The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-02

passion of his colleagues. their hatred D
cleicalism. but his philosophical osltioi
was narrower and firmer than theirs :
1t was through Dubois that the yotml
journalist found his way into a new circle
Of friends and a new field Of activity
The author Of the book before us shows
wherein Sainte- Beuve's. relation to The
Romantic movement nas too often been
misunderstood. He has been regarded
merely AZ a disciple. Naturally, indeed,
his poetical achievement has been over
Swallowed by those OF Hugo and that Of
Musset; its peculiar quality and aims,
however, should give It q certain lustre
OF it's own. In our authors opinion
Sainte- Beuve's value as an adviser OF the
school has never been sufficiently recog-
nized. Difficulties Of q personal nature,
the unbridled ardor OF those whom he
could have helped and perhaps also some
envy and ohagrin on his own,part whom he
Witnessed their amazing success, short
ened the period OF his intimacy with the
Romantic poets For some years. never
theless, and those the most decisive
years, he was next TO Hugo the most in
iuential member OF tho Romanticist
group. 1t has generally. indeed. been
taken for granted that he did lees for
Hugo, Musset and Vigny than they did
for him. Prof. Harper does not hesitate
to maintain that In much he was really
their master. His acquaintance with
books and especially With the tendencies
Of thought in foreign countries was
greater than theirs. He WA u~nexoelled
in quiokness Of apprehension. when We
consider the relatively conventional die
ton OF Hugo before he knew Sainte-
Beuve, when we note that Sainte- Beuve's
chief contribution to tho polemics Of Ro-
manticism was a treatise on sixteenth
century poetry. and then remember that
he entered upon this task before be met
Hugo but after he had grasped the Words
WORKMAN theory and learned to admire
and initiate WORDSWORTH poems. 1t seems
clear that he deserves moro credit than
he has hitherto received for priority in
the matter OF simphfed poetic diotion.'
Defining. then. the limits of Ssinte-
Beuve's indebtedness to Romanticism.
Prof. Harper points out that the three fea-
lures which were to he 30 marked in nine
teenth century literature and are gen.
orally associated with Romantioisn-
Qualification Of the individual. the per-
ception Of poetic values In common OBJ
jeots and incidents and the enlargement
Of poetic diction so IA to include much of
the language of ordinary lfe-were APP
proved by Sainte-Beuve before his ou-
nection with Hugo and the other Roman
tic poets, a connection. by the way, which
began in January. 1927. In the preceding
the Globe had printed several
long extracts from Hugo's volume of
-Odes ct Ballades.- and about two months
it published Sainto- Beuve's review
of the work.
Our author, who has read the review
In question. say that a critic surveying
the whole career OF Victor Hugo would
hardly be able to put his finger more
on the poets characteristic
weaknesses and excuses than Sainte-
Beuve did from the symptoms before
him In January. 1927. The review nat
urally led TO personal acquaintance.
Sainte-Beuve was oaptivated by Victor
Hugo's foroeful personality, while for
Nine. Hugo he concei we'd a melancholy
passion. The first fruit Of his intimacy
with the Romsnticists was the book
he published in 1928 under the
title Of 'Histoica and Critical Account
Of French Poetry and the French Drama
in the 81 Iteenth Century No allow
anoe need be made for the. writer's
although he was then but ~.
he was already a learned man and a
writer. neither making apologies
nor expecting considerable ON. Prof. Har-
per testifes that in it great wealth OF
and abundance Of general views
are displayed. though We miss the char
clearness and the living artcu-
speech OF his later compositi ons.'
Az compared with Sainte- Beuve's best
The style is too ornate.
There is no doubt that this work was a
precious support to Hugo and his friends.
Il demonstrated that their supposed
Innovations were not all without prece-
lent. 1t added the dignity Of scholar
hip TO the glories Of art Saints-Beuve
vas now in all but his heart Of hearts a
-omanticist. His new friends received
,im cordially as n valuable recruit, and
re did good service. Yet even in the
lush Of his new enthusiasm, when q fat
ering perspective Of friendships was
opening before him, the young critic
,entured to offer technical advice TO thu |
llready famous poet. In a letter TO
1ugo, written February, 1927, and printed
or the first time in 1904, he pulled 70 pieces
he 'tragi-comedy' as he called .Crom-
yell,' which he had heard read.
In April, 1929. Sainte-Beuve published
/ volume named Life. Poems and
Thoughts Of Joseph Delorme,' who Is a
Sainte-B euve, consumptivs. mel
misunderstood gnawed by
,assiou. This book contains besides
supposed biography about sixty pieces
# verse, including free trauslations from
Wordsworth. Keats. Kirke White and
and a number OF detached
in prose. which. according to
MIR author are in their kind superior
o the poems. being condensed essays
q criticism, veritable diamonds for brill
and hardness. Prof. Harper dis
in cuisines in the poems two chief strains
which refuse TO mingle: one q strain of
description Of familiar things,
with reference to their inhu-
nee upon the emotions; the other purely
,oluptuous.' The former showed an
ndeavor to initiate Wordsworth. He
made a valiant attempt to break down
he tradition which while willing to
Omit to the privilege Of poetic descrip-
lon distinguished persons or very humble
nruons dahara the avAra ga arfisap