The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29

uoulo Nlb Primary luba VI NHo vonoy No
sentiments Of which that idea was but the
product and expression became deeper
and more violent, the accent became more
full Of passion. Thus in one Of the replies
We read, and as we read may well imagine
that his disciple, Marat, 10 speaking 'LuI-
ury feeds a hundred poor In our cities and
kills a hundred thousand IN the country,
| The money that passes from the hands Of
| the rich 10 those Of the artisans who fur
nish their superfuities Ia lost for the sub
sistence OF the agricultural laborer, and the
latter has no coat because others need rib
bons.' Rousseau went on to say that the
waste Of articles which serve 10 feed men
alone renders luxury odious TO humanity.
We must have snuces in our kitchens, and
that is why 80 many Sick people lack broth
Wemusthave hqueuns on our tables, and that
is why peasants drink water. We must
have powder for our wigs, and that is why
30 many poor have no bread 1t seems
10 NJ. Lemaitre that in such outbursts was
exemphfed the revolutionary turn OF mind
and style, and the lecturer a understand
how that burst OF eloquence must have
shaken ~deliciously numbers OF dainty
women belonging to the nobility or to
financial circles"
The point TO bear in mind 10 that this first
discourse by reason Of It's wonderful sue
cess took possession Of It's author. By a
we'll known phenomenon Of auto-suggestion
Jean jacques modelled himself on his book
He wished to resemble the image which
this book gave Of him. Accordingly he
now undertook his moral reform, and for
that purpose his early Protestant training
at Geneva and his subsequent experience
az a convert to Catholicism we're, no doubt,
Of help. Naturally his reformation was
at the first merely exterior. NJ. LemAitre
thinks that we shall never know. and We
may be sure that rousseau never knew
what share Of II belonged 10 his desire TO
s~ingulanze himself and what share be-
longed TO the desire Of becoming a better
man. What he himself said was that after
a serious illness he formed this design
OF conforming his life 10 his maXims,
paying no heed whatever TO the judgments
OF men; the noblest design," he adds, -or
at least the most useful TO virtue that ever
mortal conceived First Of all he aban-
doned every sign Of politeness, but he was
frank enough 10 give the reason. my foolish
and sullen tmidity, which I could not over
come, arising from my fear Of offending
decorum, induced me 10 take the resolu-
ton Of tramphngit under foot; out Of shame
facedness / played the part Of a caustic
cynio. l affected 10 despise the ~pohteness
Of which | was incapable He reformed
his costume also. Il abandoned he says,
all gold trimmings and white stockings;
| gave up my sword and wore a round wig;
/ sold my watch, saying 10 myself with I'M
speakable JOY: I shall henoeforth never
need TO know the time Of day He like
wise refused all presents, and OIL this point
thenceiorward showed himself morbidly
sensitive, He abandoned the lucrative post
Of cashier which he occupied in the service
OF a Farmer-Genera because the place
was incompatible with his principles, and
In order 10 earn his livelihood undertook
10 copy music at ten cents a page. He lived
mainly by this work, II seems, during almost
all the remaining part Of his life which he
spent in France, However mixed may
have been the motives that caused Rousseau
TO resolve TO become a better man, IL Is
certain that no reformation ever achieved
90 great a society success. Rousseau the
savage, Rousseau the impoBte, Rousseau
without sword or watch, and especially
Rousseau the copyist Of music, put the fash
ionable Paris Of his day all topsy-turvy.
Every fine lady wished for music copied by
his hand. Our author opines that II Toll
stoi, who since his announcement Of the
world has become a cobBer, we're TO settle
In Paris all the fair and rich socialists would
20 10 him for their shoes.
1t Is a melancholy fact that at the very
moment when Rousseau was obtaining this
success Of edihcati6n and was 30 we'll
pleased with himself we are compelled 10
believe that he had already placed, or was
going to place, his third and fourth children
in an asylum for foundlings. Although
from a socialist point Of view this act might
possibly be palliated 1t tends TO prove that
Rousseau's conversion TO goodness was not
vet OF the heart. That ultimately, how
ever, he became q good man in the sense
OF a pure man. a kind man, a self-sacrihc-
ing man, the author OF this volume would
not for a moment deny, though he init
mates that Rousseau never ceased 10 like
TO be courted by great ladies or altogether
rid himself of the comylacent vanity q I
celebrated writer.