The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-02-22
FL Short Sketch Of paris.

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their names, as often as a vacancy
occurs, and they feel that if they are
not eventually elected to membership
in the memorable body, their life
has been failure. l might add that
many of their contemporaries think
likewise. Most members are rejected
several times before being admitted.
Those who are unsuccessful in gaining
admission, criticise the members and
belittleits work, but when they are once
elected their taunts and criticism cease.
Women are not eligible to membership,
tho many of Frances eminent women
have we'll deserved the honor. The
sessions of the Academy are public, it
being considered one of the great
bodies of the state, the same as the
legislature or university. Its member
ship is limited to forty, 50 new men,
bers are scarce, a member not being
admitted until vacancy is caused by
death. The Academy never makes any
advances; 1t is always the one desiring
admission, that makes the overtures.
The French Academy has become a
perfect institution with the French and
has an ever progressive influence on
the ideas of the people; it is very con-
servative and therefore does not readily
recognize reformers, and there have
been Instances of its failing to recog-
nize genuine merit and worth. What
gave birth to the Academy was not the
Frenchman's concern for gallantry, or
conversation, but refinement of the
French language. Its spirit was
literary, rot social. It took into con-
sideration the selection of words, re-
finement of phrases, correct expression,
and good taste, all sOf which are per-
quisites to the advancement of literary
style.
France has had more than her share
of the great literary lights of the world.
Among her historians, poets, drama
lists and novelists, some of which are
living and some dead, may be mentioned
such names as Racine, Voltaire,
Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Geo. Sand,
Alphonse Daudet, Alexander Dumas,
Emile Zola, Balzac, Paul Bourget, Jules
Verne, Victorien Sardou, Theirs and
Guizot. Most any ordinary reader has
read some of the translations of the
French romanceS and great many
romance writerB there are Some
study the heart, some appeal to the in
tellect and others are sensual. From
the warmth and poetry that abounds
in these romances, the writer's, one
would judge, surely feel what they
write. When you read these stories
do you not seem to see the real life.
like woman, who breathes such per.
J, fume? These writer's touch the heart
they cause tear to start, they recall
, the emotions of your first love. Surely
. this is great art.
Most all of Frances great writer's
, painters and artists, have belonged tc
, the Academy. Not only lis Paris
: acknowledged to be the art center Of
F., the world, but to be found here'are the
: great masterpieces; so it is to Paris
, that the artists come to learn how tt
, paint The Frenchman is the grea
3 master of what is called technique ant
!, he seelns more able to impart hi
, knowledge to others than dses th'
artist of any other country. This ma!
T be due to his lofty imagination, but i
, is more likely an inherent quality.
There are many different schools o
: painting. By schools mean differen
: ideals as taught by different masters il
] this and preceding generations. Il
8 the past one school has flourishe,
: through certain period and thel
t comes almost complete change Som
f masters of the art of painting are note,
n for their religious paintings, landscapes
|. historical and military subjects, battl
I and marine scenes, equestrian portraits
8 and portraits of individuals. One ma
d wander through the Louvre for days
b yes weeks and months and always Sc
l. something that he has not seen befor
t which appeals to him for its realism
y and beauty of color. It may be al
It lidealistic rendering of the nude, tn