The New York herald., 1922-12-24

New HOrk Herald bureau,
Paris. Dec. 20.
The discussion as to whether the
Legion of Honor has the right to ex-
punge from its roll the name of Victor
Marguerite. author of la Garconne."
a book considered by many legionnaires
an outrage upon public morals. becomes
more impassioned every day. No actioi
has yet been taken by the legion.
The famous theatrical producer and
critic Andre Antoine to-day calls upon
men OF letters, artists and poets to rally
beside Marguerite. under Judgment for
book; and Ana,ole France. himself
listed in the Catholic index expugato-
RUS. has addressed an open letter to the
legion, in which he cautions it to at
tempt no censure of literary talent.
Similar affairs have previously been
carried before certain jurisdictions, re-
garding which justice has not been able
to congratulate ITSELF" says the author
of "The Revolt of the Angels" Two
chefs d'nuvres. which are an honor to
France and charm for the world.
Madame Bovary' and Les Fleurs du
NAL. were the objects of attack. May
your tribunal be instructed by these ex-
amrles not to add La Garconne' to the
already long list of books condemned
to-day and for centuries by judges who
condemn them for resemblance to La
Garconne.'
The Plot Unfolded.
Recalling the plot of the book. M.
France continues: "A young girl. tai
ented and energetic in character, finds
rightly that the world is an unpleasant
place. BY an error, which Marguerite
does not approve, the girl strays among
vices for which she was not intended.
Actually 1t Is certain details which have
been found most shocking in the incrimi-
mated volume. To the prejudice OF Mar
gurite, there is q misunderstanding OF
the rights of art and the just liberty OF
thought in the exigencies of subject
that treats of a society the like OF which
never existed in France before.
Marguerite In La Garconne' has
painted the society created by the war.
He shows the depravity which among
the nouveaux riches has attained un-
heard of extremes. Everybody knows 1t,
as in these shameful times debauchery
brims over into the streets. In my view
the painter. in his picture has kept well
below reality The immeasurable evils
Of long war have produced abomi-
nablc morals, which a moralist should
depict. That is what Marguerite has
DONE in a message that stamps him a
man of taste"
Besides NJ. Frances protest, opinions
against the legion's threatened move are
expressed by such men Of letters and
science as Georges Porto-Riche. the
dramatist; Georges Courteline, the hui
morist; J. H. Rosny. the author, and
Prof. Charles Richet.
Opinion of Critics.
Porto-Riche says: "On this problem
opinion and criticism themselves can
formulate only provisional judgment.
History alone can decide definitely. 1t
would be unbelievable that the enterprise
should not be met with the unanimous
protest of men of letters and artists"
Courteline declares: II energetically
deny the right Of the grand chancellery
of the legion to any qualified Jurisdiction
in literary affairs"
Rosny says II consider il useless and
dangerous to pursue a writer under the
pretext that he has published licentious
work. Always in France 1t has been
possible to give freedom of expression in
writing and in speech to matters of
love"
Richet says: Certainly 1 should not
have written or published the book but
that isn't the question. The affair is one
of the independence of the artist. poet
or philosopher"
Meanwhile Marguerite has published
a letter in which he remarks: Il hope
to amuse myself one of these days by
disclosing the underground history OF
the case and attaching several pages
which will be signed not only by Mar
gueritte and Leon Daudet but will offer
a veritable bouquet of the names most
justly reputed among our contemporary
glories."