New-York tribune., 1922-06-11

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~ ton of Paul Morand's magl-
- cal book. "Ouvert la mutt" u
has since been greeted with
unanimous praise In France. in Ger.
many and in England. and an told
that three or four American publishers
are reading Il with a view 20 transla-
tion. Translating "Ouver, Ia mutt"
will be m interesting job. should
like 20 know what the translator will
do with such phrase NJ ia broderie
ferro-viaire" (which is not FRENCH, or
"une poitrine urf, du vrai frigorint,
et puts 50 mettant au plumard avce ap-
pliestion % ny allant pas que dune
fesse"l What Is good English for Gun
cocher al mois qui some de Ia trompe
et qui connati les ehampignons"7
But have quoted reasonably famll-
lar French. II Is curious % observe
tha, the epithe,s which shock the ma
tive reader. accustomed 90 q corserva-
tive employment OF imagery. arc &C..
cepted by the foreign reader as though
they belonged 20 tho French mode o.
expression. The contrary, OF course,
Is true. 10 other French writer e1-
ccpt GlrhudouI ever approximated
such sentences as these from "Ouyert
Ia mutt" 10 ciel 50 fendalt CONNIE
uno piece do sole 10 Presi-
dent portrait des lunettes noires sur
un paysage de couporose faeiale.
C'6tait une petite femme ox-
cessivement conserv6o par 10 lait de
coneombrcs ~ regoisme, les rides du
yisage nou6es derriere l'oreille." .
Morand says, "On entralt dams son
regard CONNIE dams un balm .
10 klakson nous debi,alt un passage
en- .ranehes minees Tn ehien
Aceabla des chats d'aboiements, puts
revint, tendant une lsngus bleue, d'avoir
mango des mares on des stylographes
A ses eheveux noirs Sc melait
une meehe blanche CONNIE an Jet Do
vapeur dams la fumee de charbon
Dams sa loge. 10 president
palabre; IL lance ses gestcs a la foule
CONNIE des poignees de SOUS"
This style, so vivid and picturesque
Is not 4 novelty for Us. Yet, as have
already maintained, tho book will not
be easy TO translate, even II Il IS in
trusted 10 a board composed Of Henry
Menckon, George Ade and Ben Hecht-
With, Of course, an added person famil-
lar with both French and English
Observe that Marcel Proust has had
greater praise from English and Amer
lean than from French critics. The rea-
son Is that he writes, virtually, as
Henry James might have written
French. There are points 70 be argued
In such o comparison, but II is true, l
think, as a generalization and as an ex-
planatlon OF why Prousts books are
received with respect" rather than
"hailed with joy"
Verse by Rimbaud's Friend
A VOLUME Of verse by German
~ Nouveau has been re-issued under
the title valentines et autres vers" "
Nouyeau was n friend Of Arthur Rim
baud ard Of Verlaine. In 1873, when
Rimbaud was considered maudit Dom
inique Braga tells vs., Nouyeau. then
twenty-one years old, made his ae-
ouaintance IN a Paris cafe and went
with him 20 London where they earned
the semblance Of a living by teaching
French. Later, when Rimbaud had left
Europe, Nouveau frequented yer.aine
and the Bohemian youth OF the day.
After Rimoaud's tragic death, Pauvre
Lelion commenced 10 believe IN God and
Nouveau became respectable citizen.
A place was made for him in one o. the
government bureaus. He continued 20
tease the Muse and 70 paint n little.
In rs old age he too reioinei the
church. made three long pilgrimages
afoot (of which two took him 10 Rome),
and died repentant az the age of sixty
eight years.
The Valentines are the peehe de
jeunesso Of this good man and may be