Evening star., 1931-12-15
I'll D1ARIO, La Paz.-Dr. Alberto
- de Villegas delivered an address.
or read an essay, whichever you
IL prefer, for there was combina-

- de Vlllegas delivered an address,
or read an essay. whichever you
IL prefer, for there was combina-
ton Of both, in his lecture at
the Athenaeum upon the contemporary
French literature of Maurice Barres.
Born eight years before the Franco
German War, this writer passed
through, as child, al the experiences
OF what the great Victor Hugo called
the year terrible" of France.
"Barres," declared DR.. Villegas, "who
published his first book in 1888. when
he was 26. had fresh in his mind all
the horrors and decadences Of war In
this little work. 'Taches dEncre' CInk
SpctsD, he characterized themes of
strife and human personalities under
stress, afterward developed more elabo-
rate.y in Under the Eyes Of the Bar
barians, Bernice's Garden and "A Free
Man
All these are studies OF our vaunted
civilization, but rather of civilization
degenerated by domestic strife and in
ternational war. Alas, that any culture
worthy of the name can retain selfish
ness and hatred within its conscious
ness! During long periods cf peace-or
comparatively long, for few are the
epochS unmarried by warS-the animal
nature and instincts of men seem
merely to Slumber. When aroused they
are more vile and passionate than ever.
No matter to what degree OF refinement
and intelligence We may be raised, when
opportunity is offered fer a choice we
prefer the bad to the good, and, worse
than that, are ready to defend our
unworthy choices with our very lives.
"All these unlovely traits OF human
kind Barres portrayed most ruthlessly
in his earlier novels. Now he has de-
picted in Ell Yo' cMyselfD and 'Potocsi'
a series of pictures Of our latter times
times even more demoralized by the
debauchery of war, which carries all
the best of human qualities down to a
common destruction.
When life itself becomes vile and
cheap, what chance is there fer a sur
vival of the gentler arts and graces?
We have forgotten charity, kindness, the
ideals and decencies of conduct. War
has need only of every antithesis of
virtue-and all these vices we have en-
braced. Men cherish these days profits
above principles, lust above law and
love, and disgrace above dignity.
Women, too, set a momentary popu-
larity above the practice of true virtu-
Gus living, and are willing to descend
to any depths of degeneracy and pleas
ure. if, in the practice, they show a
modern sophistication and exploit a
worldly fashion, whether it be in scant
covering for their bodies, or deadly doc
trines for their souls. AS men and
women have loosened their grasp on the
good, they have tightened it on the bad,
until today divorce gambling, drunken
ness and indulgence in narcotics and
nicotine are the principal diversions Of
those who through their influence and
position should be instead helpful ex-
ample for the less responsible members
Of the race.
"Our depression resulted not so much
from our financial and industrial re-
verses as from our mental and moral
bankruptcy. We preferred pleasure and
vice to diligence, sobriety and virtue,
and now we are paying the price Thus
has Maurice Barres perceived our
descent to poverty and grief, and thus
has he typified it in his dramatic mar
ratives."