LÉ nn LADA. LE, Dh. SUR, ee ee CUO ee RS 
LITERATURE OF FRENCH CANADA. 85 
years of warfare — Dollard and Vercheres; that of daring adventure in the pathless 
wilds—Joliet and Lasalle ; that of apostleship and martyrdom—Brebeuf, Lallemant and 
Jogues ; that of diplomacy and administration—Talon, the great disciple of Colbert ; that 
of military glory—Tracy and the lion-heart Frontenac ; that of debauchery and corruption 
—Bigot and Penan ; that of downfall and doom—Montcalm and Levis. Candians ought 
to be proud of such a history, and it is no wonder that their romancers should take plea- 
sure in describing its varied scenes. The venerable DeGaspé may be said to have led the 
van in this department with “ Les Anciens Canadiens,” a work of absorbing interest, in 
spite of its occasional diffuseness. He was followed by Marmette, who has published 
three or four historical novels of more than ordinary merit, “ L’Intendant Bigot” being 
particularly worthy of mention. “ Une de Perdue, Deux de Trouvées” by DeBoucherville 
deals, in its second part, with the events of 1837, and gives a graphic picture of the battle 
of St. Denis. The destruction of L’Acadie, “ Home of the happy,” and the banishment of 
its faithful inhabitants form the subject of Bourassa’s “ Jacques et Marie,” a work which 
I have always regarded as altogether superior in its class, notwithstanding frequent 
traces of hurried composition. It contains pages of admirable coloring, and such richness 
of style as to induce regret that this gifted man should have had his mind diverted to 
other branches of art. 
In other and lighter forms of romance I have two or three names to signalize. Chau- 
veaw’s “ Charles Guérin ” is a sweet picture of habitant life, which has retained its charm 
of freshness, although dating back some thirty years. Another masterpiece that is destined 
to live is the “Jean Rivard” of the late Gérin-Lajoie, a description of pioneer life in the 
Eastern Townships or Bois Francs, of renewed interest in our time when the tide of 
French colonization is rolling to the fertile plains between the Ottawa and the foot of the 
Laurentian Mountains. I may mention, too, a series of short domestic stories by Charles 
Leclere, a young writer full of promise, who was cut off in his prime. 
VE 
ESSAYISTS AND CHRONIQUEURS. 
A favorite species of composition, drawn from the practice of old France, is the Chro- 
nique. This is a slight form of the essay in which topics of current interest are touched 
off in an airy, jaunty style. Many of our writers have distinguished themselves therein ; 
this being specially true of Casgrain, Routhier, Legendre and Montpetit. Routhier has 
produced much of late in other departments, and, if he continues, will establish a most 
enviable reputation. Both Montpetit and Legendre wield a graceful pen that writes the 
French language to perfection. But the prince of chroniqueurs is Fabre, a true Parisian in 
temperament, possessed of that subtle electrical esprit, which is suposed to impregnate 
the atmosphere of the boulevards. Here is a man who has not done justice to himself, 
inasmuch as he does not produce half enough. Buies, belonging to the same school, is 
another writer of exceptionally brilliant talent, now caustic in satire, then rollicking in 
humour, and at times tenderly pathetic. In a somewhat different vein, because rather 
inclined to melancholy, is Faucher de St. Maurice, unquestionably one of the chief glories 
of French-Canadian literature. Faucher is a careful, conscientious writer, and every work 
of his is worth attentive perusal. His sketches of travel—and he has travelled much— 
