M. CARIO.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 May 1919, Page 6

M. CARIO.

WRITER OF PEACE TREATY

While diplomats and statesmen are turning grey in the anxious discussions of the Peace Conference, there is at least one man who is waiting quietly serenely, for tho' result (says a writer in the Daily Mail.). Whatever this result, he knows that he will play his part in it —a modest one, maybe, but indispensable; he is the man who will write the treaty.

Are many people aware that, according to the most, time-honoured laws of diplomacy and protocol, treaties must be hand-written? The Congress of Vienna, at which were assembled so many Emperors. Kings. Queens, and hereditary Prinzes, had also a painter specially charged not only to write but 2lso to draw and to illuminate, after the fashio-i of old r.issals, iJ)c capita] letters anu headings o e graphs to add between each item of the treaty vignettes, emblems, crests of all kinds symbolising with a skilful

grace, peace, abundance, joy. I even learn on good authority that miniature portraits of the chief personalities of the Congress adorned the margins of that mighty document.

Peevish philosophers will, perhaps, allege that all this beautiful peacepaint did not make the treaty more enduring. Yet'«as long as it lasted it was. beautiful.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' has also its official illuminator, or, rather, its Calligrapher (for such is the title for the man who will write the treaty

This post was held for about forty years by M. Garapin, a well-known and popular character at the Ministry who

lias just retired. He had one love in lif e _"the pen," to quote his own words "this ample and marvellous instrument through which human thought is transcribed and for ever preserved"; one hate—-"the vulgar aii>d unaesthetic typewriter, which prints without art pages that time will not respect." He felt pride in his profession, faith in its importance; a rare good fortune that many personages high-perched on the social ladder might envy. His successor, M. Cario, who is also a talented painter, has enlightened me about the official ealigraphist's business. He not only writes treaties and conventions, which would indeed leave him too much leisure, but also all the official documents conferring Orders, or decorations on Sovereigns, and all the letters which are sent to them and signed cither by the President of the Republic or Ministers.

These letters are written in various characters of a scientific beauty. For the text round hand is generally used; for the headings and the complicated paraphernalia of respect and cordiality sloping hand, or the stately Gothic lettering; and from time to time the ealigraphist drops into the small round hand which goodness knows, why. is called in French "l'Anglaiso."