New-York tribune., 1907-06-16
MME,. ADAMS MEMOIRS
Contain Interesting Side Lights on
Nen and EUe1aS in France.
Paris. June 4

and events in the early years OF the Third Re-
public SingulaIly enough, must turn 10
German sources-to the memoirs of Bismarck
o. of Hohenohe. for instance-for accurate
counts Of what actually took place Immediately
after the capituIation of Paris. The sketches
and impressions OF Nine. ADAM which cover the
period beginning with the armstice and ending
with the autumn Of 1873. fill long felt want
and enable one 10 observe matters through
sentIally Partisan spectacIes.
Some years before the death OF Victor Hugo
Nine Adam dined with the poet at his house in
the Avenue d'Eylau. now the Avenue Victor
Hugo Among the guests were FRANCOIS Hugo.
August Vacquerie. Edmond Adam Guliettes
husband), their daughter Alice Adam and Mime.
Drouet The conversation turned upon the
siege of Paris and the events that followed It,
The author Of LES Chatiments' remarked in his
most solemn tone of voice. and with an express
sion of sadness: II never can forgive myself for
having neglected to keep a diary during those
stirring and little understood times when I
ought TO have jotted down each day. under the
impressions of the moment. what 1 heard and
saw. It seems extraordinary that the idea never
occurred to me nor 10 any Of my friends
Nine Adam replied: Pardon. cher grand
maftre, 7 kept exactly such a journal as you
have in mind. Every evening hastily wrote
down a summary of my impressions for my
daughter"
Goodness
as he rose from his armchair. "s1tch notes ex-
ist. and You never told me about them! l i'm
plore you, Nine Adam. don't lose an instant; let
Eacouerie and FRANCOIS accompany you home
and hand them your diary. so that 1 can read it
this very night"
Nine Adam replied: Certainly. if agreeable
TO YOU but you must remember that my cursory
tottings were made without any intention of
publishing them. They are simply my personal
,ySe-,,1o roFad
opinions expressed with absolute freedom, be-
cause wished Alice TO know exactly what my
feelings and thoughts we're at the time
That is precisely what constitutes their
value" replied Victor Hugo.
The result was that Vacquerie and FRANCOIS
Hugo returned with the diary, which Victor
Hugo forthwith read. He was SO much pleased
with Mime. Adams diary that portions of it were
published in lie Rappel." Vacquerie's news
paper. and Mes Angoisses ct Nos Luttes'' is
largely based upon the journal in question.
Nine. Adams memoirs are saturated with the
atmosphere of the time, and contain a vast
amount of observation and clever incisive
sketches of prominent public men, together with
personal incidents and episodes attractively
presented. There are letters from George Sand,
who took less chauvinist and more practical
view of the situation than did Nine Adam, and
this divergence caused a rift in the friendship
women. There are nervous strongly drawn
sketches of Gambetta. Spuller called upon Nine.
Adam and dismayed her by relating heartrend-
ing descriptions OF the bitter hatred evinced
toward Gambetta by Jules Favre. Arago, LIE
FLO. Garnier-Pages. Picard, Peetan, Grevy and
Fourichon. There are characteristic incidents
concerning Flaubert, Thiers. Edmond About,
ChaIlauel-Lacour, the Due de Brogle. Saint
IIilaire, Scheurer-Kestner and Henri Rochefort
DR.. Maure called upon Nine Adam and de-
scrjoed the death of Prosper Merimee. "Meri-
NEE" related DR.. Maure was fairly out of his
mind through grief at the crushing disasters
that had befallen his country. He met me on
the platform of the railway station at Cannes
He wore a flannel dressing gown and slippers
He had with him personal effects except an
enormous parcel containing letters to be
burned and a handbag full Of securities. He
explained France is dying, and 1 wish 20 die
with her" His once energetic countenance had
sadly changed He was bent, knock-kneed'
ehaky and eccentric He was constantly weep
t,e like p gpoiled child He took me aside and
prasned my hands in his and said: Remember
NE to Juliette Adam. and tell her that my last
hone is that her republic may not turn out 10
he the tomb of France" Merimee died on feo-
r7,arv a 1870 He had frequently told DR..
Naure that he wished under no conditions 70
be buried with religious ceremonies. Inc p'uS
was carried directly to the cemetery without be
ina brought 10 the church. The pastor never
theIess arrived and was about 10 pronounce q
funeral oration over the grave. DR. Maure'
f.i.bf,,, 70 the Injunction of his friend inter
,,,ntea the pastor, and Merimee was buried ac-
cording TO his desire. without any fornality
whatever
Nine Adam produces some interesting victor
tsnpo table talk "I was seated one evening az
tsr dessert In a corner next Victor Hugo. Louis
blanc sat opposite us. Louis Blanc and the poet
1,sra oorvcrsing about the double centenary OF
yoltaire and Rousseau, who died in the same
wear. The poet and the socialist agreed that the
ceremony ought to be prepared a long time
ahead so that It should be superb Louis Blanc
wished TO give predominance TO the centenary OF
Rousseau, while Victor Hugo preferred that OF
Voltaire.
DVoltaire should be alone said Victor Hugo;
s,t would be an insult TO his memory TO couple
him with Rousseau
But they died in the same year, replied
Louis Blanc, and natural circumstances pre-
vent lis from separating them. Moreover. in
my opinion Rousseau great man as
Voltaire He was the friend of the little. while
Voltaire was the friend Of the great. He was
the first to proclaim absolute equality; he is the
Father Of the Revolution
'"victor Hugo answered: 1T was Rousseau
who formed Robespierres and Saint-Justs. self
styled lovers Of nature. and ferocious men, and
above all. dangerous sectarians like yourself
Louis Blanc If you care to know why I enter
tain such violent antpathy for Rousseau, It IS.
FIRST of all. because in his character father