FRENCH WOMEN WRITERS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8333, 3 June 1905, Page 3

FRENCH WOMEN WRITERS

(By A FRENCHWOMAN.) The first place on the list of successful contemporary women-writers seems to. belong to ." DanielLesueur." Under this pseudonym a charming woman hides her identity. She wai, until recently, Madame Jeanne Loiseau, when she married Monsieur Henry Lapauze, himself a distinguished writer. "Daniel Lesueur" is the first feminine writer who has now the highest proof of merit ever given by. the French Government to a woman for literary work: the "Cross of Honour." She also several times won the laurels of the Academic Francaise for the best moral work of the year. It is in a beautiful drawing-room at 17, Avenue d'Aumale, that husband and wife work together. Very feminine in her tastes, she is always surrounded by flowers, and her writing table, a genuine Louis XVI., is a dream of tidiness. She is very fond of cats, and generally has one or two beautiful Persians near her. She has a keen sense of observation, and writes work of pure psychology such as ' ' Nevrosees, " <c Levres closes, ' ' " L'honneur dune femme," etc. ; but Bhe often lets her imaginative powers have full play in such exquisite romances as " The Marquis de Valeor," ."Madame de Fermeuse," etc. "Qyp" is also a universal favourite. Her real name, Gabrielle Sybille MarieAntoinette de Riguette de Mirabeau, Comtesse Martel de Johnville, is so long that, wearied of the generosity of nomenclature lavished upon her by fond parents and godmothers, she has chosen the very shortest norn de plume. She Is the grand-niece of Mirabeau, the orator of fame who played such a leading part in the French Revolution. She is as good a caricaturist as she is a writer, and signs her drawings under the pseudonym of ■" Bob." Her work-ing-room is also her bedroom and dress-ing-room ; it is a long and lofty apartment, furnished with a white suite of furniture, and having large windows, which are always open, summer or winter. She often rises at 5 a.m., and j writes till mid-day without interruption. '■'■' A thorough sportswoman, "Gyp" is a real lover of horses, and can often be seen in the Bois on her favourite chestnut ; she is also very . fond of rowing, skating and swimming. Her pet dog, Papillon, never leaves her, and sleeps at the foot of her bed. On the lookingglass over her mantelpiece is an envelope slipped between the frame and the glass, and inscribed " Mon Testament." Madame Edmond Adam, the distinguished founder and director cf " La Nouvelle Revue," is a woman whose lit' x erary and political influence- has been incalculable. Her salon was, in the early eighties, the centre of Parliamentary groups, and one of the most exclusive places in Paris. In the "Nouvelle Revue " she undertook the task of writing ©very mo nth a letter on foreign, affairs. These "articles, with others signed "Paul Vasili," created quite a sensation in foreign literary and ■political circles. She has written a great number of books under her maiden name of • Juliette Lambert. •

One or two of her works have been dramatised. . . "La Nouvello Revue" brings to mind the name of another woman *w> has also carried journalism as nign as ambition can aspire, "Severwe, *ho is very little known under Her real name of Caroline Remy, and later Madame Guebhard, it a true Parisienne. Born in 1855, hor childhood was surrounded with the political discussions which gave birth to tflat dreadful page in French history, txie Commune. "Severino" has written some powerful socialist novels, wmcli appeared in such papers a3 Le «**- veil," "Gil Bias,"" "La France, and " La Nouvelle Revue." Until 1881 she was personal editor ot the Socialist paper. "Le Cn «"u Peuple"; but afterwards gave up political discussions, and took in hand the caiiso of the humble and the weak, giving ncr talents for the defence of social miseries. She has often appea ed to the public charity through tho *ig ar % "L'Eclair" and " Le Petit Journal and was at different times received by high personalities. Alice Marie Celeste Henry Durand is known to tho public as " Henry t*reville." She has written a long list oi. exquisite novels which are the delight, .ot young readers. A thorough Russian scholar, she has, after living some ten or fifteen years in St Petersburg, written several studies of Russian life ana customs. Apart from her numerous books, she has been a constant contributor to "La Revue des Deux Mondes" "Le Journal des Debats, i^e Figaro," "Lo Temps," and Le Siecle." , , „ Camille Pert, otherwise Madame Kougeul, studies especially legal questions, and writes on conjugal controversies. Her novels include " Amante. " Amoureuse," "Le Frere," and La Camarade." She is the founder of the first and only professional journal tor writers, " I/information des gens de lettres,". also of the useful boob "L'Annuaire des gents de lettres. She is practical, original, very independent, and extremely loyal to Her friends.