OCT. 15, 1866.

OUR CONTINENTAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Paris, August 17, 1866.

66

I have alluded, he lived entirely alone. He passed among the common people of the town (who had never heard of a Protestant) as a Jesuit, and was detested. Nevertheless, a more highminded, honorable, thoroughly honest man never breathed. When he was persuaded he was in the right, he was as firm as a rock; he might have been slain, (who is safe from the vulgar mob's frenzy: does not our Saviour on the Cross tower above the angry multitude as the Eternal protestation of Right against Might, and Eternal pledge of Right's ultimate supremacy?) he could not have been forced to recant. He died after a life of hard, honorable labor, and not a dozen people were to be found following his coffin to the grave. It gives me satisfaction to record M. Emile Angier and M. Victorien Sardou were two of the ten people who attended his funeral.

It was for some days rumored in Paris that M. Benjamin Pifteau had committed suicide in despair. The rumor proved unfounded. He had been in great peril of death by drowning, but had struggled to escape it with as much energy as if he had been a millionaire's son. Before the rumor was contradicted, a newspaper gave this sketch of his career: "His history is simple. He was a professor at Nantes; he quitted his college, came up to Paris, lived by hunger, and at last died by it. In the mean time the poor fellow had been the secretary of M. Alex. Dumas, who committed real cruelties with the best heart in the world, without ruffling his composure, without wounding his moral sense. M. Alex. Dumas always has too much money at the service of the wretched with whom he is unacquainted to think of those he knows. Consequently, Pifteau's functions were more glorious than lucrative. His plate was always set-with fifteen others-at M. Dumas's table. When M. Dumas was invited anywhere to dine, he said, with the best intention in the world: 'I'll bring Pifteau with me, if it will not inconvenience you." But the unfortunate secretary did not receive at the dessert the boots, shirts, and waistcoats of which he stood in absolute need. This is the way M. Alex. Dumas paid him. At that period of time M. Dumas published all sorts of stuff in the grand' Journal,' for which he was paid eight cents a line. Every hour an order for 100f. was presented to the cashier of this newspaper. In the afternoon Pifteau would call on the cashier; it was indispens ably necessary he should carry 200f. to M. Alex. Dumas, who was staying in the country, and who was expecting every moment ten guests and twelve bailiffs. When Plateau received the 200f. he would pull the cashier by the sleeve, and mysteriously say to him: 'Can't you advance 20f. to me personally Charge it to M. Dumas: You will do me a great favor.' I am very much afraid poor Pifteau never received any other pay except these 20f. pieces, conquered by main force."

