The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02

text, but analysed the Fathers Of the Greek
Church, the sixteen books OF the Theodosian
Code. Sozomenes. Tertullian, Minutius.
Felix, St Cyprian, st. Augustine, Proco-
Plus and the three first volumes Of Fleurys
Ecclesiastical History" Though the regu-
la ions relieved him from the necessity of
attending in his second year the history
and literature classes. he submitted TO the
professor dissertations on the Council
of Trent, and OH the historical meaning OF the
Divina Commedia. he drew up a compafl-
son between Homer and Virgil, and wrote
notes on Ampere's Introduction to the
History of French Literature in the Middle
Ages To complete his German studies,
he read not only the classical poets and
prose writer's of Germany, but also the
Niebelungen Lied, Luth"rs memoirs and
writings, and Madame !" Staers Ale
magne.' Finally, in July, 1850, he began
the sketch of History of Philosophy.
lane's third ard last year at the Ecole
Norinale was given up almost exclusively
10 preparation for the philosophy dgrfgd-
ton under the direction Of NM jules Simon,
and Saisset, Md,tres dss Conferences, az
professors at the Ecole are called. He had
by this time reached the highest pinnacle in
the eyes of his masters and fellow 81 udents.
M Tame has remarkable intellect, and
WILL sooner or later, do credit 10 The Ecole
by publications of a serious order, wrote
VI. jules Simon al the end Of the last term of
the third year Already in the preceding
year. NJ. Vacherot had written of him: The
hardest worker, the most remarkable stu
dent whom have every known AT the Ecole
Normale. Prodgiously learned for his age,
Has m pyIny mud n n aN,lity know I. doe
such AZ | have never met with before.
mind emaikable for rapidity Of conception,
sub,lety. delicacv and force of thought" A
brilliant success in the approaching COM
petition seemed to await 40 much unoon-
tested merit. This was not to bc the case,
however, and, when liippolyte Taine vert
up in 1851 for the philosophy aggregation. he
failed to pass The decision of the jury,
which was presided over by Count Portals,
a member Of the Institute and of the Su-
peror Council Of Public Instruction, struck
with amazement the masters and fellow
students of the unfortunate cardidato 1t
seems that the second rlrI roce lesson. where
Tame lad TO expourd the plan Of moral
system was fatal TO him. Provost PaIadol
has pointed out that Tame failed lecalsc
he d!-dancd easy declarations on Provi-
dence. religious morality and tie necessity
of "A cult: communp!accs which the dis
tinCtiun Of his mind alone would have -uf
feed to keep him from uttering. He failed
in Other words, because lie did not merely
rcCite the elementary books Of the intol-
Grant Ecoie, but united know ledge and in
dependence NJ. jules Simon wrote to him,
You are the one whose success seemed TO
us most assured. / speak for all your
masters" VI. VaCherot wrote: You are
none the less worthy Of passing at the
head Of the list. and il il all the worse for
the examiners, who could not or would not
justly balance merits and faults. Do not
worry abou, the future; whatever happens.
you viii take your proper place next year
As a matter Of fact, Tame gave up in De
cember, 1851, lis attempt to pass the phi
losophy dgrtgdion. and prepared himself
instead for the dgrtoGtior Gss Iettres.
He obtained his degree Of Docteur-es-
Lettres in 1865, writing for the occasion,
besides the regular thesis, a treatis. on
La Font aine's Fables In the interval he
had discharged the functions Of assis ant
professor Of philosophy at Nevers and Of
rhetoric at Poiters, Disappointed in oh
tanning any desirable appointment in the
autumn Of 1852, he came 10 Paris. asked for a
long leave, and looked for some private
lessons by means Of which 10 support him
self. lie succeeded in buying time and free
do IN Of thought al the cost Of two hours
work every day He now gave a great part
of his attention 20 scientific studies att. nd
ing lectures on physiology botany and
zoology. lie al-o attended classes on amt
omy and physiology at the School of Modi-
-. 4 -. 81 H...
These studies, which were continued for
several years. formed the foundation Of his
psychological work, and may bc considered
a. the starting point Of the philoso optical
evolution which in 1897 81 rcsUl'cd in his
Theory Of the Intelligence"
Already NJ the age Of rs, Tainc had for
formulated the critical method which WAS
TO dominate him throughout his life. Thai
met hod il based on the assumption that the
fundamenta quality Of a given persons
individuality il o be- ascert aimed bya s.arch-
ing inves, gat ion into the race social cSJIdi-
,ions and an'ecedent~ Of the individual. his
environment. the special tendencies Of the
| age and their bearing upon him He held
! that. IL this inves, igat ion We're exhaustive.
the critical judgment based thereon would
| he complete and unassailabe. Obviously,
| however. he out come Of an inquiry depends
| not only on its range and minuteness, but
also on the inquirer's point Of view. The
same data will produce widely different
| impressions upon different spectators.
Recurri ng to the incidents Of Taine's
| life, we observe that in 1851 he won the
| Acadeiny's prize for an essay on Livy an
| application Of his critical method TO n period
! whereof his knowledge was necessarily
| inadequate On the other hand, his books
of travel Voyages aux Faux de Pyren ces =
| Gs55) and Voyages IN ltalic" Qs6G) still
| hold high rank in their class. In 1853
| Tame, who had become, for one reason or
another, more acceptable To the educa-
| tional authorities, was appointed to an
cxaminership AT St, CT, and in October
| 1894. he became professor Of aesthetics and
| the history of art AZ the Ecolc dies BeauX-
| Art in Paris, and thercupon entered On the
! studies the results Of which are embodied
| in his books on Philosophy of Arr The
Ideal in Art" and "The Philosophy Of Art
| IN Italy" in Greece ard in the Netherlands
oxford made him d. e. l.. in 1871, and
| seven years later he was chosen a member
Of the French Academy. We may here
mention that his Notes sur L'Angeterrc'
| were published in 1891, and were followed