Evening star., 1927-04-24

III n L
poems in translation" Paul
Claudel, the new Ambassa-
A. dor of France, put his hands
before him with a gesture
as of appeal for understanding of his
thought, and with a sort of troubled
look. ''It may be a very good transla-
tion," he added eagerly, but 1t
seems to me not the same. write
it in French, 1t is mine, my child, and
80 / like not to see it translated into
strange language; it seems like look
ing through spectacles of another
color"
And the interviewer understood. The
typewriter page in cold English must
have chilled the soul OF the French
poet. 1t has been said that much OF
his poetry and drama has no parallel
in English, so this partly accounts
for his shrinking at sight OF his crea-
tions in alien habiliments. So in con-
versation, although he speaks what is
called fluent English" yet one feels
that he is hampered, at least in ex-
preston of the finer and more subtle
thought. His soul is beating its wings
against the bars, though much is
uttered not in word language; look,
a smile, an expression fitting across
the face, and volumes have been ex-
pressed.
So here we meet the great Claudel,
diplomat, man of affairs, poet, drama
tIst and mystic, one of the great men
of the world and said to be the great
est writer of modern France. He has
come to America to represent France
and her problems-but he haltS in
articulate before the barrier of alien
speech. Not that he is ignorant of
the language, it's phraseology, its
grammar, but the soul Is different. 1t
could hardly be otherwise--the lam
guage of each nation the soul OF that
people, the French medium of expires.
sion the utterance of the French soul.
1t Is this difference among the peoples
OF the earth that makes the project
for Esperanto for universal communi-
medium, a jargon OF the market
place and the counting house.
AS q rule, these distinguished per
sons are interviewed for their views. "
But q rare character like Claudel
seems of more interest from the view
point Of his personality and humanity.
Anybody can have views.
The correspondent had been waiting
but q brief while in the drawing room
for an informal interview by previous
appointment, not long as 1t seemed
to her, absorbed by the French
atmosphere and furnishings, the gilt
chairs and sofas upholstered In pea
cock blue satin, the little ivory white
chairs with cushions Of brocade, pink
roses on a yellow background, the
glimpse Of the winding stairway with
center strip of crimson velvet edged
with gold--all breathing the spirit OF
these people, so gay, yet so grave,
who can laugh and sing and fight ana
die. all with equal nonchalance. How
ever, the correspondent was waiting,
and the serious-faced young footman,
glancing through the portieres after
a few moments, with dismay upon his
Countenance, inquired in tones OF con-
cern, Has the Ambassador not come
in yet?"-forthwith dashing up the
stairway two steps at a time. And
then, almost as quickly as If the
young Aladdin had rubbed his lamp,
there appeared this kindly, blue-eyed
man with a look OF embarrassment:
Pardon, was very busy, l have
been here not long, and so much to
90, and did not know you were wait
ing" waving his hands in obvious
distress. 1t seems likely there had
been a slight hitch in relaying the
announcement Of q caller. affairs at
the embassy being then in a state OF
CUNluS4Ofl. InO AiILDeSS1uOH 1Aeh0 nv
then presented his credentials, and
was preparing for a trip back home
TO settle up his affairs and bring back
the wife and children TO America,
perhaps slipping in a poem between
whiles. But the correspondent has
waited longer for the privilege OF
seeing lesser personages than the
famous Claudel, so this incident is
related By way Of showing the courtesy