Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-30
Keenest Thoughts of French Patriarch
in THE Opinion of Amatole France

The opinions of Anatole France. as
recorded by Paul Gsell and TRANSLATED
by Ernest Boyd. in the volume of that
title just published by Alfred A. Knopf
are a rich and fascinating transcription
of the thought of the French master
which future generations will cherish
as they do Boswelrs Life of johnson.
The following interesting excerpts
from the book indicate with remark
able clarity both the keen powers OF
observation and the resulting philoso-
ply possessed by this grand old man OF
French letters:
A Bold Observation on Women
collectors are like lovers; passion
makes up for want of money. Beau
tiful women are often more deeply
touched by the fervent and insisteni
prayers of poor SWANS than by the
dazzling liberality of financiers rolling
in wealth.
However. for the conquest of won.
en- and masterpieces, it is better to be
both rich and passionate
The strategy of Bcelzebub was, in
effect. simple and infallible. If be
wished to dominate a woman, he began
by depriving her of the essential. Aft.
er that first sacrifice, it seems. she
could no longer refuse him anything
She became his most devoted slave
And there was an element of truth in
that superstition, for women blindly
obey the man who arouses their senses
"A nan with a decoration can wear
a soft hat without mourning the hui
initiating contempt of the concierges
That. at least, is something. He need
no longer be so punctilious about his
appearance, and the stains on his waist
coat are overlooked. In short, the
piece of ribbon is a substitute for BEN
zine. This emblem may also be useful
in case of a fragrant outrage on public
morals. How could a police spy seize
in his clutches a gentleman whose but
topbole is adorned with red? But. of
course, this supposition is entirely
gratuitous, for a man with a decoration
is always a man of honor
Poets and Politics
"Tbe immortals read nothing. They
crown their new colleagues without
having ever opened their works. They
distribute literary prizes on the same
principle. for they find it works.
Il am surprised that you should take
this 70 heart. After all. what happens
in the academy is nothing new. Writ
ers have almost always owed their
success to politics"
when our venerable p~edagogues
used to comment upon The Knights
of Aristophanes, they would carefully
analyze the parabasis and point out the
commutation, anapests, the macron.
And they taught us that this play was
a perfect example Of the style known
as Old Comedy. But you will readily
conceive that it had other attractions
for the sailors Of Piraous. What de-
lighted them was to see Aristophanes
grabbing Comrade Cleon by the seat
Of the trousers. The performance was
punctuated with laughs and shouts and
SLABS. ! suspect things were pretty
rough. In a word, it was politics.
at is right for m author to feel the
pangs of common humanity. and some
times to intervene in the quarrels of
the market-place. Not that I think he
should fawn on any party or have a
finger in the electoral pie. 1 expect
him to preserve the independence of
his spirit. to dare always to tell the
truth. and to denounce ever the in