Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05
PROTEST AGAINST
PANTHEON FOR lola
snecial corresnondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
LONDON, March 25, 1908.
-F. in the Elysian fields, Emile lola Is
still cognizant of what goes on In
l this mundane sphere he must smile at
the rumpus that is being raised over the
transport of his mortal remains to the
Pantheon. If he had not written MS ceie-
brated letter, "JAccuse" and secured the
retrial Of Dreyfus no storm would nave
ragged around his name. Concerning his
books there will always be differences OF
opinion. But outside Of France there IS
no difference of opinion as to the part ne
played in righting the wrongs OF the I'M
fortunate Dreyfus It stamped him as q
hero and worthy Of being honored as
such. Ano yet, such is the irony OF rate,
it is because Of this heroic work that pro-
tests have been raised against his inter-
ment in the French Valhalla-
The climax Of the ridiculous, however
has been achieved by the Duo de Monte
bello. He, it seems. is the grandson OF
Marshal Lannes. Marshal Lannes rests
In the Pantheon. But If the duke can
help II his bones won't stay there after
Zola's get In. He has written grand1lo-
Quent letter to M. Clemenceau. the prime
minister, demanding that he be allowed TO
take them away. After telling what
with what extraordinary pomp his oody
was borne in triumph to the Pantheon, ne
goes on: 1.-The Pantheon. whose facade
still bears the words, AUX Grande
Hommes, la Patrie RECONNAISSANCE, was
then worthy to receive and to keep this
coffin. Now this temple. with the ironic
facade, is about to receive lola, the in
suffer Of the French army In the name
Of the whole Of my family. OF my indig-
nant friends, Of all who respect the
test. and ask for authorization to trans
fer his body to the Montmartre ceme-
terry, to the family vault. where his heart
already rests. The state, which has not
feared to rob the dead. will not dare, l
would believe, to dispute their remains.
Heir of the name. guardian of the trad1-
lions Of Marshal Lannes, 1t was for me to
claim his remains, and to refuse hence
forth for him an honor which would only
be an insult to his past. 1t is duty that
1 fulfill and right that 1 claim.
The duke says that all the members of
his illustrious family are agreed that the
remains of his renowned ancestor must
not be contaminated by the presence of
Zola's corpse under the same roof. If M.
Clemenceau tells him he can bury his
grandfather elsewhere he will do so at
once And If NJ. Clemenceau says he can't
he will hire expensive lawyers and start
q legal fight. 1t is a pity there is no way
Of interviewing the ghost OF Marshal
Lannes on the subject. He would prOba-
bly, express the opinion. in the choicest
French that his ducal grandson Is max
ing an ass of himself. But the illustrious
dead have never rested very securely In
tho Pantheon Many who have been bu-
fIor no. nnNarQmnnl0llSIv
kicked out by the victors In a revolution
airy struggle. And history has trick Of
repeating itself.
Which of the two is right-the critics or
the public? That is the query which
Joseph Hooking propounds apropos of
the fact that the critics spoke slightingly
of his first literary success, "All Men Are
LIARS" which has reached circulation
of 40 900 copies, while later novel. Mis-
tress Nancy Molesworth," which they
commended, did not sell anything like as
we'll. Mr. Hooking does not answer his
question, but he draws the obvious infer
ence that what the critics say does not
count for much with the public, after all.
AS regards the relative merit Of the two
books concerned, he agrees with the
critics. But the circulation of Mistress
Nancy Wordsworth" has scarcely reached
one-third of that of the older book Per-
haps the latter owes some measure OF Its
publishers idea. Il have got a story, but
I haven't got a title" Mr.. Hooking told
him. what is it about?" he was asked.
1.-The logic of pessimism." was the re-
Spouse. Here is your title. then" ne an,
swered right away All Men Are Liars
Directly after its publication" Mr..
Hooking says, II was pelted with letters
from all over the English-speaking world.
BY one post 1 received two letters which
show how strikingly different is the way
serious nature. The writer of one Of them
said that l advocated suicide. and con-
demned me very strongly for 1t, while the
other thanked me for having opened the
eyes of young men to the pernicious be-
lief which had been poisoning society.
recall another incident in connection with
this book which was both interesting and
amusing. Some one in Australia sent me
copy of daily paper which reported the
trial of a youth who had been brought up
before the law courts in one of the cities
and found guilty of swearing to a false
hood. On being asked what he had to say
by way of justificatio he replied: Joseph
Hooking has SAID tnat all men are liars,
and don't want to be an exception to the
rule"
Probably few authors are less indebted
for their success to the critics than al
len Raine," the Welsh novelist. who has
Just published another book, under the
singularly unattractive title Neither
Storehouse Nor Barn." Yet her books
have reached the enormous circulation of
/ ia, $50 copies without counting sales,
which places her well in the running for
the blue ribbon of the book world. In
private life ALLEN Raine" is Mrs. Benyon
She is one of the rare, but |