LITERARY NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paris, January 30.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2142, 1 April 1886, Page 4

LITERARY NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paris, January 30.

The diffioHlv the French lia\e m reading Dickons, ari-es from their unarqnaiuLmce with English social life. Then Dickens has bftcri made next to grotesque by the translator*, because untranslatable. In is native costume Dickons 10 light, bulLiiil .u.d free, in a foreign dress he becomes spiritless heavy, training, and ill ut enrfe ; in a woid " h bird of |>ii\idi«e with clipped wing-.' Agun, the. French do imt .comprehend th<> salient trait nf Dickons—humour, winch h neither esprit nor diollery, but a combimtion of bdilu And the humour of Dickens, hko the magic harp, emits sigh->, t*\u>, and gaiety, sensible t<i all currents of ui-pii. 1.tion. Dickens is the king of laughtci and tears, ho knows how to be in turn, tender and grotesque ; ironical and passionate, gay as Fielding, sombre as Osfiiiin, pathetic as (iold-mith, lealistic as Swift, and brilliant, as Addison. BelH hold converse with tho wind ; the tea kettle sings for domestic industry ; the wild waves apeak to the littlo clymsr Dombey, and the cricket chinups on the hearth to console the toil-worn bi "adwinner of the family. Dickon*, according to M. de Henessey, describes only English life ; if he does not know any other he at least likes no other. When he denounces vice^ however universal its character, it «ill . be painted in essentially English colour-. All his masks are for English faces. Pecksniff is the type of English hypocrisy : but Moliere's Tartuffe personifies hyyocn&y at large ; and whrn Dickens exalts a \iitue, it is embodied in a homely " mis%' with blue eyes, blond hair, rosy cheeks and a. chaste toilette. Dickens when in Paris in 1846 47, was everywhere well received, and his talent was fully recognised and honoured. The French liked him, because though a mordant observer and a satirist of the fir.it order, he was different from other strangers ; and he ever conserved his individuality. It was known that be never kept a journal ot his impressions, but he took notes in a memory which never proved traitor to him. It sufficed that Dickons saw a landscape or witnessed a scene only once, to be able to describe it years later in its minutest details. It might be said of him, as it was of < Justavo Dore's designs, "ho had collodion iii the eye." Dickens was intellectually and physically at his apogee in 1847. His eyes weie so large and so luminous, and changed s<( rapidly their shade of expression, that it was difficult to determine their colour. His smile expressed potential goodness, which at once attracted and charmed. A French lady remembers, that when a girl, - she was a fellow lodger iu the same house as Dickens ; when she encountered him 111 the morning on the stairf, "his snub and salute made her feel happy and good for the whole day." And it must not be forgotten, that Dickens, then happy in fame, income and family, had a mo.st atiocious childhood. He passed days in a cellar lower than the level of the Thames, sticking labels on blacking bottles for a few shillings a week, in the company of gutter children, while his old, and in second childhood father, was dying in the debtor's prison, and his sickly mother suffering from hunger and cold in a solitary attic! Many n morning he pabsed before Westminster Abbey, going to his daily penance, weary, famishing and shivering—a kind of city Arab. And now he sleeps at the feet of Handel, be&ide liia confrere Thackeray, and beneath the smiling bust of Shakspnre ! Malte Brun, the geographer, bubunttcd a plan of colonisation for the inland of Formosa to Napoleon in 180!)