37 - [AUTOGRAPH]. PONCHON, Raoul. Signed autograph letter.

[AUTOGRAPH]. PONCHON, Raoul. Signed autograph letter. A beautiful signed autograph letter from Raoul Ponchon to a journalist, humorously complimenting him on the honesty of his judgment regarding one of his books. 1 handwritten page in brown ink on a double-leaf in-8 sheet. Slight yellowing and a fold in the margin, a tiny brown mark, and crease marks. Autograph signed letter by Raoul Ponchon (1848–1937), a satirical and bohemian poet, a famous figure of the Hydropathes and the Chat Noir, elected to the Académie Goncourt in 1924 on the recommendation of his friend Jean Richepin. Dated March 5, the letter is addressed to a journalist who had reviewed one of the author’s rare collections (presumably *La Muse au cabaret*, published in 1920). With great irony, Ponchon thanks his colleague for the harshness of his criticism, stating that the other praise he had received had “filled him with confusion” due to its “hyperbolic” nature. The closing note refers to the literary journal *La Renaissance* (“*La Renaissance* has only come to my attention today”). Full transcription: “March 5. My dear colleague, Exercising my right of reply, I will tell you that you are a thousand times right. Most of the articles devoted to my modest book struck me—first and foremost—as so hyperbolic that they filled me with embarrassment. I would add that even yours is still too generous. Please accept, my dear colleague, my warmest regards. Raoul Ponchon. *La Renaissance* has only come to my attention today.” In excellent condition.