I was unable in my last letter to give a sketch of the late M. Théodore Muret's life. I therefore begin this communication with an epitome of his career. He was born in 1808, and consequently was 58 years old at the time of his death. I know nothing of his early career. He was probably born in poverty, for he labored as none but the children of the poor can labor. He wrote plays, histories, novels; was for years chief editor of a provincial paper; and for a still longer period of time the dramatic critic of the Legitimist organ, "La Gazette de France." His best work is his last work: a history of France told by the pieces played in the Parisian theatres. It is piquant. He la bored assiduously on it; the mountains of newspapers and plays he examined to obtain materials for it were incredibly large, high, broad, and numerous. He said, after its publication: "That book has killed me;" and he spoke the truth. His other estimable works are a "History of Paris;" a History of Condé's Army;" and a "History of the Western War." He wrote, too, a good many pamphlets; one of them, "The Truth to Workmen, Peasants, and Soldiers," reached in 1849 a sale of 600,000 copies. One circumstance militated against the sale of his books, and indeed against the earthly success of his life. It was the same cause which has marred M. Guizot's life-M. Théodore Muret was a Protestant. The French have lost, except in company of the superiors on whom they depend for advancement or place, the manners of a dancing-master. Rudeness is quite fashionable. I do not believe there is a nation in the world so insensible to Right as the French are. I use Right in the sense Blackstone applies it when he speaks of the Rights of Persons and the Rights of Things. In this corrupt society, a Protestant is not unlike a man cased in steel armor walking the streets. He is not so nimble of motion as the other passers, and when they strike against each other the collision is broken by common yielding and by the elasticity of the soft cloth and softer flesh. Every blow given by the armor inflicts severe pain. The Protestant is encased in principles; there are actions of which he would not be guilty even in his closet; he has an inflexible rule of conduct, which governs even the ordinary deeds of life. So he is continually coming into collision with his neighbors, who have no rule of life except selfish convenience. M. Théodore Muret passed for a sort of Timon because he lived greatly alone. The truth is all Protestants in France live alone; they seem to be in and yet not of the country. They appear still to be Huguenots, and as such liable any day to be cut down by the sword, or burned at the stake, or broken on the wheel. In the provinces, they have a separate place in the burying-ground, which is hard by, if it be not parcel of the portion where suicides and the beheaded M. Alex. Dumas has made this reply to the forecriminals and infamous people are interred. Look going allegations: "You have announced that, as at the Jews with you. See how they form a city forgot to pay my secretaries when they quitted me, in your city, and a State in your State, and a so- they, dying of hunger, committed suicide by drownciety in your society. They are buried apart from ing. In the first place, M. Piftean quitted my seryou. They pray apart from you. How their boys vice nearly two years ago, and I am not rich enough are circumcised and their maids are married are to pay my secretaries pensions equal to their salmore or less mysteries to you. This is precisely aries. The government itself, which is far richer the situation of the Protestants in France. While M. Théodore Muret was the dramatic critic of "La Gazette de France" (a place he lost solely because he was a Protestant), he was to be seen, on the first performance of new pieces, all alone. Other critics were surrounded by those courtiers which ever hang around men in conspicuous places. While he was chief editor of the provincial paper to which

I

than I am, gives its servants after thirty years' service only half their salary; but gives nothing to them who remain fifteen, ten, five years, and es pecially only six months in its service. I must consequently confess I should not feel in the least guilty because one of my secretaries committed suicide eighteen months after he quitted me, or rather eighteen months after I quitted him. Still

ОСТ. 15, 1866.

less do I feel guilty when the secretary who was alleged to have committed suicide proves to be in as good order and as well-conditioned as any man can be. In good truth, when an accredited newspaper announces these things, it ought to ascertain whether they be true, for the following adventure has befallen me: I have had a secretary for the last three months. When he read in your newspaper that my secretaries drowned themselves because I did not pay them, he became alarmed; he grew afraid I would not pay him, and he would be obliged to drown himself. Consequently, although my account with him was square (for I paid him by the week and in advance), he put in his pocket 200f. I had ordered him to send to Marseilles; he slipped on his finger a ring the press at Havre gave me; he thrust under his arm Bouillet's Scientific Dictionary; he went off, and has never since returned. I did hope for one moment that, when M. "MY DEAR FRIEND: I am asked from every quarter Pifteau published a card in the newspapers to de- to continue Rocambole. Born in 'La Patrie,' he was clare he was not drowned, my runaway, cured of long a resident of 'Le Petit Journal.' The engagethe fear of not being paid, would bring me back my ment I have signed with 'La Presse Illustrée' inter200f., my ring, and my 'Bouillet's Scientific Dic-dicts me from giving the continuation to 'La Patrie' tionary.' Not a bit of it. All I have seen was his mother, who came to beg me not to prosecute her son, and who wept so bitterly I was obliged to console her by saying I gave her as a present the 200f., the ring, and the dictionary her son stole from me.

Ponson du Terrail is the butt of our witlings; there is no ridicule they do not try to throw on him. Nevertheless, no novel-writer is half so successful as he is; his pen brings him some $10,000 or $16,000 a year; and he has readers in all classes. M. Dentu, the publisher, said, the other day: "I published yesterday a new novel by him; this morning I received letters from one prince, two diplomatists, three statesmen, and five commercial travellers, ordering each one copy." It is stated as positively true that M. Guizot takes so deep an interest in "Les Aventures de Rocambole," he goes a mile to meet the postman who bears the newspaper which contains it! A writer who can enlist this interest is surely no ordinary author. Here is a note he has just addressed to the chief editor of "La Presse Illustrée," which in a few days assumes the title of "La Petite Presse."

or to 'Le Petit Journal'. I am assured my readers are impatient. Consequently, I shall publish 'Le Dernier Mot de Rocambole' in 'La Petite Presse' from next Monday. Yours,

"PONSON DU TERRAIL."