—the year of the battle of Wagram and of the disastrous. English expedition to the island of Walcheren. His aim was to cnt out the trade of England in tea, raw silk, and nankeens with China. His plan was to commence innocently, so as not to excite the jealousy of Albion ; but if that was roused, to bravo it. , Formosa was to be a kind of entrepot for the above exports, conveyed to the mainland by junks, which in return would tike opium—a prohibited, but advantageous product. Having trained the Formosans to commercial habits, they were to be employed as pioneers of France in Japan and the Corea. Further; the central position of Formosa would attract the pepper and areca of the Philippines, the diamonds and spices of Borneo, the cinnamon and odoriferous woods of Cochin China, re-selling all to Europeans. Next; to establish in the island factories to turn out silks, nankeens, and muslins; to create cotton plantations, so as to luin the English turnisheis of thread at Bombay. Manufacture arms, gun-powder, ironware, jewellery; build ship-yards, and naturalize Xew Zealand flax. War with China on account of seizing Formosa wa3 not to be apprehended. Then, as recently under Jules Ferry, tbo Chinese wore a " ne*gligeable quantity," They had no ships nor artillery worth mentioning, and by bribing the Viceroy of Fokien, he would make matters pleasant at Pekin. At all event?, China had only rights over the other moiety of l'\irm,os.n. The Dutch were dc facto owners, having been the first to organise the island. This plan was directed against "the tyrants of the son " —the Engli.sh. These disposed of, there remained only Russia. But she was more occupied expanding Japanwards ; beside?, the- Moscovites weie only "novices at land-giabbing." What progress since ? To throw dnsfin the eyes of John Bull, the scheme ought to ha\e the air as "coming from private individual*—not Fiench" — the motive merely "a speculation of merchants,'' backed by "the euthuMasm of some adventurers." Above all it ought not to binack of anything military. The mot d'oidie should be given to the Press to treat the hclicme as a folly, the plaything of infants. All this was essential to deceive English politicians. Make-Brun was an exiled Dane, born nt Thysted in 1775, and who died at Paris in 1826. Other elements of his plan consisted in organising a baud of IjOO filibusters, chiefly Ampiican*, and sonic Dane*. They were to assume the name of emigrants A hocfet agent nf Fiance, with lulf-a-uiiHion francs, was to control the plot. Another expedition was' to sail for Afadag.vs.car, where throe French ships, repotted, to be Dutch merchants, but really laderi with artillery, muskets, uud ammunition, undei a thin layer of goods, would r*coit the "emigrants." Engineers and ofh'cqib were to book disguised as passengers. Once landed at Formosa, and the houses put in apple-pie order, the ships would set out for the United States, laden with silks, tea, &c, and offer these at a low pi ice, guaranteeing the free entry of American product-! to the island in exchange for aims, ammunition, and above all, warrior-emigrants. Ampricans, it seemp, would "give tbpir last rifle for cheap tea." They would also smuggle it into Urcat Britain and lielaml. The Formosana armed and trainee), would become the allies of Japan, &c. Malte Bruu hoped his plan would piuve acceptable to the "transcendent genius from whom the world awaited to know its destinies." It, is generally believed that in the eighteenth century girl.* in France wer^ always educated in con vent< This is partly true. But from 1752 tho girls commenced to be educated at home. There were still educational convents Jn Jfoiinandy and Flanders, where each damsel had her own appointment, when, gentlemen 'visitors were received at tho grated parlour, and the severity of dress became less rigid. But some years beforo tho revolution of 1789 it was the fashion to bring up a girl at home. She was educated by reading books; by conversation and by observation in the social irilieu she frequented. At Paris M. Bardoux. says the gills of the middle classes^ only entered a convent to y>repare for their confirmation. They pass their lives near their mothers. They only went out twice a week in special toilet; on Sundays to church and for a walk; the other day was given to family vh>its. The girla wro a)«o brought to picture shows, but navei tj .1 thratre till they were married. Masters