The sun., 1916-10-29
FRENCH MASTERS
WORK DURING WAR
Some, However, Find 1t Men,
tally Impossible to DO
Their Best.
VIEWS OF THE SAvANTS
Painters and Composers Too
Old for Trenches Tell
Of Their Efforts.
Special coryesposdenee 10 TINS sux.

Specfdf correspondence 10 n Sun.
PARIS, Oct. 11.-"Have you been able
to work during the past two years. 10 a
question that the Figaro IL putting. not
to those whose work has been to fight.
for the difference between the present
war against Germany and that Of 1870,
which ended In defeat In some six
months. shows how well they have been
able to work. but to artists. writer's,
dramatists, philosophers and other civil
lans whom age or other causes have kept
from army service.
The eminent philosopher. Theodule
Ribot. now nearing his seventy-seventh
birthday. one OF the deans OF the lnsti-
tute. replies; During the first four
months Of the war l was unable to do
anything outside my professional work.
Since then 7 have adapted myself little
by little. II is true that the subject
which occupies me. The Value Of the
Finalist Conception OF History Is not
entirely out Of touch with present
events"
Eduard Brandy. the great scientist. TO
whom wireless t%elegraphy. so valuable
at the present time. In due. writes: MY
laboratory has not been closed and
friends OF French science have continued
TO facilitate In certain measure the pur-
suit OF my research work. II then spe-
cial difficulties. not all due to the state
Of war. have made my wrok slow n
trying. they a " not suspended 1t for a
single moment
what saint-Saens Has Done.
Saint-Saens. the composer. who his
week celebrated his e~ighty-trst birthday,
has worked, but with "A limitation.
In the last two ycsrs," he says. 81
have written quite an important onpo-
sition for the San Francisco exhibition,
where | conducted II myself. two motets,
some melodies. an elegy for violin ana
piano. a piece for the trombone. "A pam
phlc,. 'Germophilie.' and ! have just I'm
islied a musical accompaniment FOR ON
ne badine pas avec ramour' at the
Odeon Theatre. But ! have not been
able TO supply NJ. Gheusi with a ballet
which he asked for the Opera Comiduc.
To write joyful music at the present mo-
ment would be. for me. quite impos-
sible. :"
Frederic Mason, the historian OF Ma
poleon. whose 8? years have kept him
outside the battlefield Ito his regret),
has not been able To work at his books.
but has written articles for the cause OF
widows. wounded, mut!lated and Grip
pied.
]. f. Blanche. the painter. has never
worked so much. but It a been AT
writing. not at painting. The only
painting he did In the first eighteen
months was an occasional work for n
war charity. He has written six large
volumes OF an artists war journal and
has three more to write.
For the last six months / a taken
up my brushes again" he writes. land
A.. ..- In, NJ naAA 20 30 al
though the nightmare that haunts US is
War Urges d'Indy - Work.
Vincent d'Indy, the composer and d.
rector OF the Schola Cantorum. seems
rather to be urged to work by war.
81 have finished an important work
begun ten years CO.. and ! may say
that I believe that l have never worked
so TRANQUILITY as during the frs, autumn
OF the war. when all the 'funks' hastily
left Paris. and no bores or laundering
visitors disturbed one. I have never
thought that the spirit OF an artist.
worthy Of the name. could be struck
with atrophy or s~terility because Of ex-
ternal circumstances. however grave.
Beethoven composed his tenth quartet.
a concerto and three sonatas during the
occupation OF Vienna by Napoleon's
army. when Wagram was at It's hottest.
and as for myself. I have always had
such absolute confidence In our victory
and In the full crushing OF the deadly
German power which was dragging our
art TO the depths that the calm neces-
sary for work has never failed me-"
LIE Bsrne Idle 10 Months.
Another composer. Fernand lie Borne,
found II impossible to write anything
after August I, 1914. but when 1916
brought back some appearance OF nor:
ma life to Paris. when ridlcuiously
short skirts appeared IN the streets and
restaurants. tea resorts. music halls and
clnemas became crowded." he tried to
resume work. but wonders what the re-
suit will be worth.
J. p. Laurens. the veteran painter.
OF whose sons is q prisoner, sends
q hasty note: II can only toll you that
| am at work under this universal tenn
pest and strive to keep myself erect de
spite the lightning and the storm The
OK returns to his p%loughing! Allow mo.
monsieur. to take my brushes up again"
Viscomte Francois do Curel, the
playwright and mighty hunter. whose
property lies In Lorraine and has seen
much fighting. says: -" set myself
to steady work At once after the battle
Of the Marine. and my eager toll has not
relaxed since"