New-York tribune., 1922-12-24
Paris News Letter
By Lewis SCalantisre

scented in the form il took in order 20 evade
the censorship Of (probably) Louis Xvrs
omeers. Quotations in the book arc confined
to Biblical references and citations from
the Greek authors. / compared the passages
drawn from Plutarehs moral essays with the
translation Of these by Amyoi, eontem-
porary Of Mr. de Montana
Now, Amyot's Plutarch is classic in
French (as in his "Daphnis and Chloe"). and
had the texts been in agreement should have
had him. for Amyot published his Plutareh in
1888. They did not agree. shall not say
how far aheld | Was drawn in an attempt TO
justify my detection Eventually was
forced 70 the conclusion that, since Bru-~t's
great photography made no mention Of eoun-
terfeit (saying only that the work Is "euri
Gus and fairly rare" and that Montand's real
name was .Barnaud) my IDEAS were no better
than those Of q correspondence course sleuth
Cresttallen, | unpinned my glistening badge.
Forgive the depression. You we're TO have
heard OF the reward Of my search. As
looked over the books OF the sharp-eyed,
peak-faced book yender ] saw suddenly
folio at the sight Of which my heart skipped
a beat. II was a volume parchment bound.
and on a msrcon-leather label we're the words
"Esssis de Montsighe." Folio MOntsignes
are 10 be had occasionally, but always NJ
a price and had only 100 francs in the
world. picked the great book out Of the
box and laid IL fat The bookseller watched
me like a cat. / raised the cover and looked
anxiously for the peneiled price, 100 francsl
The book was minel II was in my hands;
no one could take it from me. turned the
hy-leaf. First in view came an engraved
t;tle-pag with superb portrait Of the canny
Gascon. The date was i652-sixty years after
his death. Following was notice TO the
reader, signed by Henry Estiene, descendant
Of Robert, father Of French printing and him
self the best printer Of his time. Next came
a dedication to Cardinal Riehelieu al the
bottom Of which | read the name "De Gour-
nay" rubbed my hands: Mile. de Gournay
adopted daughter Of Montaigne and for many
years his secretary, had edited this edition.
Then only dared ! look at the text. What
beautiful pages! A tall" copy, uncut at top
or sides, with margins wide enough, 1t seemed,
70 walk across. Pages clean and white,
fourteenpoint type well-leaded and as easy to
read as a book Of to-day. Here and there a
brown spot, toward the end few foxed pages
but everything in ideal state and, oh wonderl
complete, to the privilege Of the king-that
is copyrighted.
The privilege commences with salutation
from Louis, by the grace Of God King oil
France and Of Navarro, TO our friends and
LOYAL counsellors" and others. II reeites that
"our well-beloved Henry Estiene has shown
ms that he has incurred divers expenses for
beautiful paper and new type employed IN
the printing Of the 'Essais de Montaigne, the
'Histoire Ronaine de Coefateau' and 'Estats
ct Empires" HE has put one copy
Of each in our library and one in that OF our
dear and loyal Sieur Seguier, Chancellor Of
France. before exposing them for Yfe," and,
therefore. the printing Of these books by an
other than Henry Estiene' shall be forbidden.
Bailins and others are called upon to carry
out these presents, mon distant Glamour de
Haro, chartre Normande, ct autres lettres
ce contraire"; or, as We say to-day, "inelud-
ing the Scandinavian countries" This is or
dered, the King says proudly, "car tel est
nostre plaisir," and the privilege is sealed by
the simple seal, with yellow wax"
Having thus reached the last page, ex-
amined the binding. Parchment was not the
material Of the day, which had been calf.
The back is little small, so that the covers
swing open slightly, but II is handsome
binding, colOred like pale lemon and spot
ted with gold by time.
I looked sidewise at the bookseller. Dare
II I dared. I offered her 90 francs. II
hadn't been an old client she would have be-
i. H. Irna ~