THREE NEW IMMORTALS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2018, 27 March 1914, Page 10

THREE NEW IMMORTALS.

M. BEHGSON ELECTED TO THE FRENCH ACADEMY,

A meeting of ilro Aeadcnuo Francaise took place- on February 12 for the election of three Iraunortnls t« the chairs left vacant by tho deaths of M, Henri Poincare, the mathema-tieisth M. Thurean-Dangin. the historian, and M. Entile Ollivier, the statesman and wellknown writer on, the Second Empire. Tils President of the Republic arrived on foat at the Institute. He entered the building with M. Ri'bot, whom he met tiii the Quays.

M. Alfred Capua, the dramatist,- was elected at the first ballot, having a clear majority of throe over' M-. Leon Bourgeois, the distinguished Senator, who obtained 13 votes. This was for the seat held by the late M. Henri Poincare,

A certain political sigiiifieanee attaches to .the- defeat of M. Leon Bourgeois, the veteran Parliamentarian and Radical chief, who has refused o» two occasions nominaifon for the Presidency of tho Republic ai-i-d has served, with : great- distinction in several political posts'at home and abroad. Of late years his indifferent- health has caused his partial retirement- from public affairs. His failure to obtain a seat tinder the dome of the Institute, notwitlv-Ei-anding his record as a statesman alid writer, may be attributed, to his political complexion, which is nptoriottsiy at variance' with tho r dominant party colwrr itt the Academy,. If. is said that M. Poinoaro voted for die defeated -candidate-, to whom he is linked by ties,of friendship and esteem. The second faotetiil was filled by tho election of M. Pierre do la Gorce, the historian, tfho is particularly known for his works on thts French Revolution 'and en tho Second Empire.

After 31. C'apus'?; Hie roost popular election is that, of M.' Henri Bergson, who secured M, Emile QUivier's seat with a vote of 10. The. new Immortal lias achieved a-great rcßtttation as Pro-, fessor of Philosophy at the College* de Franco. His classes have- became a feu* lure of the social as well as of the student life in Paris, tho professor's 'skill heiiiE to fender accessible to ordinary culture tho intricileies of Ms subject, hitherto held to need hfek specialisation. The ctitt for- his lectures iii fashionable circles has produced scenes which have been reported hi "Ike Times," Of Irish' origin, though born in Paris in 1859, M. Bei'BsxHl first. studied as a foreiirner at tho Normal School j later, he was naturalised, and took his'/degree. in philosophy at the Sotbonne. His works have had a vogue'in England as- 'well as in other countries. Especially widely read have been "Matter and' Ift'ino.r.v," an essay on' the relation <af 'the body to the miaa, and a remarkalde study on laughter: M. BerfiSon has sought a solution of the principal probleiris. of metaphysics iii aft analysis of th« phenomena of the toilscience, and has.thus aided in the espkniatreir -of external things by an ■appeal to spiritual ■ox'pe.rience. The result, which has been'-received, with general Approval, was reached with unusual rapidity, 35 minutes slifficifig for', tire triple elect ion.-—London 'limes."