New Immortal

Ever shrouded in discretion are proceedings of the French Academy, but each new "Immortal" is supposed to make a speech and his words are always released. Recently dapper General Max Weygand, "Savior of Poland" (1920) and successor in French popular esteem to the late, great

Marshal Foch, took his seat as an "Immortal" but the ludicrous thing that occurred was not made known. Passed a decent interval. Last week Paris was at length permitted to chuckle hugely over what le petit General said when he took his seat. "Messieurs!" cried General Weygand in such ringing, parade ground tones that even aged, deaf Immortals had no need to cup hand to ear, "Messieurs, I had pre pared a speech of more than six pages* to thank you for the honor you have done me, but I left it on my study table and my dog ate it." When the mirth of the Immortals had subsided, General Weygand spoke a few words on the spur of the moment. As academy tradition demanded, he eulogized the late Immortal whose seat he was tak ing, Marshal Joffre. Paradoxically General Weygand was wearing when he took this seat the Academic regalia of Marshal Foch, enemy of Joffre, patron of Weygand. Strutting out after the ceremony in his laced & looped jacket, General Weygand clapped on the plumed hat that went with it, was jocularly congratulated on the perfect fit of his Foch togs.

* Most budding Immortals make speeches of 20 or 30 pages.

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