BERR, EMILE:
French journalist; born at Lunéville, France, June 6, 1855. Having finished his classical studies at the Lyceum of Vanves and afterward at the Louis-le-Grand Lyceum in Paris, he engaged in a commercial career from 1875 to 1880 and attended to exchange transactions from 1880 to 1886. During the latter period he made his début in journalism, writing for "La France du Nord," and contributing essays on economic questions to the "Nouvelle Revue," which was then just founded. In 1886 he gave up his business career altogether, and thenceforth devoted himself to journalism, working first on the "Petite République Française," then on the "Petit Parisien"—on which latter he applied himself especially to economic questions—and in July, 1888, on the "Figaro," with which he has since been identified. He has contributed also to the following: Figaro Illustré," "Illustration," "XIXme Siècle," "Liberté," "Revue Bleue," "Vie Parisienne." In the last-mentioned weekly he published between the years 1892 and 1894 some notes of travel under the pseudonym "Guy," and in 1898 a series of comments on topics of the day under the title "Confidential Letters," which latter attracted much attention. He also published in this journal his notes on Norway, which appeared in book form under the title "Au Pays des Nuits, Blanches," Paris, 1900.
Berr has done much work as foreign correspondent for his paper, interviewing personages of high political and social standing; and for this purpose undertook several trips to England, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunis, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Russia, and Alsace-Lorraine. He represented the "Figaro" in Asia Minor at the opening of the railway from Mondania to Broussa; and then, in 1891, he had an interview with Stambuloff at Sofia, which was commented on by the European press. In 1894 he was appointed chief of the auxiliary service of the "Figaro," and in this capacity edited its literary supplement. In 1896, when the "Figaro," was enlarged to six pages, Berr resumed his place in its editorial office, where (1902) he writes sometimes under his own signature and sometimes under the pseudonym "Fabien." Since 1885 Berr has been a member of the Société d'Economie Politique, and also of the Société des Journalistes Parisiens. In 1900 he received the cross of the Legion of Honor.