Here is a note from M. Emile Augier, addressed The last novel, "Pas de Chance," of this proto the chief editor of one of our daily papers:lific novelist is dedicated to M. Paul Dalloz, the "CROISSY, 16 August. manager of the "Moniteur." One phrase of the "Some newspapers have been good enough to dedication: "I have never hitherto had a co-laborannounce I have gone travelling. This false in- er," has raised some criticism. The rumor had telligence will probably produce little emotion on long been current that M. Albert Monnier was his 'Change, but it will prevent my friends from rap-co-laborer in nearly all his novels, and that he and ping at my door; so I pray you contradict it.

"E. AUGIER."

You may wonder why I record so insignificant a note. Because nothing is here really insignificant; even in these few lines one can detect French impatience of quiet even in the country. He is a lucky man who cannot assemble all his friends by taking the trouble to write three or four letters. When a man appeals to the daily newspapers to summon them, he wants not friends' visits, but company. While I am speaking of letters, let me tell you an ingenious and quite a reasonable way adopted by a public writer in Italy to satisfy all of his customers (they were Bohemians, Hungarians, Croats, Poles), although he knew only two languages, German and Italian. Do you know what a public writer is? There are none in America. They are disappearing here, as education is becoming more general. Our most curious specimens are to be seen in the long gallery of the Court-house. There were many of them there some years ago, one at nearly every pillar, with his little table and appliances for writing; they spoke and wrote all the dialects of France. I do not think there are above a half dozen now, and they keep to the wall. In the lower quarters of Paris they are still to be seen. The public writers are the amanuenses of the illiterate. The public writer to whom I allude lives in Italy, and he is charged with the correspondence of all the privates of the Austrian army. When his customers come, he makes them dictate to him, and writes phonetically what they say without understanding one word of it. The illiterate persons to whom the missive is addressed, knowing nothing of orthography, and their literary friends who read it being nearly as ignorant, they find the letter perfectly intelligible. If one would borrow their weapons from Strauss, Rénan, and other infidels, and turn them on grammar, it would not be hard to demonstrate orthography, etymology, syntax, and prosody utterly useless.

You know M.

M. Paul de Lascaux were working together on a sort of history of Italy. M. Ponson du Terrail has protested that these rumors have no foundation in truth:

"I have never had a co-laborer, and I maintain the expression of my dedication to P. Dalloz. Of a truth once I did write with M. Paul de Lascaux a History of Italy,' but it was not a novel; besides, it was signed by M. de Lascaux. Albert Monnier (who, I believe, is now travelling) began with me a play drawn from my novel 'Les Gandins,' and we have completed another, Le Capitaine Coquelicot.' This novel, which will soon be published in 'La France,' is written by me alone, and so are all the others. Believe me, etc. FONSON DU TERRAIL."

This statement is remarkable. M. Alex. Dumas himself had almost as many co-laborers as he has written novels; the name of M. Scribe's colaborers was legion. Nevertheless, M. Ponson du Terrail, whose name is on nearly as many volumes as M. Alex. Dumas's (to instance only two years, 1858-59; the catalogues of books published here mention 73 volumes by him: during the whole of 1860 he supplied the feuilleton of 'L'Opinion Nationale'), has written all his works without a co-laborer. He was decorated with the Legion of Honor on the 15th of August. Pierre Alexis Ponson du Terrail was born at Montmaur, near Grenoble, July 8, 1829. His father destined him for the navy, but he could not make sufficient progress in mathematics to pass the examination." is said he early showed a desire to become a literary man, and won his father's consent by this fraud: He sent a novel in manuscript to M. Alex. Dumas (as he said), and in the course of time received a letter from the author of "Monte Christo" urging him to come up, as a man of his talents was sure to succeed. His father upon this letter gave his consent and blessing. Young Ponson du Terrail was the author of the letter signed Alex.

