The New York herald., 1922-04-25
DECORATIONS GIVEN
AT MOLIERE DINNER
DIR. Sloane, Seth Low and
Brander Matthews Made
Officers of Legion.
JoFFRE GUEST OF HONOR
Shares Homage of American
Academy With Andre Chew
rill0n and Maurice DOnnay.

Three French academicians. Andre
Chevrillon, Maurice Donnay and Joseph
Jacques Cesaire Joffre. were, with the
French Ambassador. Jules Jusserand.
the guests of honor at the Ritz-Carlton
last night of the American Academy OF
Arts and Letters in celebration of the
tercentenary of the birth of Moliere.
The dinner was marked not only by
the presence and acknowledgements OF
Marshal Joffre and his literary col
leagues Of the Academic Franchise. but
also by the comforting upon DR.. Will
lam Milligan Sloane, president OF the
American Academy, Seth Low. president
emeritus of history at Columbia Univer-
sity. and Prof Brander Matthews, chan
ccellor OF the American Academy. the
rank of officer of the Legion of Honor.
Ambassador Jusserand presented the
crosses.
Probably 800 persons sat down in the
ballroom Of the Ritz to acclaim the
distinguished academicians, and among
them were persons bearing great names
in American literature and art. Among
those at table were Mr.. and Mrs. Ham
lin Garland. Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas n.
Rhinelander. Mr.. and Mrs. Finley ].
Shepard, Mr. and Mrs. Austen G. Fox.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold w. Drummer, Mr..
and Mrs. Cass Gilbert. Mr.. and Mrs,
George W. Wickersham, Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Underwood johnson. Owen
johnson, DR.. Henry Van Dyke, CASTOR
Liebert, Consul General of France in
New York. and Mile Liebert: Mr.. and
Mrs. Otto III. Kahn, President and Mrs.
S. L. Mezes, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph PEN
nell. DIR. and Mrs. Henry s. Pritchett.
Mrs. Andrew Carnegie. Victor More
wetz, Mr.. and Mrs. George L. Armour.
Mr.. and Mrs. Allan Marquand, Mr.. and
Mrs. William Roscoe Thayer, Mr.. and
Mrs. Augustus Thomas, Mr.. and Mrs.
Whitney Warren. Mr.. and Mrs. C.
Grant LaFarge. Mr.. and Mrs. George
Grey Barnard. Prof. and Mrs Henri
Chamard, Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Dam
rosch, Charles Dana Gibson. Mr.. and
Mrs. Childe Hassan. David Jayne Hill.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carl Melchers and Mr..
and Mrs. George Arliss.
DR.. Sloane, greeting the French guests.
called attention to the courtesy OF the
French Academy last summer when II
threw its doors open to DR.. Nicholas
Murray Butler. president of Columbia.
and entertained him as it's private
guest, thing literally unprecedented
Now. DR. Sloane continued, II sends NJ
Chevrillon ard NJ. Donnay. one the
foremost. living Moliere scholar and the
other celebrated as the interpre ter to
France Of the Anglo-Saxon spirit and
as interpreter to Anglo-Saxons u the
French epirit. to express its high ap-
probation of America.
"At times we chafe under the limita-
tions on prompt action, too often on noble
impulse" he said For this reason, and
because they lead to misunderstanding.
we are shy OF treaties. 1t has been said
that our Senate would debate the moral
law IL laid before 1t in the shape Of a
treaty. Far. far closer are the ties
between France and America
All standing. toast was drunk to the
health OF NM Chevrillon and Donnay
and to Marshal Joffre. and there were
many shouts OF enthusiasm as the vet
eran French Marshal raised himself at
the guest table and bowed his thanks.
The principal reply to Or. Sloane was
made. by NJ. Chevrillon, who said at the
beginning that the landing OF American
troops In France few years ago was
the Mayflower returning to Europe, as It
were. to preserve the spirit of sacrifice
and religion.
NJ Chevrillon compared French and
English as vehicles of expression. com
pairing the French to "a frail harpsi-
chord upon which no error in touch can
be lost or drowned in sonorities. and
which requires nimble and trained
touch" OF the English tongue he spoke
in connection with "its forceful stress
and Biblical resonances, it's double reg
lister OF Germanic vocabulary and Latin
vocabulary.
Both of our languages" said the
French scholar. provide for the lofty
life both for the mind and the soul. and
one deems 1t advisable for our higher
culture that both should exist among
the largest possible number Of Amer
leans. Englishmen and Frenchmen.'
At 80 tonight DIR. Sloane will give
dinner and reception for NM. Chew
rillon and Donnay at his home, 10 West
Eighth street.