Mexico Missouri message., 1911-01-19

~ hhkhehs RhNN'N
to respond to this nattering idea OF
having me talk my way into this won
derfui country Of America II did not
understand that perhaps Il IL the ma
tionai custom" And along this line
he spoke for several minutes pleasant.
ly and satirically. paying bis attention
to the rest of the guests and issuing
them the compliments that only a
Frenchmsn Of his ability can Issue
"But, seriously. there is nothing IN
my life that l regret more than to say
that at the age Of ffty-nlne am com
ing to America for the brst time
America is the great country OF the
woman. The entire geological process
Of the universe has meant America.
because the time was bound TO come
when the women would control. mon
sieur-w would control the milton. The
amazon was q futile effort. a sporadic
outbreak. Generalship on the part ot
the women has only paved the way
for America, the country OF. for and
by whom. II may parnphrase the
words Of your remarkable patriot. MIR
Alexander Lincoln"
"Abra ham, shouted Winthrop.
"was Il Abraham? said NJ Vavin
calmly. 1T should have been AlpAau-
der. You will pardon me If the par
ents made mistake OF that Kind
| am quite serious In what | say. aud
| say Il with all respect say II
with the most sincere emotion the
finest woman that ever knew" and
into the eyes OF the speaker there
came just the suggestion OF tear
was an American woman. The finest
woman that is living his voice grew
strong and yigorous-"is an American
woman" Then. realizing with the
Frenchman's keen intuition that this
change in tone and sentiment had
rather startled his audience. he drop
ped his voice and added. And II H.
with great satisfaction for my nation
II not for myself that | say TINT both
of these women had 10 the one In
stance fondnrss for France and IN
the second q claim on France"
He was al extraordinary man, was
this Jules Vavin. coming up to Paris
ut twenty with his little collection ot
poems under his arm. He had made
the rounds OF the publishers and the
journals only to be regarded with
amazemeni and even with laughter
II was at q time when the l'arnassians
were at their height. with the sym
bolists crowding them closely aud with
here and there such rampant indl
yiduai notes as Jean I,ichepin's lie
Blaspheme" adding literary chaos and
color TO the situation. One publisher,
more kindly. more patient aud with
more leisure than the rest. nj last
promised. after he had glanced over
the arst poem OF the series. TO look
them all over. Every one else had
handed him back his manuscript after
CHANGING at the first word and skim
ming over the titles
Poor Jules came back to the pub
fishers Office the second day his hear
full. his stomach empty. for the cheap
est OF Paris living had eaten M hi'
funds. and there was only his moi hr
who took financial interest In his wei
fare. but her income also was meagcr
To have an interview with the bend ~
the great firm that was fiachettet
principal rivni was In itself n step for
ward. he argued. And II his bnnl
should be- published
The reception was most encouraging
"Sit down. my boy" said the old gen
tlemau as jules was ushered into hi
office. an Office that had known tn
presence Of nearly every great literar!
man OF France for years Here Hug
had come with his first work. Lamar
tine and Balzac had conferred witt
this old man. and dranmtisis gnlor,
from Angler to Dumas tils had tak"I
bis counsel. IL was to young Nnvi'
another academy. dedicated to lltera
ture. having all atmosphere of It's Owl
being. in fact. universe, diiIcren
from that which made lis prrsen,
known by the Gathering cabs ouIsid
on the Boulevard DIES lfnliens.
You come from where. monsieur
he said after n few minutes commune
with himself. lingering the while Jules
manuscript. which was ON ihe desk lie
fore him when the yOun. poet entered
From IIaute.vuire. monsieur"
And you are-years Of ngeT
Twenty. monsieur"
And you hook 10 poetry as n profes
sion or trader
The old mnn's eyes twinkied. h;l
Jules did not see that. Al twenty on
sees little but oneself. one has one
own orbit. and the things aud iuil
ences one admins AT that time lie, ON
an IrrevOcable part OF the after life q
the young individual.
"Monsleur | beg your pardon 7
speak OF poetry US "A trade or n profr
sion was 10 Jules u grninitonS Insult
do not be nasty. NJ Vivian | ~
an old man. and I know many thing
| wish ! knew less Here you. hay
written many beautiful things ~
have written Them beautifully. but.
aud the old mau spoke In tones III
were genuinely SUD. 'you nave on
written poetry
, inexperienced In the irony OF u,
, PHriSiun world. Of which he WIS ufI"i
ward TO BE- the acknowledged muSIri
vavin stared horelcssly al the publiSI
err
81 am q Frcnchmnu loyal u
true a Freucbnun as there is wen
Oh Flamnnd 'ltuI We ARE moi dom
the things our instinct prompts "
are the Frnnk"nStrins uf ON intel
| lAnf No fail 4.