[18] _Lectures on Science of Language_, vol. i. p. 308. [19] See Giacomo Bove, _Viaggio alla Patagonia ed alla Terra del Fuoco_, in _Nuova Antologia_, Dec. 15, 1881. [20] _Travels_, Deutsch von Dieffenbach. Braunschweig, 1844, p. 229. [21] Darwin, _Narrative of the Surveying Voyage of H.M.'s Ships “Adventure” and “Beagle,”_ 1839, vol. iii. p. 226. [22] D. Wilson, _Pre-Aryan American Man_, p. 4. [23] _Rig-Veda-Sanhita, the Sacred Hymns of the Brahmans, translated by M. M._, Vol. i. p. xxxix. [24] Tertullian, _Apolog._ 16: “rabula et mendaciorum loquacissimus.” [25] See Strabo, iv. 196; Plin. xvii. 12; Liv. xxxviii. 17. LE BONHOMME CORNEILLE. BY HENRY M. TROLLOPE. The Marquis de Dangeau wrote, in his journal for the 1st of October, 1684: “Aujourd'hui est mort le bonhomme Corneille.” The illustrious dramatist was an old man, for he had been born in 1606. He was a good old fellow in his way, being always an honest and upright man, though the appellation “le bonhomme” was less frequently given to him than to La Fontaine. Had it been as much the fashion fifty years ago as now to honor great men by anniversaries, in the year 1836 a more gracious homage might have been paid to the author of _Le Cid_. At Christmastime in that year this play burst upon Paris. As a bombshell carries with it destruction, the _Cid_ gave sudden and unexpected delight to all who saw it. It is the first of French tragedies that has left a mark; no earlier tragedy is now generally remembered. Corneille woke up to find himself famous. It appears that, though he was by no means a novice, he was as much astonished as anyone at the great success of his play. The Court liked it, and the town liked it. It was at once translated into many languages. In France people learnt passages of it by heart, and for a while there was a popular saying, “Cela est beau comme le _Cid_.” If the good folk in Paris had only bethought themselves in 1836 of celebrating the bi-centenary of the appearance of the _Cid_ the event would have sounded happier than of now celebrating the author's death. But fashion rules much in this world. It has not yet become fashionable to recollect the date of a great man's great work—fifty years ago it had not become fashionable to have centenaries at all; so that now, all other excuses failing, we must seize upon the bi-centenary of Corneille's death as a date upon which to honor him. Let us hope that on the 6th of June, 1906, the ter-centenary of his birth, a more joyful note may be sung.