The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-25
bR|AND NAMED FOR |MMORTALS Great Socialist May Be Elected To Famous
 Academy.

Paris, Oct. 25.-Arthur Meyer, di- rector of the royalist organ, The Gau- lois, proposes discreetly, almost anony- mously, yet unmistakably, the candi- dacy of Aristide Briand for one of the vacant seats in the French academy a striking demonstration of the force of the sacred union'' and a good ex- ample of the mastery Briand has gain ed over the French people.
 Arthur Meyer, Catholic and royalist. editor of The Gaulos, proposing for the supreme honor of a chair among the Forty Immortals" Aristide Bri- and, author of the separation of church and state, who evolved from the most extreme socialistic circles and is still hopelessly distanced from mon- archie or reactionary principles, is something Parisians never, before the war, would have classed among the possibilities.
 Death has been cruel to the acad- fmy," M. Meyer says, reviewing its his- tory during the first two years of the war. Jules Lemaitre departed on the morrow of the declaration of war; Comte de Nun, who had time to sound the charge in unforgettable articles; Mezieres, Paul Hervier, Francis Charmes, Emile Faguet, the Marquis de Segur, will not see the promised land, that is, the reconquered land {; seven empty chairs. The names of the candidates to occupy them are known. I shall carefully avoid pre- dieting the choice that shall be made, but shall be astonished if there are not seats reserved to the generals that and to the statesmen that shall have prepared that victory"
 In his article on Paris as 1t Is seen to-day, M. Meyer devotes several para graphs to different academicians, in- cluding the president of the republic, and to the decrease in his popularity during the war.
 "I am unaware whether our politi- clans have such curiosit1es,'' says M Meyer, "but at every important event I hasten to note for their benefit some observations that I made. At the cinema for instance, the spectator ap- plauds or remains quiet; he nevef pro- tests. Occasionally he laughs, and I have seen some who wept. The pa triotic or military films encounter al- ways the same success. The hag-all the f1ags-are saluted with enthusiasm. I know some personages who have re- tained all the favor of the public and for whom it will continue to grow. They are, in the first place, the sover- eigns of the allied countries and our illustrious general-in-chief, followed by all the great generals, all the great sailors of the entente.
 "The apparition of M. Poincare on the screen on his return from the voy- age to Russia provoked a triple round of applause. Since his departure for Bordeaux and up to these later days, I have thought noticed a certain re- action in the sentiment of the specta- tor.
 During the first month of the year 1916, was received at the Elysee and the conversation turned upon popu- larity and it's caprtces.
 "'Yes, yes, I know M. Poincare told me, with a modesty that had a certain nobility. Paris shows less warmth toward me; Paris bouts on account of my departure. What Pa ris wanted was that we should remain at our posts. The entire government had decided to do so. What Paris would have wished, if the departure was judged necessary, was that should leave at full noon in an open carriage. I, also, would have wished to do so. It is known now that it was the general headquarters of that army that, from considerations purely strategic, imperiously demanded the departure of the government and even regulated minutely the ceremonial
 When was taking leave from Monsieur Poincare, he said: Let time do it's work; it will dissipate this mis- understandings
 "He, was good prophet; should lack in loyalty if should not recog- nize that the thermometer has risen several degrees in his favor during the past few months. When he shows himself at the front, and he goes very often, he is applauded again, but I repeat it, the enthusiasm now is reserved for the uniform. Civil cos- tune, whatever it may be, lacks pres tige. That was the opinion of Felix Faure. Accordingly, one day he ask ed great artist, one of my friends, to design a uniform for him. I do not remember whether the design was executed, but the uniform was not. The constitution had not provided for fha "a sen