The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-03-10
Run = Is Started on Booksellers
For Poems Of NeW French Diplomat
Original French Text IN
Demand; M. Claudel
Due Here March is
nv JEAN ELIOT

HOW generally are society folk
reading up" on the verses and
plays or Paul Claudel, the poet-dip-
lomat. who IL to be Frances new
ambassador to the United States?
That seems q rather pertinent in
curry and d little quiet sleuthing
has disclosed some interesting facts.
So Tar as / can find out there has
been little demand for English trans
1ations OF M. Claudel's work--al.
though many OF his poems and most
of his plays have been translated
hut there has been q definite run
on the original French texts among
those booksellers in the Capital who
carry foreign publications. Naturally
those who can prefer to read q
Norelgn author In his own tongue
and Washington has large group,
even outside the diplomatic corps,
which speaks fluent and tdiomatic
French.
Among the plays of M. Claudel,
which may be obtained here in
translation are tCity," ''Tete dor
and "The Hostage" He Is also the
author of an old time mystery or
morality play 'tTidings Brought To
Mary which has been translated,
but Is now out of print. A delight.
fl,I rendering Of East Know" g
volume on the Orient, has been
made by Teresa Frances and VII.
liam Rose Benet. Moreover, Edward
d. O'Brien has translated M. Clau.
lelss famous war poems.
It was these poems, 1t VIII be re-
snembered, that caused M. Claudel
rs ba placed on the index In Ger
MANY. where he had enjoyed tire.
rnendOus popularity. Indeed, 1t IS
said that this French writer's repu-
aation was firmly established both
ia Germany and in Italy before
France began to recognize.
Letters to Doubter" Timely
The significant moment of NJ.
CIaudel's arrival in the United
states has been chosen, by the
way. for the American publication
of his Letters to q Doubter," trans
lated by Henry Longan Stuart and
due to be issued In April by Albert
and Charles Boni. OF this volume
1t ID said:
.The famous correspondence be-
tween Jacques Riviere and Paul
CIandeI, distinguished author and
playwright, lately appointed French
ambassador at Washington, is more
than &. human document Of the most
poignant character. It is necessary
for all who would understand con-
temporary literary and social ten.
denotes In France, and the puzzling
fashion in which her younger writ
ere island aside from political life,
almost disdainfully and as though
hiding their hour
From the first boyish and ims
pulsive letter, written when Claudel
Yves q diplomatic representative at
Tien-Tsin, we see a heart laid open
without reserve, and hear the cause
OF youth, In all ages and In all
countries, pleaded In passionate ac-
cents. The RivieresC laudel cores
pondence Is already classic in
France, where it has taken its
place with the letters Of Abelard to
Heloise. 1t Is safe to prophecy that,
in this country, 1t win be widely
read and abundantly quoted, If only
for. its Thickness in q discussion
whore press and pulpit have become
rivals"
Nj. Claudel has been described by
one OF the diplomats now in Wash
angton as Christian mystic" He
Is devout Catholic and a leader Of
the Catholic party in France.
TO Be Here Six Weeks
Accompanied by his daughter,
Nile. Refine Claudel, the new am
bassador Of France has landed from
Japan, his last post. is now on his
way across the continent and is due
here early next week. AS under.
stand it, the rest Of the family have
returned to Paris to prepare for the
marriage Of Nile. Marie CIaudel to
Alfred Bonami, Of the French for
eign office, which is to take place
In the late spring orr early, summer.
M. Claudel and his daughter will
remain here about six weeks and
win then go to Paris for the wed.
ding festivities. The present plan
OF the ambassador is to return here
In June, but his family will prob
ably remain in France through the
summer.
The new Minister Of the Neither.
aanda and Nine. van Roijen, who
were temporarily at the Mayflower,
have moved into the Netherlands
legation.
~ 4
II. r. Arthur Schoenfeld, coun.
kelor OF the American embassy at
Mexico City. will return to Mexico
next week, accompanied by Mrs.
Schbenfeld. They will sail on the
Monterey on Tuesday. Mrs. John f.
Reid, Mrs. Schoenfeld's mother. will
accompany them to New York and
will sail on March 10 to join Mr..
Reid at their home in Montevideo.
Later in the spring Mr.. and Mrs.
Reid expect to go to England to
spend the summer.
Mr.. Schoenfeld has been on leave
and joined his family at Wardman
Park Hotel. where they spent the
:. an.irffaNs