The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-19

By Kate Buss

turn he joked. He gave an illustration
which, II should translate literally, would
not make his point, 50 transpose 1t bit:
Rose rhymes with pose, does 1t not? and
bow with nhowT'
This iightness Of spirit seems character
istic OF the Fort circle, and It was with no
apparent sense Of the importance Of a poet
laureate that they discussed the literature
OF France and Of America, frocks. babies,
permanent waves and q dozen other cub
jects. / learned that young Francois Paul
was merry baby in spite of his pallor and
that Helene Paul could already both sing
and dance, heard q bit Of stage gossip and
then the conversation turned to books. The
center table round which we sat was covered
with papers and N. Fort picked up q pile
Of proofs.
GIT IS my first book to be translated into
English" he passed it to me for ex-
animation. 1T win appear in few weeks
read that It had been translated BY John
Strong Newberry and was to be published
BY Dufield Co. 1t is large volume. and
as examined 1t saw that 1t is very rep
resentative Of the Fort qualities of vigor
and image, that it was gay with the sane
humor that is not always foundjn French
poets and that it was of infinite variety Of
subject.
ut will appear just as am about to
start on my first visit to the Western Hemis-
phere, first to Brazil and the Argentine and
then north to Panama." the poet explained.
why not further north?' 1 asked.
81 shall 20 to all your large North Amer
lean cities next season." he told me.
ALREADY my manager has arranged it.
am to deliver a dozen lectures which will
he followed BY my own poem. read By
Madame Fort and myself"
May one know your subjects" he was
asked.
''willingly," he assented and namel sew
erai.
The FIRST "Les Temps Heroiq1es de Sym
bolisne de Theatre d. Artet les Premiere
Oeuvrcs de Maeferiinck'' concerns NJ Forts
own beginnings in Paris. He was only
eighteen when he established the Theatre
dart and, without means to pay them, en-
rolled actors and decorators in his enter
and was the first manager to have the in
telligent idea to unite on the same program
the old and the news, for example, the
names of Christopher Marlowe and Pierre
Quillard. 1t was through this venture of
Paul Fort as manager of a theatre, now
so little remembered that he is much better
known as a poet, that Paul verlaine, Remy
de Gourmont, Rachilde, Charles van Ler.
berghe and Maurice Maeterlinck were first
introduced in the theatre, and out of bis
experiment grew the present "L'Oeuyre."
ASKED n. Fort IL he considered IL
i necessary to learn English before be came
to lecture to us, and mentioned the difficult
ties that Maeterlinck encountered.
But I am assured that a great many
Americans understand French?" he said
with a rising infection, which made the
statement a question.
"Quite true told hir but forgive
Us IL we are more apt in spirit than IN
letter. Your country should send us more
frequent guests
Here was an appropriate moment for an
exchange of compliment and no one failed
to add a polite word. Presently he showed
me a list Of subjects for his lectures and I
stopped reading 1t at Lies Poetes ct Les
Josrndp1 en- France to ask il he con-
sidered the newspaper the fitting place for
poetry.
The best in the world" he answered, his
dark eyes sparkling with decision. You
have CHANGED upon a favorite subject. But
! shall make enemies IL I discuss it,"
No one spoke, and after considering a
moment he continued: Poetry is
natural expression and should be the COM
mon form Of literature, therefore the daily
paper, where It will reach everybody, is its
proper place."