The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21

/ the world, 1t II, therefore, MI Tet' ''h-
yietion that "this is the direction in winch
the policv of the United States. II wisely
conc,lcted will move in the future. and In
deed il already moving in the Far East,
where as time proceeds, they will he seen
aven more distinctly to hold the scales"
We NAV put aside al visionary the scheme
of an absolute Anglo-American reunion,
so often advocated by sincere and earnest
men As against this, 1t may he fairly hoped
that If reason and justice animate our
Statesman IA we'll as those OF America.
the two nations may constantly be on the
same aide in the great international ISSUES
that Individually lie before them ana US
In A word, our author sees before MIN the
adyen, of time when Burke's noble proph-
ecv uttered In the Speech on Conclhation
with America. delivered in March, ito,
sball be not impossible OF fulfilment-a
time when, in spit Of the inevitable rivair'es
OF two great nations. the Americans VIII
have no interest contrary to the grandeur
and glory of England" and when the
moro they multiply. the moro friends we
will have" NJ W. IL
A Little Book About Ernest Renan.
All who met him personally during his
Hfetine--no matter with what disapproVai
they might regard his views with re1er-
epce to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that the
author of 4The Origins OF Christianity
was morally one Of the most amiaole' ana
INTELLECTUALLY one Of the most charming
men OF his generation. We are helped 10
understand how such an impression was
produced by the latest contribution to
the series OF Literary Lives" published
by the Scribners-a small volume entitled
Ernea Renan, by WILLIAM BARRY, d. d.
Within the compass Of less than 25o pages
We have succinct sketch OF the authots
life, and an appreciative, yet wlthal us
criminative, estimate OF his wofK. ino'e
readers who are not familiar with more
extended biographies are here enabled 10
follow Renan through all the stages OF MS
interesting career, from his birth IN BTU
tany, his childhood and education az
seminarist, through the eclipse OF his ialth
his early years Of historical study IN farls'
and his ira wells in Palestine and In st. Paul's
footsteps, to the publication OF his Lille
OF Jesus. Of .The Origins of Christianity.
Of the History Of Israel" and the other
writin "a which occupied his adult life, and,
| finally, to his last days and death. 1t
might, at first sight, be presumed that
portrait of the great French skeptic could
not be limned satisfactorily by the hand
of a theologian. 1t may we'll be that. in
the ewes OF many DR.. Barry's final judg-
ment will seem too severe; vet he recog-
nizes so fully much that is worthy OF recog-
milton, and admires 30 heartily much that
deserves 70 be admired, that even those
who are fondest Of Renan will admit the
pervasive presence Of sense OF justice.
! To more than one orthodox theologlan,
| indeed, it may we'll appear that DR.. Barry
comedies too much To no reader, III fine,
! is the book likely to prove entirely pleas
| ing, for which very reason, probably, We
should credit it with as much impartiality
az il compatible with the biographer's
point OF view.
| Ernest Eenan was bonn at Traguier, In
Brittany. on Feb. 81. 1923. When the boy
was years old his father. the captain OF a
| fishing smack. who had seen service under
! Villaret Joyeuse, was found dead on the
sands Of Erauy. He left his family in des-
titutlon, and his widow found 1t hard to get
! food and fuel in the winter. For the in
fuences that gave some sweetness to his
| early life the boy Ernest was indebted to his
sister Henriette, twelve years older than
himself at once nurse and playmate, who
refused an honorable offer of marriage
that would have separated her from her
family, and eventually became a COVER
ness in Paris schools with the hope Of paying
| her fathers debts. From childhood her
brothers. training was wholly clerical.
At school preparatory to seminary
priests taught him all they knew. A Pat
| tern scholar, he took prizes and kept the
top Of his form. Neither then nor after
ward, however, was he exactly devout
He came late to mass and offered none Of
is recognizable. His vocation for an &C.
cesnstical career grew out Of his love for
learning. He did not look forward to mis-
sionary or parochial duties. and when. sub
sequently he con jectured what he might
have become, had he remained In the Breton
diocese, It was as a professor, vicar
general and canon lawyer that he saw
himself acQaHipg an excellent reputation.
When he was 10 ye.rs cid his sister secured
for him through NJ. Dupanoup (afterward
to acquire so important position in the
Church as Bishop Of Orleana) q clerical
scholarship, tenabie up to the age OF 20,
In Paris seminary. The Church. in a word.
was giving every advantage 10 son who
was TO turn out her resolute enemy, mn rl;ed
forever In the legend Of his days as having
attempted TO rewrite the Gospel In secular
and dilettante colors.
The seven years which followed gave tone
and meaning to Remains VIII 10 existence.
We know them intimately, thanks 10 his own
letten and to his sisters replies. 1t Is
noteworthy that, while at the seminary, the
young scholar oftenfailed inhis French essay
and when writing home, kept to the SIM
pie, unaffected style which he had brought
from Brittany. For one who, in his finest
pages. was hardly ever to be rhetorical.
il was a sign Of character that he refused
to initiate his head master Dupanoup.
While. however, he won no prizes for French
or Latin verse, al knowledge came easy
to him, At Issy, the country house to
which he was transferred in Is42, and where
budding priests were supposed to learn
logic and metaphysics. reading grew to be
for him a devouring passion He tells
his sister that in year he had learned a.
much az the human race learns In cent pry.
He became enamored Of Kant, 1t is evident,
indeed, from his correspondence, that
long before he had taken up Hebrew or
| 10 IA,