New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-05
Il PARTISAN LAUREATE.
Abel Bonndrd and His Perses on
Humble French Types.
Paris, August %.

Parisians have at last found their poet lsu-
reate. Not poet laureate In partibus. like Al
fred Austin. in England, nor even like Leon
Dierx who a couple Of years ago elected
Prince OF Poets by e plebiscite vote of the
readers of lie Mercure de France" IN success
sion to Mallarme; but impressonist poet
with mentality akin to that of verlaine and one
who has the faculty of catching the most popu-
lar coIoquisl expressions Of the day and rem
dering them into perfect alexandrines. Abel
Bonnard is the French Crabbe. Just Crabbe
described the crossing sweepers, costermongers
and ha berdashers of England early in the nine
teenth century, SO does Bonnard paint with his
vivid alert, Raffael-like pen the village school
masters and the shoemskers of the rural France
of to-day The homely observation Of a Ho-
garth the humor Of a Dsumier and the nsscu-
line energy OF Kipling all found in the
quaint verses Of this writer, who first became
known two years ago by Les Familiers," which
obtained for him the French National Prize Of
Poetry. This was followed by Les Royautes."
and q fortnight ago by Les Histories col
lection of short poems-so1ne of them trite,
others replete with philosophical refection-de-
scriptive OF French village life.
Not for many q year has poetry been so much
a Ia mode as is just now the case in France.
AS with music and painting, so it Is now with
poetry. Just mundane amateurs acquired
more or less proficiency IN composing music, IN
painting in oil In sketching in water colors'
50 now do smart and fashionable men and
women Of letters write poetry without trans
crossing the rules Of versifcation or Of rhythm
II was only five years ago that Leon Dierx adj
rnitted that the pecuniary benefit he derived
from writing poetry did not exceed $50. There
&C. noJy a change for the better. The leading
-,,b1ishine houses find that with the exception
of uersouaI memoirs and works Of historical
snecdote no books cell well as books of
verse There is a greatly increased demand for
the writings OF contemporary poets such as
Jean Richepin, Edmond Rostand. Fernand
.;resh. Jean Moreas, Catulle Mendes. the Com
tesse Matthew de Noailles and Lucie Delarue-
Nsdrus The descriptive poems of Abel Bon
nard. with their musical ripple and incisive
impressionisn. are peculiarly fitted 10 be read
aId,d Many of his best efforts do not exceed
sixtv lines Such, for instance. are his striking
sketches Of the village club. Of the tailor's
evening at home Of the arrival Of the deputy
among his constituents. of the family doctor.
NJ the rustic schoolmaster, Of the rural celebra-
ton Of July Il and Of the busy little coutu-
riere who while sewing upon coquette cor
sage that she is never destined to wear, pauses
an instant with her dainty uplifted finger
timed with silver thirnble, suggestive OF
some pretty little king wearing a diamond stud
ded crown" Bonnard. the popular poet lau-
reate," has suddenly become the favorite mas
ter Of verse in Paris.
A new society has just been formed here,
called La societe FRANCHISE d'IIlustration," the
object of which Is to develop the art of ilustrat-
ing books The committee includes many men
and women prominent in art. among whom are
Paul Leclercq. the Comtesse Matthew de No
allies Paul Adam, Rene Boylesve, Henri de
Regnier, Abel Bonnard, Moreau Nelaton. A.
Dauehez. Pierre Louys, Prinet, e. Desvallieres.
Andre saglio and Oliver Sainsere- The society
viii hold an annual exhibition. to which GER
tain foreign illustrators viii be invited.
Characteristic Incident relating to Corot and
20 Daumfer, whose bust was unveiled last week
at valrnondois, on The banks Of the otse where
the great caricaturist died. is published by the