New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-21
z HUYsMANs's novel "En
Route" which has recently
- been brought out in q new

n = been brought out in q new
American edition by E. P.
Dutton & Co.. is a work Of rare and
profound spiritual significance. It de-
scribes the cleansing and redemption
Of human soul, debased by nameless
orgies, through the healing, mystical
qualities Of the Catholic Church. This
book occupies an intermediate position
IN the authors trilogy Of novels. LA
Bas" shows Durtal, the more or less
photographed central figure Of the
trilogy, stepped in the excuses of the
morbid and obscene cult Of Satanism.
LA Cathedrale" is a novel Of ultimate
reconciliation with the Church. "En
Route" depicts Durtal's period Of
transition. his desperate struggles to
bring his life into conformity with his
new found faith.
The gorgeous ritualism and extern
sive mystical literature Of the Catho
lie Church play an important part in
Durtal's experience. He is presmi-
nently an artist, keenly sensitive to
beauty in sculpture, painting and mu-
sic, and easily shocked by crudities in
worship. His mind is strongly mysti-
cal; he is powerfully attracted by the
visions of Ruysbroeck, Saint Bona
ventura, Saint Francis, Saint Teresa
and the many other pious men and
women of the Middle Ages, who were
receptive to supernatural visitations.
Durtaps return to faith Is much fscili-
tated by q discreet and sympathetic
able, who sends him to churches where
his artistic sensibilities will not be
offended and gives him books suitable
to his mental and spiritual tastes.
Finally, at the abbe's suggestion,
Durtal goes to a Trappist monastery,
where he Is overcome with admiration
and humility at the sight Of the SIM
pie, austere, devout lives Of the monks,
who are denied even the privilege of
speaking to each other. Here the crust
of sin which has lain heavily upon his
soul Is finally broken and he brings
himself to confession and communion.
The sensual visions and skeptical
thoughts which assail him in the holy
calm of the monastery are described
with great dramatic power. Durtal
seeks counsel from one of the monks.
who analyses his temptations as fol-
lows:
LET US leave on one side tho sensual
visions; such as they have been were
produced Independently Of your will,
painful, no doubt, but Intellectual.
Doubts about faith are more dan
gerous.
"Steep yourself in this truth: that
besides prayer there exists but one
efficacious remedy against this evil, to
despise it.
Satin is pride; despise him, and at
once his audacity gives way; he
speaks; shrug your shoulders, and he is
silent. You must not discuss with
him; however good reasoner you may
be, you will be worsted, for he is q
most tricky dialectician."
Into the story Of Durtals spiritual
adventures NJ. Huysmans weaves many
observations about the proper rendi-
ton Of ecclesiastical music and about
the writings Of various saints and
mystics. He shows the subtle rela-
ton between the various religious
chants and the various emotions, rang
ing from deepest humility to profound
est exaltation, which possess the re-
ligious soul on various occasions. He
points out the inner meaning Of the
Journalism that is toe often ignorantly
condemned and despised.
NJ. Huysmans's book possesses a Pc
culiar significance for America, even
though some of its passages and refer
ences may not be very readily under
stood. In religion, as in education,
we have been too much guided by ma
terial standards. In applying the tests
of commercial success, in demanding
visible and tangible results" in the
field of religion, we often lose sight of
the fact that beauty Of the soul, like