ANATOLE FRANCE WHEN HE WORE A RED SKULL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 134, 2 March 1929, Page 26

ANATOLE FRANCE

WHEN HE WORE A RED SKULL

The vision of Anatole France in a scarlet skull cap was recalled by Mr. Alan Lane, the 26-year-old nephew and successor of the late Mr. John Lane, of the Bodley Head, in conversation with a “Daily News” reporter. Mr. Lane, thei youngest publisher in London, has spent the 10 years since he was 16 as office boy, packer, traveller, and director of his firm.

Two of his earliest interviews were with the uncrowned kings of French and English literature—Anatole France and Thomas Hardy; now, alas, both dead. , _ , As representative of Anatole France s English publisher, Mr. Lane attended the 80th birthday party of the great Frenchman. .' ,„ , "I arrived at the Villa Said, he observed, “in company wtih the editor of the Paris .‘Soir,’ which had published that day a special birthday number. A copy of this number, printed on parchmen, the editor had brought for presentation. “When the editor beheld Anatole France seated at the end of his reception room wearing a dressing gown and a scarlet skull cap, the editor fell on his knees and burst forth in a long declamation. I was, so astonished at this that when it was my turn to say something my beautiful, carefully prepared speech had vanished from my mind. However, my awkwardness,,was rewarded with a gracious smile.”