The opinions of Anatole France Author:Anatole France Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Candidates for the Academy As every election to the Academy approaches the candidates pay their prescribed visit to M. Bergeret. They know that he has not gon... more »e to that corner of the quays this many a year, and that he never votes. Nevertheless out of deference to his fame they solicit his vote. It is a touching custom which none seeks to evade, not even the reverend clergy. Yet, they would have valid reasons for not committing themselves with this pontiff of incredulity. But perhaps his conversation offers them the attraction of forbidden fruit? Perhaps they hope in a few eloquent words to cast into his soul the seeds of a startling conversion? It was thus that the severe Paphnuce once upon a time undertook to bring the frolicsome Thai's to God. When Cardinal C'abrieres, who was still only a Monsignor, but was soon to become His Eminence, craved a chair in the Academy, he called like the others at the hermitage of the Villa Said. Old Josephine, with her teeth of gold, ushered him in with every mark of respect. "Sir," said the bishop brusquely, "I will admitto you frankly that I have not read your novels." "Monsignor," replied France, with sacerdotal unction, "/ must confess to you in all frankness that I have not read your decrees." The ice having been broken in this way, the conversation became cordial. The prelate paternally reminded France that some great writers had sung the praise of the Almighty. He cited Chateaubriand. France retorted that, in effect, the harmonious viscount had beautifully celebrated the decorative side of Catholicism, but above all he had dusted the furniture and polished the ecclesiastical plate, like a beadle or a chair attendant, and that, on the other hand, he had rather neglected dogma. He loved the majesty of the cathedrals a...« less