The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10
a CERTAIN New York painter is in I
~ the habit of depicting more or less
conventional fouraS aSnaofailv


those of Biblical story-the body of each
being surrounded with an aura of a dis
tinctive color. If it happens that two of
these figures stand close together, those
parts of the aurae which overlap assume
still third color made up of the COM
bination Of the two original colors. The
canvases OF this artist came to my mind
when / read Jules Romains's latest novel,
"Iucienne." The resemblance is, to be
sure. slight. being more particularly re-
semblance of intention than of execution.
1t Is some satisfaction, however. to have
hit upon even that, for "Lucenne" is in
deed an unusual artistic production.
The fundamental data of this novel are
simple enough. It Is the story of young
piano teacher who carries off the fiance of
one of two sisters, her pupils Lucienne.
entering the house of Nine Barbelenet to
give music lessons to her daughters, Cecile
and Marthe. makes the acquaintance of
their cousin. Pierre Lefebvre Nine Barbele-
net had planned that this Pierre should
marry the elder daughter: but he, learning
Of this. becomes cold to Cecile, showing
greater sympathy with Marthe. thus arous-
ing Cecile's jealousy and her sisters hopes
The fact is. however. he falls in love with
Lucienne. who returns his affection.
Cectle having noted this fact uses it to
make her sister suffer. Then she and her
mother arrange a dinner for Pierre and
Lucienne. but during the dinner she tries
to commit suicide. being saved only by the
fortunate intuition of Lucienne.
The opportunities which the traditional
novelist would see In these data are plain.
The crucial matter for him woulI be the
difficult situation Of Lucienne, bound on
one side by her love and on the other by
a feeling of obligation or deicacy toward
her employer and her pupils To explain
her conduct in this situation this novelist
would analyze her character. the circum-
stances of her life, and in accordance with
the nature Of these would explain her de-
liberations and her resolves. Then. as i'm
portant elements bearing directly on her
situation, he would carry his study further
He would certainly make much o. Cecile
She acts out OF jealousy. He would show
her nature; would reveal ner planning
her rejoicings and her diss ppointments
He would proceed likewise for other char
acters in the book-Mme Barbelenet, no
doubt: possibly. too, Marths ara Pierre
In other words. the fundamental data of
"Lucienne" would naturally lead this tradi-
tional novelist to description of conflict
and adjustment between persons requiring
the analysis of character, an explanation OF
motives, and description of circumstances
making possible and plausible the various
incidents of the novel Oddly enough. in
the novel as it has come to us from Jules
Romains's hands. it Is Just these things
that are the least prominent; none of them
is developed In detail and not few are
completely ignored. To understand how
this can be we should look at the former
record of Jules Romans as a writer. and
the nature Of the peculiar interest to be
found In his books.
For any one familiar with French let
tiers the name of Jules Romaines is con-
nected with that of literary school. Paris
Is q hotbed of small schools-by actual
count there have been forty or more such
In the last twoscore years. Only few OF
these have. naturally enough, left any
trace. but among these few one of the
most important Is that of the Undnimists
of which Jules Romaines was the founder
and the high priest. Taking their cue
from one of the most important develop
ments Of modern psychology. the Unani-
nsists became interested. some fifteen years
ago. in the psychology of crowds. or the
group soul. BY this group soul IS meant
the attributes and activity which emanate
from an aggregation of persons. 1t is not