish for commerce with
the churchman's scruples against money
lent at interest; or, again. an nl-kept bal
n Z between the claims Of rustic sim
plicity and trade. what asks our au-
thor. lis the need Of commerce II luxury
Is ~forbidden7 Who will be It's servaLts
II almost all the workmen are drafted on
10 the felds?' And what shall We say when
Fenelon passes beyond these general pre-
cepts to construct his famous Dream City
Of Salentum, a State where life IL brought
back TO the level OF Homeric simplicity,
and discipline enforced with the rigidity
Of Plato's laws. where the Legislature runs
riot In edicts against vice and edicts against
extravaganza. clothing the citizens each
in the uniform appointed to his rank. ban
ishing all gold and silver ornaments, all
perfumes and embroideries. and all highly
seasoned dishes, reserving the Arts for
the service OF the gods or the oommemora-
ton OF the heroes Of the Slater
The moral philosopher will be ready
with still ~weightier accusations. Fenelon,
he will say. has piled Law upon law and
rule upon rule till the citizens private
liberty Is lost, till the harmonies Of the
Perfect State are lost behind its whirring
mechanism. and until it's leading melody
Ia drowned beneath the brass accompani-
ment. F6nelon makes no provision for
change OF development, forgetting, as all
theorists. OF optimism before OF after hin
forgot. that the good Present Is the worst
enemy OF a better Future, and that there
Is no custom 80 sacred, but Il will in time
corrupt the world. The result Is that, for
all his patriotism. Feaelon stands further
away than do other political dreemers
from the circumjacent realities. Plato's
Republic could have been written only
by a Greek, Sir Thomas More's utopia
only by an Englishman; but '~Telemaque'
owes nothing TO the seventeenth century
OF France. II is a triumph Of undated
cosmopolitanism. a book neither ancient
nor modern: In the streets OF the hypo-
thetical Salentum every nationality feels
itself outlandish. every generation home
less and astray.
The blemishes In 'Telemaque' do not
blind the author Of this volume 20 Its merits
TO the pulse OF large humanity that beats
through every page, self-denying. yet not
~ascetic. tender. yet not sentimental. pas
~sionate. yet not un~reasoning 10 the voice
that carried ever to kings houses the cry
of the helpless, hopeless. d~owntrodden class
which was fast losing, not only the rights
and dignity. but almost the outer sem
blance Of man. Lord st. Cyres submits
that even the errors OF Fenelon are not the
follies OF an irresponsible visionary. but
that from out Of every one Of them France
might ave CLEANED a seed OF useful truth.
1t il also pronounced unjust 10 blame It's
author because the ideas Of -Te,emaque'
are not exempt from the operation Of the
laws Of nature. Books that nave pro-
foundly influenced their age must In pre-
cisely the same proportion seem stale and
lifeless 10 posterity. When all that was
best In them has passed into the worlds
common stock Of knowledge their boldest
paradox becomes 4 truism. their startling
prophecies become commonplace realities.
n.