The sun., 1919-04-20
MAURICE NAETERLNCK
Tremendous Activity in All Branches
of Endeavor and Revival of Fol-
derols Give Vitality and
Brilliancy Everywhere

desire. A king or a prince, poet or a
peasant, It is all the same. Paris never
occupies herself more than three days
as a rule with people or things which
do not concern her.
The fashion experts laughed heartily
at the Juror created in America by
Mrs. Wilson's velvet toque OF bois de
rose (rosewood), and for a few days
there was a display Of materials in the
shop windows OF that color; 1t is prob
able also that that incident will have
a deciding influence with many women
in the selection OF the shade OF their
new spring frock. But bengaline in
bois de rose. for instance. costs SO a
meter, which may cause some to hesi-
tate.
Mrs. Wilson arrived in Paris this
time in a tailored costume OF poilu
bleu (horizon blue). a compliment to
the French army. but no French
woman has thought OF doing likewise:
in fact she tries to get as far as posi-
BILE away from anything suggesting
uniforms and war.
The polemists have taken a few
shots at President Wilson. A weekly
| political sheet. LIE Cri de Parts,
| apropos of the discussions going on as
TO the classification OF Robins work.
published on it's front page recently a
cartoon of that sculptor's maste rplece,
! lie Penseur (the thinker, but with
the upper part Of the face. nose, fore
head and eyes. outlining the we'll
known features OF the President Of the
| United States, and underneath the
| M %. T.
cunningly done that only clever people
saw through the joke. The whole edi-
ton was seized at once by the authori-
ties. so that only few copies got into
circulation. The French never could
resist being spirituelle even when IL is
at their own expense. French SOL
der will joke in the midst of a major
operation and when undergoing the
most excruciating pain. This is the
quality that makes the French nation
indomitable. and II Mr.. Wilson ever
saw or heard OF the clever cartoon on
himself he probably took II in that
way.
| Gabrielle d'Annunzio Is being very
nasty. but that is nothing for him.
Every one knows how that celebrated
| italian poet has been feted and wined
and dined in Paris. and even his fail
ures in more than one theatrical VEN
ture. when he managed to sink large
sums of other peoples money. were
lavishly praised by his French con-
freres OF the press. But now he turns
round and in a At OF temper attacks
France with his virulent pen, hauling
over old stories Of the theft OF italian
works Of art during Napoleons cam
paign. even referring to the theft OF
the famous quadrangle, which every
one knows was returned and now dec
crates the facade Of the old Church OF
Saint Marco In Venice.
The French press replied with the
greatest forbearance, saying they
; would not hold their esteemed friend
and contemporary responsible for such
an i'll bred insult gathered from a
newspaper article only. Now he has
added another bon mot to his roper.
toire by apostrophizing President Will
son as Phomme a trente-deux dents
tthe man with thirty-two teeth. Al.
ter all. what else might be expected OF
man who robbed his own nuptla
couch to write LIE Ecu (Fire)?
Love Affairs OF Victor Hugo.
While we are on the subject of in
discretions. Louis Barthou, member o.
tho French Academy. Is out with 6
new book, Les Amours dun Poete,
which is nothing more or less than tn,
love affairs Of Victor Hugo. Jullettt
Drouet. Nine. Hugo. his wife. anC
, Sainte- Beuve. a quantity OF hitherto
unpublished material. A man of tn,
authors high position entering int
the tomb. as 1t were. and tearing ava,
the pail from the defenceless dead ha.
naturally come In for some sharp crit
cism from his peers. but that has no
prevented the book from selling iik,
wildfre: the FIRST Ave editions hay,
been rapidly exhausted and people ar,
crying for more.
At the same time the Victor Hug
Society has been celebrating his ami
: versary in a meeting at the Sorbonne
) He. they claim. has his par In the vic
: tory. and they quote these prophets
words Of the great poet:
"Oh! The hour will come!" he wrote
I'VE feel It approach. the prodigiou
! revenge! We can. hear even now GU
, triumphant future. marching witt
. great strides In History. Al
tof q sudden, some day, France Wi