The Washington herald., 1911-04-15
CURRENT GOSSIP OF PARIS.

The case of Henry Bernstein shows
that in Paris Jew who excels in any
art has an uncomfortable time Bern
stein has produced ten more or less sue
cessful plays. yet it was only when his
genius secured his admission to the
House of Moliere" that his enemies
thought Of raking up things against him
with view to damaging his reputation.
One wonders whether. if all Bernstein's
plays had been failures, the fact that he
is Jew would have been remembered.
One may also wonder whether. if 'Apres
MOI had been written by a Gentle who
had deserted from the army four months
before his time expired, this act of
youthful folly would have been used to
discredit him. There is an unreality
about this agitation of the "Camelots du
Roi." The truth is that their animus
is directed against Bernstein, not because
he deserted from the army, an act which
he regretted and which he offered to re-
pair, but because he is a Jew. Jealousy
is at the root of the trouble-jealousy of
a young Jew who has leaped into fame.
There is a dead-set in France to other
successful men who are not Jews Take
M. BRAND, for example. A struggling
journalist and barrister, he forced his
way to the premiership. While he was
struggling he was admired, but when
he reached the goal is enemies soon
showed their hand. Had he been a weaker
man, Brands regime would have been
Of short duration. But he showed fight.
even traducing his former friends. the
Socialists. BRAND turned his back on
Jaures and his gang in the interests of
the country. The Socialists never forgave
him, and swore to bring about his down.
fall. II BRAND failed to keep in power,
1t was not because of lack of ability.
He took his duties very seriously and
worked night and day to further the
reforms on which he had set his heart.
He is the victim of intrigue. When he
was permitted to fight his enemies in the
open he invariably came off victorious.
But he could do nothing against them
when they elected to fight in the dark.
The strange thing about Brands down.
fall is that some OF the men who helped
TO bring it about posed as his friends.
1t cannot be said that NJ. Monis' new
cabinet has been given kindly recep-
ton. Dire failure is prophesied for 1t.
NJ. Monis himself is known as a prudent
lawyer: his friends never have associated
him with genius for political admins
tration. 1t is true that in NJ. Delcasse
and NJ. Bertcaux he has two strong men
who may be expected to administer their
respective departments-the navy and
the army-thoroughly. NJ. Cruppi, too,
may be left to take care Of himself at
the foreign Office. 1t is not on ques-
tions of foreign policy or of the navy
and army that the new combination is
likely to go wrong. NJ. Monis is pledged
20 carry out certain projects of social
reform. The Socialists. who are boast
ing that they rule the cabinet, will keep
him to that pledge. The question is. Is
he strong enough for his position? The
Socialists and the advanced Radicals will
decide
They are saying in France Just now
that there are four premiers in the cab
inet-Monis, BerteauX. DelCasse. and
Cailllaux. Monis is the ostensible prem
Ter. but Berteaux is watching him and
seeking to dictate the policy OF the cab
met. while Delcasse is watching Berteaux.
and Caillaux is living low and say
ing nothing. in the hope that the other
three will come to grief. Meanwhile,
there seems to be regret in Paris that
BRAND was allowed to go. After all,
when he was chief of the ministry. he
was master Of his household. Now there
suit that the country does not quite
know who is responsible for the policy
of the government An uncertain posi-
ton which is not likely TO last long
Current political gossip in Paris retails
an attractive little anecdote, warranted
true, in connection with the recent
change of government. II is the correct
thing for incoming Ministers to call on
those retiring in order to receive the
seals of Office. NJ. Monis. the new
Premier was a little shy of calling on
NJ BRAND. so he took with him his son
and his secretary. They shook hands
with NJ. BRAND. Then a horrid pause
occurred. So every one began to say
what fine day it was. and how nice,
after all the rain. Next. after another
pause. they fell to discussing Christian
knows why. Mine is
perfectly idotic." beamed NJ. Monis. Il
was christened Ernest" "Oh, well, If il !
comes to that. my own is nothing Won /
1erful." replied NJ BRAND, politely. 'Ah. |
iemurred NJ Monis. but there's some |
hing about 'Aristide' that-er-er-"