A Citizen of the World.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5167, 28 January 1895, Page 1

A Citizen of the World.

How many fatherlands can a man haveP M. Zola, the great French novelist, is apparently trying to find out the answer to thiß question. He has been making a tour of Europe, and when at Borne posed sb almost an Italian. Going further, he was splendidly entertained by the municipality of Venice. The reason they gave was that his father was a Venetian, and was exiled by the Auatriahs. At a banquet given at th-. Hotel Baner in honour of the novelist, he spoke of his visit to Venice as a pilgrimage. It did hia heart good to find himself in Venice. He felt at home there, and indeed in the bosom of his family. He closed his speech by proposing as his toast " Venice the Enchanting, where my father was born, and where I myself might also have been born." The London Daily News correspondent remarks that this last phrase, though so manifestly true, is sure to give offence in Paris. When M. Zola was presented to Admiral Avellsn at the Hdtel de Ville in Paris, the Russian expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting a writer from whom he had learned so 'much about Paris. M. Zola, not to be outdone, answered that but for Bussia he could never have made his way as an author. When he was being scoffed at and abused in Paris, a Bussian review was open to his work, , and dazzled him by the rich honorarium it offered for hia first article. Indeed, he looked on Bussia as a fatherland; "Is that soP" said the Admiral. "Tou' surprise inc. I always thought there was only one fatherland' for each of us—the fatherland, you . know, of pur birth." It is curiouß to note that 'so sturdy a Britonas Mr John Barns was tempted to pose as an American citizen during his recent' visit to the United States. Whether by inadvertence or design he addressed a meeting as "fellow-oitizene," whereat the ; free-born Americans laughed, as thongh they' had cadght the "British subjeot" tripping.' If the ÜBe of the phrase was accidental, Mr Burns showed a readiness of reeo vory that would not have disgraced William the Conqueror himself. "I am a citizen of the world," he Baid, "arid to do good iB my religion." .This retort, aptly reminding the Americans of Paine, who was one of their earliest I' citizens," at once restored good relations between Mr Bnmß and his audience. The phrase might.be ofi use to M. Zola when he returns to France!; t , y '. '.. "-,.'