EDMUND ABOUT.
The death of this versatile French writer removes from modern literature another of the few French literary men who are known all over the world. About was born in 1828, and has enjoyed a cosmopolitan fame since 1860. His literary work had the charm of contemporary interest, and at the same time the merit of philosophical breadth and insight. He gained fame at home in a way our men of letters would not travel, by writing a Dictionary of Railroads. He was equally interesting and instructive whether he wrote a novel or a political pamphlet; for in both, Edmund About’s personality was in the foreground. He was not an egotist, however, in his books, but his I was a modest one which rather relieved others of responsibility for his opinions, than obtrusively forced the author upon our admiration. He had a keen zest for current thought and fact; and, though our sensationalist newspaper men would not fellowship him, he was one of the best editors of his age. He was always an editor—even when he wrote the railroad dictionary—and his political pamphlets are among the best presentations of questions and situations. He saw the heart of a current issue, and with easy grace and perfect poise he described it from the point of view of a modern cosmopolitan gentleman. His “Roman Question” was, in its day, equally intelligible, interesting, amusing and illuminating in Paris, London, Vienna or New York. He described the situation under the Pope as King of Rome, setting out in full relief those peculiarities of the Roman situation which were picturesquely illogical for all men of the world. He had a marvelous power of suggestion. The first sentence of the “Roman Question” is like this—we do not attempt to recall the exact words or figures: “There are in the States of the Church 1,366,328 souls, not counting the little Mortara boy.” The last clause referred to a charge that priests at Rome had stolen a Jewish boy and were making a good Catholic of him against the will of his family. The incident made a great uproar at the time, and About recalled to the mind of the reader the whole story, and, without expressing an opinion, attracted the sympathy of his Protestant readers by the mere allusion. Probably his books contain more examples of strong, suggestive allusions to recent or contemporary events, than those of any other writer; and it was always his special art to allude only, leaving his reader to his own opinion. The delicacy of his touch and the fine flavor of his criticism were remarkable, even in this age of keen and witty French writers. He became editor of the XIX. Siecle (century), after the war with Germany; but he had always been a journalist in some form, and more than one paper had its editions suppressed by Napoleon III. because they contained the fine but biting satire of About. Some years ago (in 1870, we believe) he was blackballed in the French Academy, but he was recently elected to that august body. He died before he was installed in his academic chair.