came to the Louse to give their lessons. After leaving the convent a young lady generally educated herself. She road the same book as, her brother*, obsorvrd .mid noted current facts and ideas. [n a word sbe drifted into both fact and sentiment. Xor was her domestic education neglected*; &ho was initiated into house-keeping; htr toilette was simple; she rolled up her sleeves to work; woio no other jewellery but a simple Jeannette cross; she was active, orderly, and sought only domestic pleasures. But v\hen niairii d she displaced an imagination more vivid injsneietytnan in her home; sh<> enjoyed immediately perfect equality; no business transaction was concluded without her consent, and if sne were weak in orthography, she had at least a rich fund of projier sense. 1 The provinces at this time wielded a greater power than Pans. No book could find reader- in the capita) if it had D6Fbeen stamped with the approval of the provincials. In the rich and flourishing maritime

cities Bordeaux, Xanli2-<,A c '-> family theati icals wi rt' general.' T-hoff, w u»>u tlio Revolution arrived, it was the logical role of these middle clav-es to substitute'*! Wtcinl -tit<" — imple, n< w, and umfoim, ba»ed i»» equality of' conditions i ti» rcpl*c^ in-titii-turns at oiicc ;u i^tocnitic nurl feudal. Nmio Mi.ir.' tli in middle class women felt tho t >iii^ii.nic\ of their siici.il inft'ii<>rity, and \uves ntperr need th.* l.imv keenly thlui Mi^huuds T/lio iiiH'ilt of the Duo de Clfr-mont—-Tuimiirre deßaniaveV mothor lit tho (Jienelle tliciitc touched middle-clan society to tho quick. It via-. At.tJie church in the piovince.-j \ here pi I'd dona: became a caj nt il question; tl)at n »ocul mfeiionty was mos>tj x ( iimjau,t. Pn Bt,cai>o the' 'pndh"and Miorji«ni'«H i tn<} M pci tlasw, many families icino\cii t<i i'.iris. And \et as l.ito a-, Louis XVI.,' when Clute luttfiaiul/pas invited to join in the ioy.il hunt, ho had to e-t<ibli-<h )\'\& nobility back to the year 1400. To bo ap«gti to a more cnucrry, even in the houses of Orleans or Cmid-i, it w.w necessaiy to have an ancestry clear back two centuries. Tha farmdr's wives only demanded' that their poor dogs lie delivered from the piqnet, an immense spiked collar, that the .seigneun ordered to fcm buspended. from the necks ,o( the dogs to prevent them seizing a hhr«, jn caso it tra\erbed the poultry yard; it wan not a muzzlr, but a pillory. The women weie the loudest opponents of the com t abuse* ; they waged an inces« ■~ant war of epigrams against the coteries of Marie Antoinette. And when the revo» lutiou was uccompohbhed thoy accepted immediately the sacrifices it demanded ; they suffered bravely ; they were only happy when their husbands enrolled in the national guard ; they eschewed all toilettes that recalled the courtly and aristocratic pait, and they adopted new costumes ; that which signified a complete modification of ordinary life, and the possession of Hocial independence and its rights. The "memoirs <>f the Princess de SaynWittf*en«tuin," continue to be the sensational book of the season. Its strange revelations about social rights and duties, affect not only the highest families in Germany, but also some m Russia, Poland, Italy, aud France. The Princess' origin is cloudy ; nhe apparently belongs to tho Berlin bourgeoi-jie. Her book is a journal of hei fortunes and misfoi tunes ; written in the natural school vein, but not licentiou-. It is full , of pafchot, and ithos. All, however, is sincere. Tho family of SaynWittgenstein i-. not "royal, but \ery noble, and abo\e all, pioud. When she wedded tho chief of this ljonse hei real Hfo was as fabulous as a Cinderella's. Her husband died in lS7f>, losiung her all his wealth. It-is fioin this point tue book becomes n» interesting a study of manners as ever Balzac bketched. The relatives of the defunct, impounded the leveuues of the estates, and placed seals on the chateau. Tho widow was thus next to rendered penniless. When she arrived* in the depth t>f winter, with the remains of her husband, for burial in tho castle chapel, she was driveu off ; she