Honor Spurned

Honor Spurned

To be a member of the Institut de France, is, theoretically the highest honor that the French Republic can pay its painters, writers, musicians, sculptors, scientists and occasionally statesmen, warriors. Every October the 200 members assemble and occupy their armchairs in the great Renaissance hall of the College Mazarin to assert their own dignity and listen to the learned speeches of their colleagues. Each member owns an elaborate Napoleonic costume, of tail coat, knee breeches, white-plumed cocked hat and sword. But despite all the formalities and trappings of membership, Institut de France no longer receives the respect from French artists which its age* and dignity warrant. It is frequently hinted that many members of the Institut are elected for political reasons; some of France's greatest men have never been chosen.

There died last winter a mediocre musician named Messager, who was, nevertheless, Membre de l'Institut. In due time the Institut searched for another musician to immortalize in his place. They turned to old M. Vincent d'Indy, writer of symphonies of great fame, excellence, popularity. But old M. d'Indy would have none of it. Sternly he spoke: "I am 78 years old--it is really a little late to think of me." The next choice, Composer Paul Dukas, protested that the Institut was making fun of him. So, finally, the Institut turned to the man whom many regard as, next to Pole Paderewski the greatest French composer--Maurice Ravel.

"But, no, no, no," said Pianist & Composer Ravel. "In a cocked hat I would look like a jackass."

The matter had now become a national scandal with precisely that touch of genius which France relishes. Comoedia published an announcement: WANTED: A VOLUNTEER FOR THE INSTITUT! "Come, come, gentlemen," concluded the article, "who wants to join the Institut? What the devil! It's a worthy movement!"

Commenting more seriously on the shriveled reputation of the French academies, the Paris Sunday newspaper Dimanche Illustre issued a questionnaire to discover from its readers "an ideal Academy of France."

Twelve thousand replies were received; when the ballots were counted the name of white-chinned Premier Raymond Poincare led all the rest with 10,110 votes. Second and third on the list were Mme. Marie Curie (radium) and Marshal Joffre. Others in the first ten were Aristide Briand, Georges Clemenceau, Marshal Petain, Cinema Inventor Louis Lumiere and Dr. Pierre Roux, discoverer of diphtheria serum.

In all the 40 names listed there were no actors or cinemactors, no athletes. Some readers of Dimanche Illustre considered tire tycoon Andre Michelin worthy of immortality and Paris' moral Prefect of Police, Jean Chiappe.

* Founded in 1795, as a union of the five French academies of arts and sciences, the oldest and most honorable being the Academie Franc,aise, established 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu. Members of the Academy are France's Immortals, their immortality guaranteed by government decree. Other academies are: Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres; Academie des Sciences; Academie des Beaux Arts; Academie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.