Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1913 — Needed Only the Beginning. [ARTICLE]

Needed Only the Beginning.

Anatole France once agreed to write an essay on Moliere. He repeatedly broke his promise to his publisher, who finally threatened him with legal proceedings unless a certain number of pages were delivered within a specified time. France hurried off to his lawyer, who was none other than Raymond Poincare, now president. M. Poincare heard his story and said that the author would better comply with the publisher’s demand. “It’s impossible,” said France. “But you’re a genius,” was the reply. “Genius is infinite patience. I can’t possibly do it in the time,” said France. ‘'‘Nevertheless begin.” replied the advocate, “and we’ll see.” So Poincare dictated the first sentence, “Moliere is a Parisian,” and added, “Go on from there.” France was complacent, perhaps inspired by the suggestion of the words, and the "brilliant piece of criticism was easily done in time.