The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-21
NIGHTMARE In
DARK BROWNS
e Wondairful Comte Robair de
Montesquieu-F ezensac, ze -
Genius de Paree.
He Comes Over Here to Give Lit 'rary
Conferences at IS a
~ Confer. -~* a.
With Toothpick Yellow Shoes,
Bronze Neckcloth and 81
Trunks Lands. $685.,
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service
New York. Jan. 2l.-Something Is al
ways happening. Now it is the Comte
Robert de Montesquieu- Fezensac OF
France who is here to tell the women with
money what he knows about literature.
Like Mary McLane. the comte is a
genius. He admits it himself. To make
the assertion indisputable. he has brought
two BARRIERS with him.
His poetic nature does not allow him to
overlook the financial side OF life. He is
not a. lecturer. He gives conferences.
His managers have listed seven of these
conferences" to be held at Sherry's. Ad-
mission to each conference is fixed at
IS. but no one may buy ticket to single
conference
1t is necessary that those wishing to
hear the comte should buy tickets for the
series Of seven Conferences.
IT care nothing for people who would
make me the object Of vulgar notoriety.
either in this country or my own said
the count. "Those who in ignorance or
malice essay to hold me up to ridicule
can afford to ignore. What do they
know? Why should I care? 1 do not ad-
dress myself to the small minded.
70 There have been many Frenchmen.
he said, who have come to this land and
who are competent to speak about art and
literature. My mission it is most differ
ent. I one who has great social
sminence to display, what I have
achieved by culture and aristocracy as
we'll as by art. I make pretensons
for myself. I am borne here irresistibly
by the compelling force of my genius and
my achievements
The count then gave the titles of his
conferences and said Amy Of these
themes can be developed, as a theme in
music is developed. Take the nocturne
as an example. The word is full of seduc-
tiveness. Of sweet mystery. The noe
turnes of Chopin leave the mind of the
audience in a. condition of peculiar, mex
pressible satisfaction. What he accom-
plished in music T seek to accomplish in
poetry. The nocturne deals with the ideas
worked out in Les Chauves Souris.' Why
should the title Of The Bats be consid-
cred strange? This singular creature
appears to me as a symbol Of one of the
most mysterious and absorbing Of human
types. 1t is made for solitude, yet rushes
toward the light. 1t is like the human be-
ing doomed to isolation and melancholy,
suffering alike in the light and in OBJ
scruity.''
M. LIE Comte, when he first flashed on
the United States, was attired in tooth
pick yellow shoes. a long brown overcoat,
not in itself remarkable. but at the
moment Of lie comte's arrival it was sur
mounted with a green and bronze neck
cloth that was a wonder. The neck cloth
q was set off with a bunch Of orchids
framed in naidenhar ferns. On the tor
Of his head. Nj. LIE Comte wore brown
soft hat that was two shades darker thar
his shoes, and one shade darker than his
. gloves.
With NJ. Yterri, his dear friend; valet
81 and thirty-seyen trunks the count is al
the Waldorf Astoria.
The press agent sends out this further
explanations:
'One needs only to glance at the wonder
full portrait Of Mr. De Montesquieu by
= Whistler to realize that the former in
her1ts racial prejudices and that he is no
i man to be overlooked in any crowd.
"Although the count is painted in the
. conventional frock coat and stiff collar
OF man Of the world, the gray gloves
recall the deeds of chivalric Spain. and tn,
malacha stick. tipped forward. suggest
the dueler's sword ready to be drawn, $,
that in Whistler's portrait we recognize
the poet. a sculptor of clouds, an alchemis
OF dreams. and a lubricant Of fancies''