The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-25

enceau, has just started on tour as
a lecturer. He follows an illustrious
example, that of M. Anatole France
and he goes to the same country, the
Argentine Republic, which appears ca
ger for French culture-political and
literary. The ex-premier will also visit
Brazil.
The programme of his tour is copious
and solid. He will give six lectures at
Buenos Ayres. and will repeat them at
lilo de Janerio. His general subject ID
democracy six aspects of which he
will treat: The advent and establish
ment of democracy to begin with, and
after that, democracy in its relation
to parliament; to socialism, to gov
eminent, to religion and to war. The
programme Is vast and daring.
M. Clemenceau says that he has not
written a word of his lectures. He will
speak on every occasion extempoe,
from notes which his secretary has pre-
pared. He Is at work on book on
democracy, and may be presumed to
be pretty well up on his subject. His
tour, like any prima donnas, is managed
by an impresario, and the terms Will
compare favorably with those given to
operate stars. His contract assures
him 5000 for each lecture, and all his
expenses He will be away three
months, but l know from himself that
he Will be willing to prolong his trip
very much longer if he should be in
vited to lecture in the United States,
a country he Is exceedingly interested
In, so there is a splendid chance for
some enterprising American impresario.
Mine host Niche Pons is a poet who
keeps a wineshop near the Central mar
kets. At one of the recent elections
to the French Academy one vote was re-
corded for him. 1t was only one, but
it was a genuine vote, and was record
ed for him, and Pons. the poet and bar
man, has rejoiced ever since.
Who of the immortals voted for him?
The ballot Is secret at the Academy,
but Pons made shrewd guess. nj.
Maurice Barres, writer and academi-
clan, is also member of parliament for
the neighborhood of which Pons keeps
the wine shop, where he serves his Gus
toners and writes his verses. Now
Pons at the polls has always voted for
M. Barre and makes no secret of it.
One good turn deserves another, and
he feels sure that the one vote to his
name at the Academy must have been
recorded by M. Barres. He determined
to thank him, and invited him to a wine
party. Mr. Barres went with pleasure,
little knowing what was awaiting HIM
In the wineshop stood something on
an easel yelled. Pons uncovered a
bronze medallion of M. Barres, with the
inscription, I'm memory of a noble GEES
ture-Michel Pons." The noble gesture
was voting for Pons the poet at an
Academy election.
1t was an awkward moment for NJ
Barres. He may or may not have voted
for Pons at the Academy, but he had
not bargained for being publicly
thanked by him. The rest of the i'm
mortals might hardly appreciate he
attention paid to the winekeeper-po
But M. Barres got out of his difficulty
as neatly he could. He still would
neither confirm nor deny the noble ges-
ture,' but agreed, in return for the
medal which Pons had stamped in his
honor, to give him his portrait with
an autograph. He thought for a mo-
ment, then wrote: ITO Pons, the re-
storer of the arts. from Maurice Barres.'
The academician and deputy has set
what may be an awkward precedent
for himself. Every constituent of his
who has ever written in prose or verse
will stand for the Academy and expect
to be backed by him, or will vote for
an opposition candidate at the polls.