New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-05
FRENCH HONOR
DEAD LIEUTENANT
Faculty of Letters Pro-
claims Merit of Theses
Written at Front.
By NINE. JEAN ALCIDE PICARD.

Paris, May 12.-Yesterday at the
Sorbonne "A particularly moving cere-
mony took place. The Faculty of Let
ters proclaimed its judgment on the
thesis of NJ. Maurice Mason, second
lieutenant Of the - Infantry, killed
in the Argonne on April 16, 1915, and
who, before the war was ably repre-
senting at the University of Friburg
the tradition, the civilization and the
intellectual influence of France. lie
was to come on March 4 to support
his two theses, one on the religion Of
Jean Jacques Rousseau, the other on
an edition of the Vicar of Savoy.
On account of the fighting in his
sector it was not possible for Lieu
tenant Mason TO obtain his leave in
time, and the sustaining had to be
postponed. 1t was hoped it could take
place before long, but the news came
of the young officers death.
The faculty, as the dean. NJ. Alfred
Croiset, said in his address opening
the session, had not thought that it's
part should end with the young officers
death, but it wanted to proclaim SOL
EMMY the merit of the man who sue
ceeded in accomplishing in the midst
OF the fighting a work full of ability.
The faculty wanted to say with what
pride it would have conferred the
degree Of doctor on the lieutenant
whom death deprived Of this honor
After the reports on the theses had
been read, VI. Croiset declared in the
customary form, while all eyes were
fixed on the empty place at the table
where VI. Mason should have been
standing, that the theses were deserv-
ing for their author the degree of doc
tor with very honorable mention.
NJ. Masson's thesis on the religion
Of Jean Jacques Rousseau has a
preface dated April 20, 1915. and a
postscript written in September, 1915.
This postscript seems characteristic
Of the spirit animating many of the
combatants in whose life thinking has
great part. Il says:
1T may seem impertinent or frvol-
GUS TO amuse ones self 20 correct
proofs when coming back from the
first line trenches and to think of q
book when the life of the country is
at stake. Myself have thought thus
sometimes. Yet do not be scandalized
TO excess. When, after spending the
night with nc watching the barb wires.
my men come back into their sheltered
woods they relax and find themselves
longing again for the arts of peace
They carve sticks. design little gar
dens. tame birds, improvise themselves
jewellers to make trinkets out of the
shell that has missed them. | have
followed their example. | have not
thought / should turn my back on these
recreations which offered themselves
20 me, and this book shall have been
TO me. if you will. something like the
souvenir ring chiselled in the field.
Moreover, if we look at things in
a wider manner, the Reorganization of
Rousseau is not i'll timed in these days
of fighting No one has known how TO
lay down more strongly than the'author
of THE Social Contract" the maxims
Of citizen under arms, and il is only in
q nation modified for her defence that
one can accept this alienation which
he claimed. the total alienation Of
each associate with all his rights to the
whole community But here again
Jean Jacques reminds US that the citi-
Ten is not all in a man. The days
shall come when the national problem
shall not be the unique problem, when
victory and peace. delivering us Of the
collective anxiety, shall give back to
each of our souls the tragedy of in
divdual destiny. Then what the Vicar
of Savoy has said about the real price
of life shall take back all mis- sense.
Meanwhile his word is not useless. and
many. without knowing it, owe to it.
perhaps, something of their courage
and serenity when dying confident in
the revenge of Right and with the hope
of the just which never deceives.'