It

Dumas. Soon after he reached Paris the Revolu

OCT. 15, 1866.

tion of 1848 occurred; he entered the Garde Mobile, | III.'s Works, 4 vols., Cousin on the Beautiful, True and was soon elected an officer. His first literary and Good, 1 vol. To the 1st prizeman in Belles efforts appeared in “La Mode” and “L'Opinion Pub- Lettres, Nisard's Collection of Latin Authors, 27 lique," but it was not until 1850 he attracted any vols.; and to the 2d prizeman, Corneille, 7 vols. attention. He has since then been steadily rising We all knew M. Ste. Beuve entertained in public favor. M. Charles Monselet was likewise contempt for none of the good things of this world, decorated with the Legion of Honor; he was born but we were a little surprised to see, in an article at Nantes April 30, 1825, where his father was a from one of our famous gourmets, he had so excelbookseller; but, as the latter removed to Bordeaux lent a cook and so choice a cellar: "Marie's cookwhile Charles was still very young, it was in the ing is not yet celebrated, but it deserves to be. newspapers of the latter city his first literary ef- Marie is M. Ste. Beuve's cook. She belongs to an forts (they were poetry) were printed. He wrote excellent school. M. Ste. Beuve's wines are worthy for the Bordeaux Theatre several pieces (among to be tasted by the Prefect of the Seine, the Prefect others, a parody of M. Ponsard's Lucrèce). In of Police, and M. Barbier." Trust bachelors for good 1846, he came up to Paris, and began his literary living! It is inexplicable no married man's house career by writing a novel in "L'Epoque" (1847), and can serve friends the exquisite dinners bachelors' a second novel in "La Patrie" (1848), and he soon tables see. . . It is said M. Taine is writing a work became popular. He has written a great deal since on France considered by every light.... Father then in the public prints, and has found time to Gratry is revising the proof-sheets of a work in write some eighteen or nineteen volumes. He two volumes, which will probably be entitled "The passes for one of the great gourmets of Paris. M. Philosophy of History." The Duchess Pozzo di Borgo Edouard Flouvier is another of our literary men has given him the hospitality of her villa near St. decorated on the 15th of August. He is a client Cloud, and it is there he is working. This new of M. George Sand. His early life was a hard one: work will probably be an attempt to demonstrate He was a currier, and while dressing leather began that philosophical doctrine he has advanced, and to write poetry and novels in "Le Musée des Fa- which he calls "the law of history"-a doctrine milles." In 1850 he had a two act comedy played earnestly denied by some of our best thinkers. at the French Comedy, and has since then brought. . . M. Prevost Paradol has in press a work out a good many novels and plays which have been almost successful; but there is a vagueness, or sort of mysticism or reverie about all he does which milítates against their success. A fourth literary man who received the Legion of Honor on the 15th of August was M. Hippolyte Adolphe Taine, who was born April 21, 1828, at Souziers in Ardennes County, was a brilliant student at school and college, carried off the first prize of belles-lettres in 1848, and in 1853 became known as author by his "Essay on La Fontaine's Fables." He is the author of a "History of English Literature," which has been criticised with not undeserved severity. A fifth literary man likewise so honored is M. Gustave Flaubert, who was born at Rouen in 1821. He was bred to his father's profession, medicine, but he quit it after some years, for his father left him independent of fortune. He suddenly became famous in 1857 by the publication of " Mme. Bovary;" this was followed in 1861 by "Salammbo," which had a great sale, but was voted fatiguing. It is said he is writing another novel in the same style. M. Raymond Deslandes, a brilliant vaudevillist, was likewise decorated on the national festival-day of France. He was born at Yvetot July 12, 1825, and has written a great many brilliant vaudevilles. M. Ferdinand Langlé, a playwriter, the companion of M. Alex. Dumas, Eugène Sue, etc., was decorated also on the 15th of August. It has been some years since he has written anything, for he is now an old man, and it is a little odd he should never have been decorated before. He was born in Paris, November 21, 1798. The last literary man decorated was M. Narcisse Fournier, who has rather faded from our memory; he was born in 1809, and his most successful pieces were played between 1836 and 1845. M. Amédée Achard, the well-known novelist, was promoted to be an officer on the same festival, and all Paris applauded the distinction conferred on him. A great many persons hoped to

see the decoration bestowed on M. Paul de Kock; but it seems the government will not hear of it.

