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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



that the two Academy dictionaries propose to do, does ranch, more. 

 With which marvellous contrast we have to join the startling fact, that 

 M. Littre was refused admission to the Academy in 1863, and at length 

 admitted in 1871 only after violent opposition. 



Even if we pass over these duties which, in pursuance of its original 

 purpose, the French Academy might have been expected to perform, 

 and limit ourselves to the duty Mr. Arnold especially dwells upon 

 the duty of keeping " the fine quality of the French spirit unimpaired," 

 and exercising " the authority of a recognized master in matters of 

 tone and taste" (to quote his approving paraphrase of M. Renan's 

 definition) it may still, I think, be doubted whether there have been 

 achieved by it the benefits Mr. Arnold alleges, and whether there have 

 not been caused great evils. That its selection of members has tended 

 to encourage bad literature instead of good, seems not improbable 

 when we are reminded of its past acts, as we are in the letter of Paul 

 Louis Courier, in which there occurs this, among other passages simi- 

 larly damaging : 



" A duke and peer confers honor upon the French Academy which will have 

 nothing to do with Boileau, rejects la Bruyere .... hut readily admits Chape- 

 lain and Conrart. In like manner we see a viscount invited to the Acedemie 

 grecque, but Corai repulsed, while Jornard comes in as though it were to work 

 in a mill." 



Nor have its verdicts upon great works been such as to encourage 

 confidence : instance the fact that it condemned the " Cid " of Corneille, 

 now one of the glories of French literature. Nor has its theory of 

 art been beyond question. Upholding those canons j dramatic art 

 which so long excluded the romantic drama, and maintained the feel- 

 ing shown by calling Shakespeare an "inspired barbarian," may pos- 

 sibly have been more detrimental than beneficial. And when we look, 

 not at such select samples of French literary taste as Mr. Arnold 

 quotes, but at samples from the other extreme, we may question 

 whether the total effect has been great. If, as Mr. Arnold thinks, 

 France " is the country in Europe where the people is most alive," it 

 clearly is not alive to the teachings of the Academy: witness the re- 

 cent revival of the " Pere Duchene," the contents of which ax - e no less 

 remarkable for their astounding obscenity than for their utter stupidity. 

 Nay, when we look only where we are told to look only where the 

 Academy exercises its critical function, we find reason for skepticism. 

 Instance the late award of the Halpin Prize to the author of a series 

 of poems called "LTnvasion," of which M. Patin, a most favorable 

 critic, says : 



"Their chief characteristic is a warmth of sentiment and a 'verve,' which 

 one would wish to see under more restraint, but against which one hesitates to 

 set up, however just might be their application under other circumstances, tbo 

 cold requirements of taste.' 



