New-York tribune., 1910-07-31

--r--- - n TREE OK THE MALL. By Anatole
T5-a-re 4 translation by NJ P WiIcocks
Svo m % TIE John Lane Company
r Is always pleasure 10 welcome new vol
-,-7e IN the translation Of the complete works
= Anarole France which is going forward
---,7z- The eai-orsh5r Of NJ. Frederic Chapman,
f-- one -----s with special appreciation to The
Film Tree on The Mall NJ Bergeret is in this
r-o.- The tneznaustzbly beguiling NJ. Bergeret
and -ffs means. Of course. that the author is in
-ra mood. giving play 70 his satire at its best.
How 5a1fls-elr touched is that satire with
--as- frhara huruor does Anatole France flick
-r-s tolhIas Of his time Provincial life has no
secrets from this epicurean dweller IN Paris.
He exposes is petty characteristics with al
ar.-ho-7-v suggestive Of esoteTic initiation He
IS d5sc--sl-e as is his won't and occasionally,
as IS also customary with him, 10 no very per-
s-asive ru-ro=e. The episode Of Nine. Hous-
eier-s taking If. for example. is as unneces-
ss~v Is K is --sreless. But Il Is only al epi-
s56=
The r-r5 u TINS Chronicle in so far as il
has plot II all relates 10 the competition OF
tuo ca--al--er for The bishopric Of Tourcoing.
Tre abb L-a--aE1e Is piOUs, learned and q
-i-id E5-ellsar. Vain OF his scholarship, he Is
nevertheless Too noble Of soul 10 stoop TO po-
-5-Ieal intrigue The Abbe Guitrel, consumed
t7v ambition. Goes not shrink IN the least from
employing all me mundane resources that prom
is= 70 strengthen his candidacy. So these two
move slowly toward The goal, each prohtlng
nore OF Jess by lie good Offices Of certain
friends. How : the struggle 10 end? IF the
reader cares -r-le The author cares less Inc
essential stun Of the book Is found il the por-
t-ature OF provincial types, lay and ecclesiast-
cal. anG IN Tie abundant conversation, rich II
The minds Of these people are opened for Us,
and uneUns-ilusly they disclose their virtues
and their eaknesses, especially their weak
nesses. Modest or vicious, clever OF dull, they
are unif0rruL- amusing as Anatole France Wit
ry analyzes them. and then. besides, there Is
always n. Bergeret. Here is one Of his typical
s9Lloqui=s. ms sardonic profession OF faIth n
The government Of the republic:
she is 51s-5ee~ ny father. professor of rhet-
orc ~ -le college Of Saint-Omer- useo 70 sa2
6ut sic j. ease Monsieur Table if you had a
s0al .ess exalted -es- serious. and more gwen 70
..s-inC -.a.gsrs I should conide TO you that the
present I.eE-5l.e tle Republic OF 1880, ce-ISlLt@
secs n r5- H-f-g admired She exacts but 4
r-ta.1E re-cea- and even renounces esteem. 1t
Is elyIE. Tor 10 live. This IS ner Solt Ut
sire, il Is D. lawful one. The humb1est beings
ling 10 life Like jhe voodcutter OF the fabullsC
IKE tie aug-.-tarv Of Mantua, VINO 50 Sft@atlS
asroHlsfed al youag fool Of q Romeo, she fears
death. and j. = ner only fear She mistruSts
princes 1u- soldiers. In danger OF 0eath, Siie
would 5- .e-E ll 10 handle. Fear would max
ley abandon -r- OWL nature and would renueT Aer
'-rVclCLS That would be pity. But as long d
they make %. attempt on her life. and as long dS
l1ey attack only aer honor she Is good naLuieo-
i GOV TerTr-L- this kind suits me and slNtS, Il @
confidence many others We're fheFcllesS
iAf0ugE r-f-aS-aern' So many others mace SUI (
u tnelr gl-S. their grandeur and their prosper
-[g 10y CrIei-leS- Sc many others nave pouie e1
1-t blood for -ueir prerogatlyeS and their ma
-s1s- 4 fortunate lack which keeps her
ty Us Provided tE8- she lives. she IS cOiLetit l
she rules Iazlv and should be tempted 70 praise
-eT Tor thar more 1nau for all the rest Afu sllce
Sc go.-rra laE-E. / forgive her for governing
Iad-l. suspect men al all times OF hdNlLs
NilcL exaggerated the necessity OF eoNeFnil''-lLI
e-c ile benefits Of q strong administration -
an. strong lEIstratlons make nations SBe "a
1iic prosperous But the nations nave SuIIeF"Q -
lle1 az through 1I.- centuries Tor IAelE SralueuI
aAL prpsp@r-rE that / fancy they would Teilouilce
IT. S-lrE has cost them too dear Tor l-leHI 10 re-
rtAl TIE -ag- that present rulers nave otlly
procured Tor r- the colonial variety or II II re
.A--essr--~E gt all government should al i4al pe
-.seoterea Tie Republic OF NJ Carnor would ilaN {,
pe'eG tie Way for tlls priceless discover -Ai--
me Olg.r 20 feel some gratitude toward - Tor
-lat Taking every thing into consideration Iee1
---ca attached TO our institutions.
mus, -n has musing fashion, does Anatoie
france LJerate cloud Of ideas. sometimes
'Afe"Gly wholesome. sometimes almost cruelty
foAlea- and invariably provocative Of thought.
he leaves his subject hanging in the air. That
: A-s Wy. Il is . diverring way.