The prizes distributed to the prizemen of the Colleges of Paris this year were: to the 1st prizeman in Mathematics, Laplace's Works, 7 vols.; to the 2d prizeman, Peyrard Euclides, 3 vols., Pascal, 1 vol. To the 1st prizeman in Philosophy, Cicero's Complete Works; to the 2d prizeman, Napoleon

entitled "The Burdens of Liberty" (viz., the ob-
ligations and inconveniences of liberty; his design
will probably be to show that, great as these may
be, still its manifold blessings exceed and gene-
rously compensate for them).
I am very
sorry we are in hourly expectation of hearing of
the death of M. Ponsard. It seems his physicians
have absolutely abandoned all hopes of prolonging
his life. . . Count de Montalembert continues
to lie in a most precarious state. His daugh-
ter, who was "cloistered" some years since, is
allowed to visit him once a week by an express
brief of the Pope. It is said such a privilege
was never before granted, and was granted only in
this instance in consideration of the eminent ser-
vices rendered by Count de Montalembert to the
G. S.
Romish Church.

NOTES ON BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS. JUVENILES.-Sheldon & Co.'s list of juveniles is now more than ever deserving the attention of the trade. The style of manufacture has been greatly improved by new back stamps, and they are now bound in deep gold and fancy cloths. An enume ration of some of the titles in their list will be found in our advertising pages.

for works of fiction is almost insatiable. The four NOVELS IN QUANTITY.-The appetite of the public compact pages of advertisement in our present number, by T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, will enable the reader to form some conception of the magnitude of the business transacted by this house in the single department of fiction. They are adding almost daily something new to their Vast stock, and yet their sales daily increase, and the public appetite seems to grow by what it feeds on. It is not always fastidious as to the quality of its food, and consequently the publishers supply it with all qualities of pabulum, from Dickens, in divers editions, down to Blood and Passion in all forms. The energy of the Messrs. Peterson has enabled them to build up a business which, although somewhat special in its character, is of great magnitude, and has been a marked pecuniary success.

SCRIBNER & Co., New York, will shortly issue a new volume of Lange's Commentary on Acts, the

OCT. 15, 1866.

second volume of Dr. Schaff's Church History, embracing the period from the accession of Constantine the Great to the Pontificate of Gregory the First; also, Studies in English, by Professor De Vere, of the University of Virginia.

BOOK OF THE HUDSON.-Virtue & Yorston, New York, will publish next month "The Book of the Hudson," by Benson J. Lossing, comprising nearly four hundred views of scenery and buildings on

this Rhine of America.

sprung that light of letters which so long and often has carried illumination over all the earth.

We judge, from the divers characters of the gentlemen who compose this brotherhood-divines, judges, lawyers, scholars-that they have been brought together originally, and more strongly atwhich all good lovers of Shakspere find out and tached with time, by the instinctive affinity with crystallize about each other. The society appears to have passed long since the embryo and gristle state,

and to have hardened into the bone and muscle of manhood. Its organization, at least, seems strong and perfect. A Shakspere Library, the most complete we should judge in the country, is a part of the bond of union. It has its printers-" private printers"-the very best, we may add, in the land, as all will agree when we name the names of King & Baird-typographers known to most but as business printers, but whose fonts are more full of ancient and curious type, we suspect, than any office of this region. The meetings of the brethren are held with regularity, and an Annual Dinner-the ligament of ligaments in all great things-the finis qui coronat-the cap-stone which graces every good and perfect work-has for numerous years been celebrated with a spirit alike splendid and Shaksperian.

