New-York tribune., 1903-04-01

With the twenty-third and twenty fourth
volumes Of 1.-The Works of Theophile Gau-
tier George D. SprouD. Professor +. u oe
Snn,ichrast brings to a conclusion his COM
Dlete edition of the famous French writer
He has done all the transating himself save
that of the poems which has been done by
Mrs Agnes Lee and he is to be congratu-
lated on having achieved q difficult task
The twenty-third volume is made up Of Art
and Criticism" with The Magic Hat" that
brief and clever theatrical piece which Gautier
| nroduced in collaboration with Siraudin.
| The essays in the book contain some of the
| authors best work notably the one on Baude-
| laire We cannot resist the temptation to
quote the sketch OF that amazing writer, whom
CautIer first met in 1S49. at Pimodan House
Hotel Iauzun) where l had quaint apart
rnent near Fernand Boissards, communicat-
ing with the latters rooms by a secret stair
concealed in the thickness of the wall. and
which must have been haunted by the ghosts
Of the beauties whom Lauzun loved OF yore'
an introduction in which we seem to hear
the very voice of Theo. He continues:
WAS impressed by his aspect. He wore his
very black hair cut quite short, and this hair or
his with it's regular points on his daZzllngly'
white brow. formed a sort of Saracen helmet.
His brown eyes had d deep spiritual express
sion and his glance almost oppressively
penetrating His mouth. outlined by silky
!
/ sinuosity of the mouths of faces painted by
Leonardo da Vinci. His nose. shapely and deli
cate somewhat rounded and with palpltatlng
| nostrils seemed to be scenting faint and distant
odors; a strong dimpe. like the sculptor's final
touch marked the chin; his close shaven cheeks,
the blush tone of which was made more NelVety
| nv rice powder, contrasted with the ruddy hue
Of the cheekbones His neck. OF FEMININE ele-
gance and whiteness, showed freely out of
furned down collar and a narrow check tie OF
Madras silk His dress consisted of a coat or
shiny. lustrous stuff, snuff colored trousers.
white stockings and patent leather shoes; every
garment scrupulously clean and neat, with
marked stamp of English simplicity, apparently
intended 10 denote breaking away from the
artist fashion of sporting SOL felt mats EelNeI
Jackets red Jerseys, huge boards and wild heads
| of hair There nothing new looking or
striking in his dress. Charles Baudelaire was
one OF those quiet dandies who have their
clothes rubbed with emery paper i'll order 10
take off the Sunday and brand new gloss, so
dear 10 PhiIistines and unbearable to Well
bred men Later on, indeed, he shaved off his
rnustache considering that it was a survival or
picturesque chic which 1t was childish ana pour
geoislike to preserve. Thus freed from an su-
perfuous down. his face recalled that OF Lau-
renee Sterne resemblance increased by Bau-
delaire's habit of pressing his forefnger against
his ternnle when speaking. which is the attitude,
as fs well known of the English humorist In the
portrait prefxed TO his works
Mrs Lees translation of 'Enamels and
Canoes" with other poems is given in the
twenty-fourth volume, with prose versions by
Professor de Sumichrast of "Albertus'' and
THE Comedy of Death Criticism is dlsarmed
as regards this volume by the editors confess
sion that "the divine gift of verse" has been de
MED him. and by the equal modesty with which
Mrs Lees share in the enterprise is introduced.
The inpossibility of giving in English an abso-
lutte equivalent for Gautiers verse is freely ad-
rnitted Nevertheless Mrs. Lee has put her
lines together with aptitude. and she gives us
the sense If not the sound or atmosphere of her
original Her transiations should at least serve
To whet the appetite OF the English speaking
reader. and lead him TO make an effort 10 COM
mass Gautier's French. If he is willing to forego
acauaintance with the poetry, this edition of the
works will answer all his purposes. 1t has been
nrepared with skill and devotion, the publisher
has given II excellent form, and il is altogether
o credit to those concerned In Its production.