The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03
A LITERARY QUARREL.

Ihe widow OF Heinrich Heine has written
sharp letter to a newspaper editor in France,
who advised her to suspend legal proceedings
against Michel Levy, the Paris publisher.
Levy announced for publication the complete
correspondence of Heine; the widow protested
in vain, and then invoked the aid of the law.
She writes:-
Il have often heard it said that literary men
are mere children In business, compared with
publishers. l am woman; judge OF my mex
perienCe when entered into business arrange
ments with NJ. Michel Levy. But he was so
kind so obliging, could not have thought of dis
trusting him. One day, touched by his solicit
tude, told him some iorelgu publisher had
issued letters from my husband which were
styled private, but which really we're fabricated.
] was distressed by il, bat how could bring SUIT
in Germany? M Levy replied, Procure me the
volumes and | will sue the publisher, laying the
damages at S2O0JO.' l mention these figures
for the sake OF accuracy. L desired only
one thing, namely, to prevent that publica-
hon, and was so fortunate as to meet pro-
tector who would see that obtained my ends !!
investigated the matter, and was led to pur-
chase seven volumes in German, which l gave
TO hun. Months, years passed away. requested
NJ. Michel Levy to return me the volumes had
conhded to him, as he had made no use of them
in the defense of my rights: but he was always
so busy, and those German books we're so tar
away under piles OF books, that | waited
patiently, and was still waiting, when l heard :,
in very indirect way, NJ. Michel Levy was
about to publish the fabricated and translated
letters which at one time had excited his anger.
'This is the reason ] have brought suit. Did
you know these facts, slr? You Will no longer
have right to laugh at me- You, in turn, have
played NJ. Michel Levy's game. You thought he
told 1Ou about a curious lawsuit, while his OBJ
ject was to get ten lines from you in your news
paper, knowing perfectly well that written by
you, they would be a recommendation which
would enable him to sell, before the decision of
"a volumes
81 remain, WIDOW HENRI BEINE."
To this letter Levy replies, declaring its ac-
cusations unfounded, and adding
Il content myself by saying, in order to
justify myself, that the first article OF the con-
tract l made with Mime Heine, on the 28th OF
January, 1865. runs:-'Mme Henri Hene sells
and cedes to MN. Michel Levy Freres-lst. The
full and entire property OF all the published and
hereafter 10 be published works of Henri Heine.
I'd. The exclusive right of translation into
French of all the works of Henri Heine pub
lished in German. 3D.. The right of translation
into French Of all the posthumOus and unpub-
lished works of Henri Heine which may be pub.
lished.' By virtue of rights conceded me in so
explicit manner by this article, have trans
lated Henri Heines Correspondence which
| forms the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty.
| FIST volumes OF the original edition of the
| Complete Works OF Henry Heine,' published at
| Hamburg, by MN. Hoffman Campo, the pub
llshels by contract, in the same manner as am,
! of Mime Heme, and the German publishers OF
| her husband above forty years, as l have been
| his French publisher these last fourteen years.
| This origin OF my translation is material face
| which is easy to be ascertained, and which Nine
| HelnP or rather her advisers have not taken
! the trouble to examine, but which cannot
escape the attention of court of Justice. MN.
| Bnger Brothers, of Amsterdam, have published
| an unauthorized edition of some of Henri
| Heines works. This is the edition which Mime
| Heine complained to me about two or three
| years ago, and of which she gave me a copy as
| evidence, in case thought proper to bring suit
| against the publishers.
| "But borrowed absolutely nothing from this
| edition. l have never translated one single line
| from it, which should have demonstrated to
| Mime Hene, If before sending me process she
had been good enough to call on me about the
| business as nay good relations with her, per
| haps, should have prompted her to do. | still
| hope that convinced OF my good faith, after
seeing these palpable proofs of it, Mime Heine
| will dismiss the suit which blundering advisers
have made her bring SO thoUghtlessly against
me. remain, ETC., MICHEL LEVY"
M. Levy makes good case, unless Madame
Heine can bring rebutting testimony.