M. Gaston Doumergue, the President of the French Republic, is remarkable not only for his geniality, which never fails him, but also, for his activity. He opens all the! official exhibitions in Paris and, Attends all sorts of functions which fare supposed to be more or less, bound up with the existence of tho} Republic. 'The other evening he created a recent by going to three dances—not, of course, to join the kiddly throng, but to shake"hands and look pleasant. He first went to the Ecole Normale ball, then to another ball given by' former students of the Ecole Centrale Arts et Manufacturers, and finally '4 similar function in connection with the Naval School. He returned to the Elysee in the small hours of the morning, having thus sacrificed some hours of sie altar duty, which is no light thing for an elderly gentleman of fixed habits, As hes remarked next evening, at the annual banquet of the Republi an Journalists Association, he has now completed half his term of office, he having been elected preident in 1924. He was certainly an excellent choice, for, in addition to his devotion to the ceremonial part of his office, he has shown, ability to cope with political crises and respect the Constitution, while dealing fairly with all sections of the Republican party.
When Edmond de Goncourt left money for the foundation of a literary academy, which was to edit his papers and distribute prizes to budding authors, he probably did nob realize that he was sowing the seeds of another hundred years wa Whenever it awards" prizes, Academy is accused of failing to carry out his wishes, It is attacked 4 from time to time for not publishing from New Zealand, the letters and papers Which
death in 1896. "Emile Zola's heirs jon court left at the time of his
are now trying to force the Academy. to produce numerous letters from. the great' realist to De Gonoourt, These letters are deposited in the Nationat Library, the head of whic) says he la not allowed to disclose them, orders -to this effect having been given by a former Minister of Public Instruction. The Zola, its doubt whether any such orders and @ member of Parliament has put a written question to the resent Minister, M, Herriot, asking Whether the orders are on" record and, if so, whether he will say how, they were worded.
These doings illustrate the importance attached in France td literary questions. The executors of Victor Hugo were recently re-Proached in the Press because publication of the fragments of th Poet's works has not completed, 43 death. A" literary earthed three love-letters from Georges Sand to Pagello and gav Was. prot for damages by the no daughter, who tions of De Goncourt's "Journal," the members of his academy who have read them say that publication would not do his memory any good, which rather confirms the bebog that they are of a somewhat scandalous nature and-had better lig dormant for a century of 80,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.