New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-30

through it's detractors and satirists, from
St Evremond and Pron TO Daudet, than
for the aggregate of its achievement
through near three centuries, and yet 1t
has maintained its dignity, it has re-
tanned the worlds respect and stimulated
its emulation. the standard bearer and
the supreme symbol of French culture.
This history Of the Academy begins
with Cts earliest beginnings. the friendly
and informal meetings at the house Of
Valentin Conrart. in Paris. of small
coterie Of French men Of letters for pur-
poses of general discussion and. more
especially Tor mutual criticism of their
literary labors I'm the writing. This was
IN 1929 BY 1862 these nine friends had
fallen into the habit Of calling them
selves collectively the Academy.
Under the law Of the land their meetings
were secret. but one Of their number a
friend Of Richelieu. broke his pledge Of
secrecy. with the far from deplorable re-
suit that the mighty Cardinal suggested,
In 1884 the incorporation Of this "acad-
envy" under state authority and under his
own august protection. The proposition
was bitterly unwelcome to the nine, but
Rlchclieu had the power to forbid their
further meetings; they had no choice IN
the matter and aCcedCd with the best
grace possible i'm the circumstances.
organization was begun at once, the
membership was fixed at forty and the
principle Of residence in Paris adopted
10 insure the presence Of members at
the meetings The Cardinal interested
Louis XIII who issued letters patent.
which the Parliament Of Paris, fearing,
I'm an obscure way, that this new body
threatened further curtailment Of It's al
ready reduced powers. refused to regis
Tor until the issuance of three iettrCS de
cGchCf gave warning TO its obstinate
members The Academy. which began
it's formal assemblies carly in 1854, was
at first popularity known by different
names. but officially never by another
than that OF Academic Francaise.
Among it's earliest aims was the com
piation Of the great academic dictionary
~ the French language. The first inno-
walton TO bc made by the members, by
the way. was To substitute the WORD
0oad6micicu for the older dcddcmiNc.
Richeiieu's influence is seen in the criti-
cal examination of Comedies "Cld.
literary cause ctlebrc. which the author
reviews at proper length.
on the death OF the Cardinal the young
Acadomy was threatened with cXtInc-
ton. Louis XIII had taken no further in
tcrest i'm it's fortunes after granting the
letters Of patent but. his death occurring
within a year after that Of his great
minister. the Chancellor Seguicr' already
n member of the Academy. gave il his
potent protection for thirty years
Mazariu having been judged ineligible
for the honor on account Of his ltahan
birth ON Stguier's demise Louis XIV
himself accepted the protectorship and
assigned to the Academy commodious
APARTMENT in the Louvre for It's session
lie gave it also the exclusive privilege Of
publishing q dictionary in his dominions
and the Academy repaid him with the
frankest nsttcry II was Louis further.
who introduced the famous fGUffWls. an
incident Of which several versions are
current. III OF which are given by Mr.
Robertson. who also remembers fully the
services rendered 10 the Academy by
Louiss great minister Colbert.
Under Louis XIV the Academy which
under his predecessor had expelled the
Abbs De ST P.orre for proposing arbi-
ire ton and denouncing the Sun King s
ruinous wars. became the stronghold OF
the liberal philosophers and conse-
auently offensive to the Well Beloved