EUROPEAN GALLERIES.-Among the standard and illustrated English works imported and for sale by D. Appleton & Co., New York, are engravings and letter-press descriptions of the masterpieces in the galleries of Vienna, Munich, Dresden, and Berlin. Also, Mrs. Jameson's works on Art, with all the original engravings, etchings, and wood-cuts. SHAKSPERIAN STUDY IN PHILADELPHIA. "The world, sir," said the excellent Mr. Jenkinson, commended to eternal memory in the Fair and Prison adventures of Dr. Primrose of Wakefield, "the world, sir, is in its dotage." Certainly our good city is giving evidence of belonging to the world. It is growing very old. We have no evidence greater of its advance to the condition of a metropolis of the elder nations than the volume before us. Every American, we suppose, who has gone to London, In the volume before us we have the names of filled with impressions derived from the learning of eleven persons "members who participated in these scholars whose labors have diffused their fame studies." These gentlemen are in the habit of throughout the sphere, and which will last as long meeting of winter evenings, and in connection, no as our tongue endures, must have been struck with doubt, with refreshments of other kinds, from which one fact, the fact, we mean, that whereas he has even scholiasts upon a poet may derive true inspiexpected to be impressed with some great external ration as well as improve good fellowship, proceed evidence of the reputation of these eminent mento a consideration of the different plays of the great when he arrives on the spot from which their genius Bard; the Tempest being that which engaged them and learning have radiated throughout the earth, in the winter of 1864-5. The meetings seem to be he can find scarcely any evidence of their having without much formality; guests being introduced existed at all. The world has heard of them every- by any brother; and each person present, whether where but on the spot where they belong. London member or guest, giving his observations or sugis full of "sanctuaries," as we call them-places gesting queries on anything in order for consideraconsecrated by names and presences that will last tion. Difficult passages are signalized, and any forever; and yet a man will have passed by them person contributes his thought upon thein. A speand through them, and in them and around them a cial and more elaborate essay, in the nature of an dozen times a day, and have made no note of them"Excursus," forms an occasional entertainment. whatever, nor have seen anything indeed about The result of the whole, as given in this volume, is them to note. So it begins to be with us. In one a most critical consideration by a number of eduof the rooms of an ancient house in Fourth Street, cated and acute and loving minds, trained in differPhiladelphia-No 88 in former numerations, but ent spheres of thought and feeling, of this wonderful bearing now the higher figures 204- a venerable production of Shakspere's genius. The criticisms structure of the last century, built by an old pro- and observations are of the most various kinds, thonotary of our highest court-an erection which and invite adjectives of divers import; speculative, the now passer by notes as devoted only to oil bold, recondite, curious, acute, delicate, true, specompanies, and brokers, and scriveners, and real cious-fanciful. The investigation into contemestate negotiators-met for years, and until trans-porary authors is wide and profound; profitable ferred to its newer quarters in Walnut Street, the Shakspere Society of Philadelphia. It now gives us the fruit of even its "thirteenth winter," to wit, "Notes of Studies on the Tempest. Minutes of the Shakspere Society of Philadelphia for 1864. Privately printed for the Society, 1866. 4to. pp. 71." A record, we may add, of studies and learning, and acumen and wit, and gentle fellowship as beautiful and curious perhaps as any which any country has produced.

We are not informed when or how this society, verging now so well towards majority, was born. The absence of a biography prefixed to the volume cheats us of satisfaction on this matter. Certainly no one would ever have suspected that a body of scholars, wits, and good fellows generally were meeting night after night and talking Shakspere in such a place as made their rooms, any more than in walking through the narrow lines of Paternoster Row, in the dingiest and most business parts of London, he would ever have supposed that thence

both in illustrating them and in illustrating Shakspere. Among contemporary writings or those nearly so, come, of course, and largely, the Book of Common Prayer and King James' translation of the Bible; which, with the writings of Francis Bacon, appear to be as familiar as daily words to the Shakspere apostles. The "studies," on the play now considered-and so we suppose it is with those on other pieces-are prefaced with a bibliography. "The Bibliography of the Tempest," given us here on pages ix., x., xi., and xii., we reckon as the most perfect of any which has ever appeared either in England or with us.

We are delighted to know that such a society tabernacles among us. In raising us above the grosser life of material things; in making us feel that we are not all brokers, and all traders, and all attorneys; or if all so, not so always; in showing to ourselves and others that elegant tastes and literary interests can bind even our people in the bonds of frequent and kind and pleasant inter

OCT. 15, 1866.