This takes up the History of France at the point where the preceding work ceased, namely, 1848. The caricature illustrations, by Hadol, in this are bitterly hostile to Napoleon III. and his principal adherents.
La Dégringolade Impériale, seconde partie de l’Histoire Tintamarresque de Napoléon III. Par Touchatout. Dessins de G. Lafosse. Paris, 1878.
Grande Mythologie Tintamarresque, par Touchatout. Dessins de G. Lafosse et Moloch. Paris, 1881.
It will be readily understood that the gross legends of the Heathen Mythology present topics likely to meet with congenial treatment from a French author and artists, and that consequently this work (although very laughable) is not largely used in ladies boarding schools.
Histoire Populaire et Tintamarresque de la Belgique, depuis l’époque des forêts vierges jusqu’a celle des tramways. Par Fernand Delisle. Illustreé par Léon Libonis, 2 vols. Brussels.
Victor Hugo was nothing if not original. He found the French drama restricted by old-fashioned rules, and its poetry cramped and conventional. He selected new metres, and adapted his style to the subjects, relinquishing the solemn but monotonous measure in which Racine, Corneille, and Voltaire had composed their classic tragedies. He did not disdain to press uncouth polysyllables into service when the necessities of rhyming seemed to require it. His style was funnily parodied in the lines—
Jusqu’ oû O Hugo, juchera-t-on ton nom?
Justice enfin que faite ne t’a t’on?
Quand jusqu’au pic qu’académique on nomme,
Grimperas tu enfin de roc en roc, rare homme?