The Washington herald., 1921-04-03
Frances Devotees Chant Praises.
- REAT is Anatole Francei And John Lane
r is his prophet

REAT is Anatole France! And John Lane
4 is his prophet
From his dual establishment, The Bodley
Head OF London and New York whence issue choice
translatons of the choicest foreign works. Lane has
sounded the praises of the more than distinguished
Gaic Academician for 10, these many years. His
propaganda has been triply beneficial; to himself
to the author, and most of all to that considerable
section of the British and American reading public
which regards books something more than wall
decorations or stop-gaps for the idle hour.
Now he comes forward with a symposium of
appreciation of the French philosopher. novelist and
historian which cannot but be received with eager
ness by Frances thousands of votaries in the
United States. 1t takes up full issue of The
Bodleian, Lanes publishing prospectus. and Is
panegyric to which leading English authors and
critics have willingly lent their voices.
The number is dedicated to IN, Anatole
France, the greatest living writer. as some small
acknowledgement Of the debt which English read
ers owe to the creator of Syvestre Bonnard, NJ.
Bergeret and rAbbe Coignard, to the philosopher,
the happy ronist, and the daring student of hu-
manity.' This claim Of contemporaneous first rank
seems not unfounded. Further, some of us, loyal
Anatolians, willing to assign him niche in
that august shrine reserved for the greatest writers
OF all time
That an author of Frances type could achieve
his present popularity in America is assurance that
the nations thought has grown both broader and
deeper. 1t it inconcevable that such a reception
would have been accorded works so instinct with
glorifed paganism, disregard of Anglo-Saxon moral
construction, and scintilant rreverance fifty years
ago. One need only recall the tempests Of right
eous indignation which whirled about Robert In
gersoll and his modest nonconformy to appreciate
what a storm of disapprobation would have blown
from pulpit-and press-against attempt to in
troduce Anatole Frances works, had they been in
existence at that artistically remote date.
And now they are included in college reading
courses They may in time penetrate that cita-
del of seemliness, the village library.
1t was not easy introduction. however. The
beginning of the second decade of the present CEN
tury found Anatole France about well known
outside American ltterateurs the Chinese nature
poets In that day. Penguin Island" frequently
was thought of as pathological treatise, and
IN. Bergeret in Paris" a guide book on the
Baedeker order. The quickening of literary cosmo-
politansm which the World War has done so much
to further has brought Anatole France to be fire.
side friend, however, and much the rage that it
is longer sign of advanced intellect to quote
his works or criticize them, source of chagrn to
the thought-dabblers.
Anatole France has the faculty Of prose-
lytizng all who live with him in his volumes. Most
authors of art profound and classic in atti-
tude compel respect but gain few affections They
may be hotly defended because adherence to ad-
vanced views necessitates hot defense but they are
more deities and pedagogues than inspiring spirits
and counseors. But Frances art is self-concealed
and his classicism is not that Of cold marbles and
motionless history but that of the living models
that served the sculptor and the revvfcaon of the
tumultuous present of olden empires through his
magic pen. Neither he nor his scenes and charae-
ters> are remote from the readers and through
them his philosophy and famous irony are subtly
injected One is charmed into acceptance of his
tenets and it is difficult mental fact indeed to
shake off the strong though delicate letters imposed
by his transcendent clevcrness.