The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-30

THE France of Today" By Barrett
Wendell. New York. Charles Seribner's
Sons.
Though there is not the same sensational
interest attached to FRENCH governmental
doings as there was a few months ago
the book by Professor Wendell on the
France of the present day is of fully as
much interest as at any time previous.
The fact that Professor Wendell was the
first lecturer sent from this country to
France IN the Hyde foundation at the
Sorbonne and other French universities,
in furtherance of the plans of the Alliance
Francaise, besides having had a residence
in France during his early life, makes
him able TO give an account Of the coun-
try that should be informing and enter
taininl.
The pr sent book possesses both these
qualities, and In addition the professor has
taken a non-partisan view of conditions
generally that permits the reader to make
his own deductions regarding the various
phases of French life described. Profess
sor Wendell says his effort mas been to
set forth the Impressions OF France made
on me during the year when l was lee
turer AZ French universities"
Inc fOnlPIIS OF inc DOOk vert hist Si'F'
10 the public in the form of lectures at the
Lowell Institute in Boston about a year
ago. They were thought of such value that
Professor Wendell was urged to put them
in permanent form for the general public
He treats of the universities of France
the structure of society III the country
family life. the French temperament. the
relation of literature to life, the question
of religion. the French Revolution and It's
effects, aud the French Republic and de-
moeracy.
Events that are still recent show the
Importance of the subject of religion-or
irreligion-in France. In treating OF TINS
subject Professor Wendell has been unus-
ually fortunate. He states that he tries to
be impartial. and comes pretty near sue
ceeding. In a number of xampl he
shows the spirit of intolerance that exists
among some persons who consider them
selves roadminded but are unable to
give those who differ from them the same
con sideratio that they ask.
The lesson of human experience" says
the author in summing up the situation
of religion, must teach us that, for all
the protests of systematic reason, the
wfsest course on earth Is the course of
liberation, and of mutual forbearance. AS
yet there is little sign that the French
are willing TO learn this lesson. Until
they do, the question of religion in France
mlSI remain Olt d ct1liOH dilu NdtNipi
of recurrent intolerance. as one side or
another chances for a while to possess ma
tional power. . y = And so to the end
unless By and by the wonderful intelli-
gence of France awaken to the true wis
dom of a liberation as yet beyond its
grasp. They believe that they believe in
freedom
The professor does not venture into the
realms of prophecy regarding the proba-
bility of the government of France learn
ing wbat federation is.
In treating of marriage, Professor Wen
dell says
eve have immemoriaIly spoken of mar
rage as. a partnership; but we are not apt
TO think ~ 1t as primarily no. To the
Flrepen Mid, it seems to be. IA marriage
Is Zoo serikus a thing to be dominated by
rothantic ~aotions of unimpeded inclination.
~ involves too many questions of this
ETorkaday world-questions which can be
~met only by the prudence of corporate good
sense"
AS to the family, the author writes;
GAS. one grows familiar with the French.
One grows more and more wonderingly
aware of how their whole conception Of
1.-THE family, with all the consecrated emo
.tional sanctity of the foyer makes them
look upon themselves primarily not as in
his own little society. TIL family is a
partnership. II You villa corporation, or a
clan. " " " The first of human duties
thus becomes not individual. but rather
self-abnegating and social. TO this ideal
of duty the French are deeply loyal
THE French" says the author of the
book, in discussing literature and life. are
given to writing things Which they would
mot say; English speaking men ERE given
to. saying things which they would not
write
Proceeding further. Professor Wendell
goes on to explain: American life is not
such as American would lead
z stranger to infer. Neither does French
life seem such as strangers infer who know
1t only from French novels"
Professor Wendell devotes two chapters
to the political conditions in France, trent
ing of the revolution and of the republic.
Sovereignty, says he, at any given time in
France, has presented itself TO the candid
minds of the French not so much in the
character, of a national establishment as in
that of a partisan tyranny. 1t is this view
of things by the people that probably has
led to the periods of chaos that have con-
itributed to make the history of France
one of the most cratic IN the world. This
statement is made in dealing with the
revolution.
As to present-day conditions, the author
compares conditions in this country with
those in France. Democracy. with us
he says, Seems 10 mean government by
common consent for the common good.
Practically. so far as democracy has pros
pered In France, 1t has signiied even there
government for the common good, but
with the element of common consent de-
cidedly subordinate"