New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-28
FRENCH ESSAYS
Some Clever Studies in Poetry
and Humor.
Paris. September 20.

Emile Paul. It contains exceedingly
clever appropriations and sketches of
Musset. Petronlus. Shakespeare, Ra-
cine NAPOLEON. Baudelaire and Ingres.
and he finds something bright, fresh
| and original 10 say about each OIL
Them. NJ. Suares is very severe upon
Musset. "the child of the century
who is declared to be not a real poet
but n mere rhymester, who delighted IN
ventilating commonplace ideas and by
his skill in word manipulation passed
them off upon the world as poetry
Petronius. the man Of perfect taste
is portrayed in masterful way; the
author Of the "Satiricon" has perhaps
never before been presented with such
admirable precision and sympathetic
feeling. OF Baudelaire, NJ. Suares
writes that "he never wrote line to
flatter any one or for the greed or
money" A delicious criticism OF Toll
stoy is found in imaginary converse
tons between the oak trees or 1as-
| naia- Poliana during a midwinter twi-
| light. NJ. Suares gives Il striking pct
ure Of Zacconi, the italian actor, whom
he considers the finest realistic artist
on the stage, and INDUCES in some
| sound criticisms about contemporary
acting. This little book Of 80 pages Is
brinful Of observation, sly humor and
| playful irony.
NJ. Pierre Mile. journalist. and SYM
bolc caricaturist, has composed an
excellent little book, entitled. "Anthol-
ogie des Humoristes Francais Con-
temporains," which brings the reader
in touch with the foremost Partisan
humorists Of the day The short. crisp
| Introductory notices that precede well
/ chosen passages at once define, cN-
nlain and criticise the works Of each
author. Among the humorists dis
sected by NJ. Pierre Mile are Maurice
| Donnay. Courteline. Tristan Bernard,
Franc Nohain. Feydeau, Hennequ.n.
Miguel Zamacois. Alphonse ALIAS
"Gyp," Alfred Capus. Andre Mycho and
Edmond Rostand. a delightful de-
scription is given Of Maurice Donnay 8
poem about the snake that found its
way into the intricate curved mol
low tubes Of the French hunting horn
! the cor de chasse"-and never could
get out again. because II entered By
the big end. and was unable 10 emerge
by the narrow mouthpiece. The chap
Ter that makes the best reading Is
/ that devoted 10 the persistent humor
| 4 contemporary romantic poets, the
salient example being the author OF
! "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Chante-
cler." Infinite mirth is found In the
! "buffonneries lyriques" OF Miguel Ia
macois. An instructive portion Of NJ.
! Pierre Miles book relates 70 the eH-
traordinary influence eXerted on mod
ern French humor by Edgar Allan Poe,
| Bret Harte and Mark Twain.
NJ Henry Bdou. essayist and dra-
matte critic, has written his first novel.
It is called Marie de Sainte-Heu-
reuse" and deserves a place on the
same shelf with Anatole Frances "Lys
| Rouge" Rene Auterive, twenty years
old. falls in love with Marie de Sainte-
Heureuse, who is thirty. They both be-
long 70 that agreeable class OF cult
! waited French bourgeoisie, and their
! appreciations and feelings are char
acterized by artistic refinement, deli
cacy Of feeling and perfect taste. Rene
and Marie seem admirably suited 10
each other, except for the difference OF
age. They pass hours at time chat
ting delightfully."- on all sorts of sub
iects Rene manifests the sentimental
ardor Of a young man OF good family,
educated by Jesuit priests Marie, YER
| satile, witty capriciCus and light
hearted, arouses the deep affection Of
her young but serious cousin, and
ceases TO he "sainte" at the very mo-
ment that she discovers that It IL no
longer possible for her TO be happy.
Like Galatea, she vanishes amid the
willows. Is this VIRTUE" or cruelty?
Rene has read Marivaux. Stendhal and
also Mile. de Scudery, passing through
Goethe, Heine and Ernest Lavisse. II
would be unfair 10 disclose how he
energies from his sorrow. He does so
at last, but Marie de Sainte- Heu-
reuse" like lie Lys Rouge ends with
an enigma.
lie Frein" C"The Brake'D, by NJ.
Paul Flat, is certainly one Of the best
Of this years crop Of psychological
novels. 1t deals with a young married
couple OF incompatible temperaments
The husband Is sensitive poetic youth
who has no control over his wife. who,
on the other hand, Is terribly authorita-
tive, and whose society ambition has
warped her moral sense. She is not
supplied with brakes" The husbands
friend appears on the scene with his
elder brother. who, after an unhappy
marriage, became priest The Young
wife ventures to the edge Of the abyss.
but ~ saved by superb effort Of the
priest, whose vigorous, healthful moral
| ity whistles through this grove Of sick
| ly sentimental trees like Texas biz-
| zard.
J A delightful novel for young folk