Show I HONORED BY FRENCH ACADEMY Louis Frechette tho bard of French Canada ti has een named as laureate of the French academy acade-my While a most unusual honor particularly r since Its recipient is a resident of this continent v conti-nent it adds nothing to tho distinction that is universally accorded Dr Frechette as tho last of 1t M that brilliant group of poets and novelists who s t have made French Canada and the simple life of the habitant known to the world Of this group Frechette and Drummond were undoubtedly y y undoubt-edly the leaders although Gaspo with his Les Anclens Canadians Mnnnetto and Routhler k i have all made enviable names In the worlds literature Dr Frechette was born In Quebec a halt century ago and was originally Intended for the law He abandoned that dry profession how ever and after a five years resilience in Chicago he returned to Quebec and Plunged Into politics For a few years he was a member of the Dominion parliament but politics too failed to hold his fancy and went over to Mon tread and to literature A legislative clerkship furnished him with a modest livelihood until the quaint charm and tho charming revelations of lICe in French Canada made him Independent Tim place he occupies in the field of literature Is peculiarly his own and the habitant coulll IHlvo no more gently sympathetic chronicler Honors have cumo to the poet from many countries before this later rib ute of the academy He was elected a knight of tho French Legion of Honor neaiy 30 years ago when two of his books were crowned by the Immortals lIe has been given many high orders and decorations by the rulers of Great Britain anll other countries and he Is accounted eSned a member oC many learned societies He was lately president of the Royal Society of Canada |