New-York tribune., 1902-02-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TRANSLATION OF GAUTIER-ADVENT-
UREs IN THIBET-CONSTABL AND
THE ENGLISH WATER COLOR
rSTS-COAT, AND IRON
IsTS-COAL AND IRON.


The publication of Professor sumichrast's new
translation OF the complete works Of Theophile
Gautier. 10 which have previously referred
at length, goes on apace. From the publisher
of this beautifully printed edition. Mr.. George
D. Sproul have just received volumes xl.
XII, XIII and XIV. leaving ten more to COM
plete the set. The first of the volumes now be-
fore US is given TO "Spirite" THE Vampire"
and "Arria Marcella,' three interesting, If not
particularly brilliant. examples Of Gautiers nc
tion. "Spirite" shows him playing cleverly,
though not impressively. with a more or less
Swedenborgian motive in The Vampire he
retouches picturesquely ancient theme, and
"Arria Marcella" is a skilful piece Of archeol-
ogy. lacking somewhat in human interest. Vol
ume XII is all but filled with The Quartette." !"
that queer Napoleonic story to which Gautier
brought certain enthusiasm and prodigious
invention but which possesses a curious rather
than an artistic interest; il is to be read simply
for the light IL throws his capacity TO write
a sensational narrative for the edihcation OF the
average reader. The last few pages of this vol
urne are devoted to THE Mummy's Foot" one
of the most effective short stories he ever wrote,
q little absurd in its fantasticality, but capti-
vating none the less Volumes XIII and XIV
contain the Travels in Russia" with "A Trip
10 Belgium and Holland" and "A Day in Lon
dom These two volumes are delightfully."- char
acteristic Gautier could be very happy in some
Of his descriptions and as turn the pages of
his Russian letters again and again
tempted TO quote specimens of his vividness' OF
his faculty for hitting upon the most pictorial
elements in a scene. We content ourselves
however, with a fragment from The Trip to
Belgium and Holland" exhibiting in perfection
The spirit in which he was accustomed TO set
forth upon his wanderings:
You are aware of the difficulty a Partisan eX-
7,eriences in dragging himself away from Paris,
ard how deeply the human plant strikes its roots
between the cracks OF the paving stones II
took me quite three months to make up my
mind to that fOrtnights trip. L PACKED anu
unpacked a dozen times, and l secured seat
in every stage coach. i cannot tell now many
times l bade farewell to the three or Iour peo-
pie who, fancied. might possibly miss me my
feelings were narrowed by the repetltloh OF
these pathetic scenes. and was in a fair way
10 ruin my digestion by dint of drinking strrup
Guns Finally one fine morning. having ex-
changed a rather large number or nVe-rdhe
pieces for a very small number OF gold pieces
took myself by the collar and kicked mySelf out
of NV own house, ordering the friend whom l
left in 1t to fire upon me as he would at mao
wolf If ventured TO return before the lapse OF
three weeks and forthwith 1 proceeded TO the
fatal Rue du Bouloi. where the coach was stand
ing.
behaved admirably on this tremendous Occa-
sion He did not press to his breast and he
did not give me his blessing, any more than he
gave me anything else dlSo peHa eo ~ NAS
manifest fashion; I did not shed tears; did not
kiss the soil of the fair France was about TO
leave and even hummed gayy enough, and
as much out Of tune usual, little air which
stands me In the way Of my 'lilli bulero' and
"tiralirala."
The coach started. and. on reaching the VII
iette gate I could say. like Jean-Jacques Rous-
seau, Farewell, Paris, city Of mud smoke and
noise.'
Professor Sumichrast maintains in his trans
iation the workmanlike standard exemplified in
the earlier volumes and confirms in his intro
auctions the favorable impression previously re-
ceIved from his editorial labors. The publisher
as we have remarked before, is producing an un-
commonly handsome set OF books presswork.
binding and illustrations all disclosing thor
oughness and good taste.