The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-14
PROCEEDSO OF BOOK GO ID WAR VICTIMS American Countess Is Au- thOrity Upon Shake
 speare's Works SOME LITERARY GOSSIP Countess De Chambrun Is Daughter of Judge Nicholas Longworth-Paris
 Recalls Tales of Fabre, fthe
 Homer of the Insects"
SOME LITERARY GOSSIP
By HAYDEN CHURCH

Paris, October s12 Especial Nowadays it is no uncommon thing to hear that titled parsonage has tried his or her hand at authorship. Even Kings and Queens G'Carmen Sylva'' is a notable example,, not to mention no end of grand dukes and duchesses,- peers and. peeresses and lesser social lights, have given us literary work at one time or another, and precious bad most of them have been. ,a'=s-- e-..s-i i -...s-@-...'
 But to hear of a fair bearer of proud title (and an American, tool, who not only has genuine literary talent, but must be one of the most erudite women of her time in one particular direction. is quite another matter. Such is the Countess de Chambrun (nee Clara Eleanor Longworth), -whose new novel, Pieces of the Game, has just been published and who, moreover, has announced that she will devote all the profits from its sale to helping the victims bf the war
 The countess herself is one of these victims, for the enemy is in possession of St. Mihiel where she and her noble husband live, and undoubtedly is regaling himself in luxurious ease at her beauti- IuI HOme.A The countess A4lS4l a OauSnLer of Judge Nicholas Longworth, and her grandfather, another Nicholas, belonged to the early colonial family and took part in the founding of Cincinnati. She married Count Adalbert de Chambrun, who is at the front, 14 years ago Che was then military attache at Washington) and has lived happily ever after. The count was lieutenant in the famous African expedition from Algiers to Lake Tchad and the Congo, where he gathered glory and praise from his country for his ex- cellence as an officer and his bravery in the face of duty. He was. seriously wounded and was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor for distinguished services and the gold medal for geo. graphical and longitudinal observations
 The Countess de. Chambrun, who is now living at the Hotel Plaza, in Paris is probably one, of the most ardent of Shakespearean lovers and students. Her first book. published two years ago, dealt with The Sonnets of Shakespeare" and she has another literary god in John Florio, the famous English translator of Montaigne. When the writer talked with her, the other day, the countess said:
 Tt is rather difficult to say. when l first began to be particularly interested in the study of Shakespeare cannot remember the time. when was not in terested in some phase of his work
 For All Ages
 My grandfather who as an inter preter of his poetry was more remark able than any have since heard, read or acted them, familiarized me with much of the more. dramatic part of, Shake spearean literature before could make letters spell a word. Since could hold a book l have gone on reading and re- reading for the eternal charm of Shake speare is just this: He is not for one age but for all severn.
 And your favorite play, countess?"
 Plays which appeal to us the least in youth become the favorites in latter years. and personally I now care more for the unpopular comedy of Loves La bor Lost than it's more celebrated suc- cessor, so that I don't despair of one day discovering Timon."
 John Florio!'' The name had no sooner dropped from her lips than two books were brought and placed before me. Even the privilege of holding them seemed sacred trust, for rare and precious are these books of F'orio that to Countess de .Chambrun have united many a knotty problem on Shakespeares writings The late Professor Furness stated that no modern critic, as far as he knew, had ever read Florio's original text.
 The Countess de ChamDrun has not only done so. but last year succeeded in ac- Quiring the whole of Flerie's works. In her nasty flight from St. Mihiel when lug gage, consisted in the few necessaries, treasures had to be left to their fate. A sole exception was mace in these two E1orio books.
 Books in German Hands
 'I am sorry to say" declared the coun- tess, that my copy of lile dictionary and FNorio's translation of Montaigne's es- says has fallen into the cultured hands of the 'Boches' as they were too heavy to bring among the slender stock of per sonal belongings which I was able to carry from St. Mihiel on September 2, but still have the copies of the First and Second Frutes Guild from Twelve Trees of Divers But Delightsome Tastes ''
 In turning the conversation back to the subject that began our interview, her new novel. I was told that another novel