The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-12
OLD RUE SAINT MARTIN

Nj in literary associations than
= Paris. Much has been written
on the subject in the past. but those
earlier books were invariably confined
to the city by the Seine as linked with
the lives and works of great French
men long since dead. 1t was as il
Paris as a literary factor had ceased
with the passing of Hugo and Dumas
and Balzac; also as if Paris had al
ways been exclusively literary pos
session of the French.
An entirely new point Of view is
introduced in book to be issued
this week from the press of Double
day, Page & Co. The book is THE
Paris of the Novelists," by Arthur
Of the Novelists appeared three years
ago. and who in the interim has writ
ten Fifth Avenue" and Bottled UP
in Belgium" the latter the account
of his experiences as one of the Amer
leans working behind the German lines
for the relief of Belgium and the in
vaded French departments. While
following the old literary trails in
Paris and throughout rural France the
author has attempted to blaze new
trails possessing a background not
only of French literature but also Of
the literatures of England and Amer
lea. This with the cooperation of
many of the living authors.
The Haunts of Tricotrin.
OF the later Englishmen Leonard
Merrick is an author whe has always
been as much a novelist of Paris as of
London. while mis- poet Trlcotrin is the
most delightful Bohemian who has
come upon the scene of fiction since
the appearance of Du Maurier's
"Trilby." THE name of the cafe fire.
quented by Tricotrin and his circle
Mr.. Merrick has told the author, has
been changed to the Cafe of the Beau
tiful Future The name is, l believe
imaginary. There ought to have beer
an artistic cafe in Paris called the
Cafe of the Beautiful Future so
have done what could to fill the void.
OF the real Tricotrin. There wer,
many. but my Tricotrin is not a por.
trait of any one in particular. This
applies equally to Pitou and the cafe
Tricotrins origin in fiction? / sup
pose. primarily. sympathy with the
French temperament in French art
and the fascination and the true types
Of Montmartre-as distinguished from
the night visitors from the Crane
Observation-Disclosures exercised on me-
"All the same, when / wrote my frs
story Of Tricotrin and Pitou 9th
Tragedy of a Comic Song) had n
notion that they would ever reappeal
in any further story. Their longevit,
was not designed by me. They hav'
persisted because, to me at all events
they were very much alive. very dear
Ill health has prevented me from see
ing Paris since the early days of tn,
war. and 1 am wondering. very anx
iously whether shall find them aliv,
when I go back-in other words, hov
much of the life of Montmartre tn,
war has left. 1t Is quite possible tina
may ind that l can never writ'
OF them any more, for lacking tn,
familiar atmosphere 1 think the
would be pathetic figures. Personally
found 1t sad to meet the Musketeer
again in their middle age and Wing
Ans Ayres.' But as war does not re
create human nature, though We ar
asked to believe that this one ha
recreated it, there will be new Tri
cotrins and Pitous born in France il
every generation. Not war but tn
end Of the world will have to COM
before her artistry and sentimen
perish"
Where Locke Found His Vagabon,
II second Bohemian OF the las
two decades were to be placed by tn,
side Of Tricotrin American choic
would almost certainly be for the her,
of w. j. Locke's 1.-THE Beloved Vaga
bond" or the origin of that characte
Mr.. Locke informed the author @
1.-THE Paris of the Novelists": Para
got was taken from no individual
When starting him my memory Wen
back to the early eighties, when use
10 fool about the rive gauche, an
where one often saw In the sam
cafe, day after day, some elderly philt
sophie ruffian, generally fiercely beard
ed, laying down the law on sculptur
painting and the non-existence OF til
Deity. Some were veritable debas,
geniuses-Verlaine OF course the shin
ing exemplar-some were still 80 Gale
4