New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
John GalSworthy
on the Spirit
of France
TOHN GALSWORTHY pays homage to
\ the marvellous spirit of the French

TOHN GALSWORTHY pays homage 70
the marvellous spirit of the French
~ in an article published in "The At
lantic Monthly" for October. With all the
bereavement and long suffering among
them. he writes, it would be odd if the gay
and critical French nature" didn't rebel
didn't seek some outlet ain apathy or bitter
criticism" And goes on TO say:
with all this poignant bereavement and
long-sufering among them, 1t would be odd
indeed if the gay and critical French nature
did not rebel and seek some outlet In apathy
Or bitter criticism. The miracle IS that they
90 on and on, holding fast Easily de-
pressed, and as easily lifted up again, grum-
BILE they must and will, but their hearts are
not really down to the pitch of their
voices; their love of country, which with
them is love Of self-the deepest of all
kinds of patriotism-is too absolute. These
two virtues or vices q as you please)-criti-
cal faculty and amour prOpre, or vanity II
you prefer it--are in perpetual encounter.
The French are at once not at all proud OF
themselves and very proud. They destroy
all things French, themselves included, with
their brains and tongues, and exalt the
same with their hearts and by their &C
tions To the reserved English mind, always
on the defensive, they seem TO give them
selves away continually, but he who under
stands sees it to be all part of that per-
petual interplay Of opposites which makes
I'D the French character and secures for it
in effect a curious vibrating equilibrium.
Intensely alive, is the chief impression
one has Of the French. They balance be-
tween head and heart at top speed in sort
of electric and eternal see-saw. II is this
perpetual quick change which gives them
it seems to me, their special grip on actual
ity; they never fly into the cloud-regons of
theories and dreams; their heads have not
time before their hearts have interviewed
their hearts not time before their heads cry,
'Hold' They apprehend both worlds, but
with such rapid alienation that they sur
render % neither. Consider how clever and
comparatively warm is that cold thing re
ligion' in France. I remember so well the
old cure Of our little town coming up to
lunch, his interest in the cooking, in the
practical matters of our life, and in wider
affairs, too; his enjoyment Of his coffee and
cigarette; and the curious suddenness with
which something seemed 80 come over him
one could hear his heart saying: % my
people, here am I wasting my time ] must
run TO YOU / him in the courtyard
talking 20 one Of our poilus, not about his
soul, but about his body; stroking his
shoulder softly and calling him mon cher
fls.' Dear old man! Even religion here
does not pretend to more than it.can achieve
help and consolation TO the bewildered
and the suffering It uses forms, smiling
little at them.
"The secret Of French culture lies in this
vibrating balance; from quick marriage OF
mind and heart, reason and sense, in the
French nature, all the clear created forms
OF French life arise, forms recognized as
forms with definite utility attached Con-
trolled expression is the result Of action
and reaction. Controlled expression is the
essence Of culture because it alone makes a
sufficiently clear appeal in world which is
itself the result Of the incalculable inter
play Of complementary or dual laws and
forces French culture is near 70 the real
heart Of things, because IL has sort Of
quick sanity that never loses It's way, or,
when IL does, very rapidly RECEIVERS the mid
die OF the road. II has the two capital de-
feets OF its virtues II il too fond Of forms,
and too mistrustful The French nature Is
profoundly cynical. Well, IL is natural! The
French lie Just half way between north and
south; their blood is too mingled for en-
thusissno and their culture too old {"