obtained lodging in the ullage inn, while the coffin was smuggled into its vault, by a back way reserved for tha servants. „ The decea«ed'.s. brother, Prince Frederick, broke the will, on the ground that the widow v\ as ebcnbui tig, that is, not noble; a ,»arvenu. He himself married :iu actiess of the Cassel theatre. .This does not illustrate MmVtaigiie's remnrk ; "that the bouls of Empciois and cobblcis, are cast in the >ame mould." It is said that in Germany, tho nobility-world i expects Leib-niU-tnot because he is exactly the great philisopher of human thought, but that he wah a baron, and so ebauburtig. Prince Frederick* &oino years 'n go \vVs sent to tiavel, to cuie his^astlife; he dropped in on the heathen Chinea ; passed as a " blood royal prince," was feasted and incensed ; pi elided at reviews, ice, with an aplomb, tti> be fequallcd cmly in Mi operette. > -, Tho new Minister of iWfiue, Admiral Aube, is a man of keen observation, well read, and possesses ' the pen of a ready writer. ,He has seen a good deal of aprvice in the East and the Pacific, and the de-. scuptions of the countries he has visited are picturesque, racy, clear, but above all, full of sonnd lien^e :ihd ripe judgment, as his Notes d' un Mar in testify.' But like the majority of his countiymen, and Hugo is the most notorious sinner in this respect,' he does not think a subject out. There is snap, where we expect connection and' correlt»tion» Pity Jnles Ferry did Hot rend his China !

An interesting discovery has bfien made at Lutnlcy, mines, North Yorkshire, England. During some excavations an oak. tree, in an almost pet feet state, was discovered, measui ing 56" feet in, length. The tie.c can bo traced fiora its .roots neatly to the top. Several similar specimens have also, been, seen in the mine, which has been visited by many geolo-' gists. The lady whom Mr Creswick, the veteran actor, married in Australia, seems to have a shrewd eye to. ' the main chance, for after having leceivedacheqne for £<j£2 10a 44 as ,the proceeds of the performance got up- for her huabauH s benefit, she demanded vouchers for all the evpeuses incurred in connection with the entertainment, w hicK were duly forwarded to her ; but the gentlemen who interested tliemselves in the benefit are not a little surprised and displeased at the lady's Qopdnet in »the matter, - ; >r /'Reoknixy, 'Miia Edith WoodW-artbV' a lady belonging to the theahical profession, jmnided a substantial dinner, Messrs Spiers and Pond Riut' the. citeiers, at the Lambeth Itnggerl Schools.' Mr Tools looked in af teu dinner, sang tlife 'children a qoimc song, ff.ive them JL\"> worth of baftib.ike, and .innminced his intention of a&king them all to dinner ne<ct year. At" tha clo,-o of a conjmiug entertainment, which followed the feast, each child was presented with a bag of oranges and Awcets, and a Christmas card. , .■; A London Tunes cureppondent af> Main gd u-i-ctts Unit thn large sum of mpnoy contiibutcd in England for the relief of tho suffeteru by eirthquaket> in' Spain liuS beou.Uiy.erted toithojre^toration and leconstrnotion of churches, convents, and other icligiou* establishments. «, was" placed iq the hands of tho Alfohbishops, and nbno of it has x reached the destitute and. huflcring people for whom it was intended A. Sad Evxv— An-' Australian* paper says :— The schoolmaster, Gustave Bernicke, who was admitted to the Sandhurst Hospital on February 20, suffering from injmic* to tho head through at--tempting to commit suicide, died in tho institution shortly after admission. Th* deputy-coroner held an inquest, i?hea it was stated that Bemicke had puiQljascd ' aonie artificial egg-shells, and having fiikd one with powder placed -it in bis ' mouth. Ue then applied a match, with the lesult that his mouth and head were so severely wounded that death ensued ' soon afterwards!" The deceased was'" a highly-educated man, and had only left! the service on superannuation allowance in ISB3. His wife dUd at Pyramid Hill' aomc short time ago. Ha leaves in all twelve children.

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