New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
RENE BAZIN

Bazins peculiar power an artist lies in his
belief IN the soul Of man. his deep love for IL,
hts persistent search for its presence in every
form. He is an ardent Catholic. penetrated with
the melancholy championship characteristic Of
modern French Catholicism yet his theology is
never obtruded and. except for special tender
when he speaks OF priests or nuns. it would
not be easy 10 define his Christianity merely
from his work. He has watched with unf1inch-
ing eyes lonely struggles of spirit, failures, tragic
degredations, futile victories He has not trifed
with truth or used miraculous lnteTVenTlOnS and
unreal influences 10 help his theories; he has
simply believed in the human SOUL and sought
for il Thus his work which blinks at no gross
ness squalor, sheds unreal glamour
over hard and distressing facts. Yet remains
sentiaIIy hopeful It recognizes, instead of ig-
nortng, the mystery which surrounds our being,
and finds in pathetic manifestations of heroism
and tenderness and a wisdom beyond this
worlds evidence Of the slow and painful pro-
gression Of spirit
The heroism of unknown. obscure Ives-w1at
pathos and what encouragement there is in the
thought OF them! II is NJ. Bazins peculiar gift
10 see and understand the little hidden graces Of
the soul which may bring tears TO the eyes from
their apparent futiity and wasted effort but
which put certain pride into the heart OF COM
humanity. BaZn has also the faculty for
choosing incidents which, without hint being
given, really expressions Of of the
greatest movements and endeaVOrs, and not only
in France, but in all human nature.-Edith Lyt-
telton in The FortnightIy Review.
DIFFICULTIES OF SETTLEMENT WORK.
One important side Of Settlement work
must not be forgotten. A Settlement should be
hear in these days great deal about the need
Of training, about the necessity for experts in
every branch OF work. Training is requisite for
church workers as well as for any other kind Of
worker, and the standard demanded from the
women who do church work should he as high
as IL IS n any other department Of women's
activity. But the need IS so great that again
and again workers without experience or train
ing have to be accepted. Women and girls
employed IN Sunday schools who have a most
imperfect knowledge OF the subjects they are
called upon TO teach. District visitors are sent
into poor streets with guidance as to how
they are to meet the many problems that viii
confront them In many parishes they are still
allowed TO administer grocery tickets and give
relief at their discretion, pursuing those
methods which have made us or late ask our
selves whether unWise philanthropy has not
been one Of the most prolific causes In creating
that vast mass OF the unemployabie who have
lost all sense os real independence and all desire
for real work The clergy are not to blame for
making use of inefficient workers, since the COM
nIInity does not supply them with better, and II
ie irnnosstbIe for most Of them 10 find time 10
train their workers themselves. They do their
hest 'rhev hold classes for the Sunday school
TEACHERS and meetings for the district visitors,
but these are not always very regularly at
tended Neither is IL possible for the clergy
Themselves to understand and study all the many
Gnestions connected with the weubeing OF
women and children. the organization of family
life the sanitation Of the home In our crowded
cities. go =,