OUR PARIS LETTER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 135, 9 June 1928, Page 17

OUR PARIS LETTER

ANDRE MAUROIS FRIEND OF GREAT BRITAIN (From "The Post's" Representative.) PARIS, 4th April. Ono of tho topics in literary Paris was the attack in the "Mercuro do France" on M. Andre Maurois, whose books on English life and character have proved him to bo a charming writer and at tho same time a true friend of Groat Britain. The burden of tho sweeping criticism in the "Mercure de Franco" was that M. Maurois had been guilty of plagiarism. The charge was made in connection with certain of his biographies, including those of Shelly and Disraeli. The former, it is claimed, contains passages from Dr. Dowden, and the latter from Monypenny and Buckle. Without going into a detailed examination of tho criticisms, it may bo remarked that a charge of plagiarism is an easy ono-to bring and to sustain, and in no case more easy than in the matter of bio-, graphy, where tho writer is bound to consult numerous books for his information. M. Maurois himself has acknowledged tho sources of his documentation. Those, however, who have- appreciated tho charming ensemble of M. Maurois' picture of Disraeli, or who have chuckled over his "Colonel Bramble," will find these charges of plagliarism curiously remote from tho realms of interest or possibility. A, NOVEL LIGHTER. It is recorded that in tho reign of James 1., women and even children could often be seen smoking small pipes iii public as a. preventive, it was said, against tho plague. Cigarettes are all that a woman can manage to smoke nowdays apparently, nor does sho need influenza as an excuse, and sho long ago lost her air of defiance and now makes the action rather a pretty one. But, although she has smoked in theatres for some time and in restaurants and cafes for almost as long, she has only, recently taken to smoking iv the street. A woman walking down tho Ruo do la Paix the other day stopped with such abruptness that sho knocked against a man, whose pleasant "Pardon, Madame," was cut short and whose smilo suddenly was replaced by a look of pained horror, for, utterly disregarding the people around her, sho had placed a cigarette between her lips, and as though the proceedings were the most natural thing in tho world, was lighting it from a briquet contained in the handle of her umbrella dog's head, from the mouth of which shot out a tiny ilame. when she depressed its ear. GIRLS' REVOLVER CLUB. Sixty Parisian society girls have formai themselves into a club to practice revolver and riile shooting, and early on tho morning of tho first Sunday in the month they meet at M. Gas-finne-Renette's butts near the CltaiupsElysees for an hour's brisk firing, beforo the}' motor homo to dress for church. They are already becoming such dead shots that they have issued challenges to young men of their ago, and some spirited matches are held, in which the girls have covered themselves with glory. They arc nov: selecting teams to fire against, tho cadets of Saint-Cyr Military School, and also propose to challenge the instructors there and at other military colleges. Ono of the.best shots among the girls is Mile, dc Lubersac, whose prowess with the revolver is much talked about at teas and social functions. "Tho example set by these young society women, who belong to the best families in Paris," said M. Gnstinnc-RcncHo yesterday, "is bringing back many moro young men to tho nowadays rather neglected science of arms.'' MEMORIAL TO D'ARTAGNAN? Since the news came to Paris that admirers of Cervantes had decided on raising a statuo to Don Quixoto at Villacanas or Tobosso, the home of Dulcinc.i, "fairest of tho fair," tho proposal to build a monument to d'Artagnan, Dumas's valiant and dexterous hero of "The Three Musketeers," in the capital has been revived. The objection that neither the "Knight of tho Sorrowful Face-" nor d'Artagnan ever existed, as represented by their creators, is easily met by those in favour of tho memorials who might pqint to many such representatives of .classic story and drama. London, however, has its Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, and there is no valid reason, therefore, why it should not have its statue to, say, Mr. Pickwick or Falstaff There was, however, an illustrious d'Artagnan, Charles de Baatz of that name, who was killed in battlo at Maostricht in 1C73, and whose cxpolits inspired Dumas's famous character. But, after all, can anyone seriously maintain that Pickwick and Falstaff did not exist? They are not yet dead, nor is d'Artagnan. *

tlic gentle AVaipa (from the banks of which ho came) to the honour and glory of a campaign in Tarauaki. His voluble wife, who liacT amply retaliated upon my ears the injury done to lier husband's ears, was ' walking painfully along by bis side. To my surprise tiiey both addressed me with smiling faces, and the lady held out her hand to me in token of reconciliation. "When I asked her the reason of the change of feeling towards me, she said: "Because you have made them go back." So I found that the good scold was a lover of peace after all. TROUBLE IN HUTT VALLEY. Finding everything quiet at Wanganui, after the return of the Taupo chiefs, I took leave of the friendly party of more than 300 Natives, whom [ had examined and confirmed, and embarked with Major Richmond on board IT.M. sloop Hazard on 22nd January. The little settlement of Wanganui has about 2(10 inhabitants, but from its unprotected situation I should fear that it could not bo maintained in the event of any general collision with the Natives. After visiting Nelson, Bishop Selwyn proceeded to Wellington. Ho .says: '•The Governor a, few months ago completed, as he believed, the purchase of tho valley of the Hevitaonga, or llutt River, from tho Chiefs Teßauparaha and liangihaeata, and paid the purchase money on condition that the land should bo vacated at the end of February, 1845. Within a month of the expiration ot" the term signed for the occupation of the Natives, a lawless body of stragglers, recognising the authority of no i-hief, settled themselves on tho land, delicd the authority of Major Richmond, and brought in canoe-loads of seed potatoes with iho evident intention of retaining possession. The month of March was tli" time iixed for employing active measures to put; the JOnglish ■settlers upon their land; and I. determined accordingly to return to Wellington with the view of residing at the' misison station at Waikanac, to prevent, if possible, the old Chief To Kanparaha and his people from taking any part in tho expected affray. | Some further extracts will be published later from Bishop Sehvyu's diary and letters,] I