Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-19


write him trial article | forthwith set
about the grave work of writing an ar;i-
Gle for the Nonredu main jane copied
it three times, and ornamentcd the de-
tinitivc manuscript with drawings done
with the pen, representing in my best
style, various fantaStical birds, and on
the morrow at p. NJ, made my way
to the bureau of the journal, Rue. CroiX.
des-Petits, 81. There were five persons
assembled in the editorial cabinet, -Soule,
Santo-D1mingo, Leon, Halevy. Lucasson,
and an author of unpublished tragedies.
At the moment entered, this poet, who
has continued unknown. was declaim.
ing TRADE Of AsGfubal. that seemed 10
me very imposing. 1t was the final rcci-
tatiGn.
Some ore was recounting to the Consul
Nero after the battle Of the Metaurus, the
defeat Of Asdrubal and the fall of his
bloody head in the Carthagenian camp.
Soule addressed divers wicked compli-
mcnts to the tragic poet, and the latter
left to offer himself as a rival candidate
with NJ. de Frayssinons, Bishop of Her
mopolls, for place in the Academy.
New was come the solemn moment for
myself. Soule asked me if had brought
my article! l presented it to him with
timid and icy hand. My essay was en-
titled Horace Thur" Soulercad aloud:
and he read it very well. Santo- Domingo
and Leon Halevy paid me some compli-
ments upon the occasion. My article was
printed the next day, and Soule assigned
me fixed salary, which, in ny own eyes,
young dehutant as [ was, constituted me
forevcrmore millionaire.
The relations Of Alphonse Rabbe and
Soule had become very intimate The
Maine jaime was showing a tendency to
combat the young school which was
springing up beneath the rays of NM.
Alphonse de Lamartine and Victor Hugo.
Alphonse Rabbe, who passiona,ely adj
mlred these two poets, and knew by heart
their earlier verses, wrote a romantic ar
ticle for the Main jaune, and Soule insert
ed it, Notwithstanding the earnest oppo-
sition of his colleagues. Encouraged by
AlphOnso Rabbe and Soule, commenced
my seres of Paradoxcs, in defence of all
the young slories that were springing up
against the jealousy of rivals who were in
the pangs Of death, and against the wrath
of good taste.
If the Main .iaune had been only lit
erary and artistic journal, Soule would
not at the present moment be AmbasSa-
dor of the United States. Happily for
him his journal was political also, and
very sharp in its opposition. 81 would
so like to have little case in court, :"
said Soulc to me one day. "a bit of a
prosecution. His wish was granted bv
the Kings Attorney General, thanks TO
an article of Santo Domingo. The arti-
Gle in question excited public rumor in
very lively manner. 1t assailed some
law which had just been passed by the
Chamber. don't remember now what
the law was. Soule had vague PRESENT.
ment of the future that was awaiting him.
He leapcd for Joy upon the receipt of the
stamped paper, which invited him to at
tend a sitting of the tribunal, and an
nounccd to him an inevitable condemna.
ton.
The great day arrived. Soule repaired
to the Palace of Justice with triumph
ant step. Under the guidance of Chance
he was marching to an anbassadorship.
His young friend, Lucasson, said to me
with tears in his eyes. "See how pale he
is ! This day will kill him-he won't
survive it ~ And in fact, when he lose
to reply to the question of the President,
Soule did seem to me paler than usual.
You would have hardly suspected that
hot
which the emotion of the day seemed des-
tined to cast upon his death bed the vic
tim of consumption. According to GUS
tom, the speech of the Kings prosecut-
ing officer was crushing. Never had this
filnctionary had to do with crime like
this, or with so great a criminal, and he
invoked upon that young head the whole
rigor of the law, and even more besides.
Charles Ledru defended most eloquently,
the future ambassador.
After him, Soule rose to speak also in
his own defence. Then it was, that this
pale and fIail young man revealed himself
to us in new light. Up to that moment
the diapason of his voice had never risen
above the quietest notes. His comten-
ance had always preserved mild and in
fantine serenity. Suddenly Soule is me-
tamorphosed TO our eyes. His voice be-
comes harsh and screaking, his face
blaZeS with animation, his eyes dart light
ming, and be gives utterance to an elo-
quent ire which abandoning all idea of
defence becomes in it's turn accuSer and
hurls its flashing epigrams full in the
face of his Judges. In one word. he over.
threw the skillfully constructed pile
which his advocate, Charles Ledru, had
built for his defence, and buried himself
in its ruins. The bench ofjudges sat un-
moved, we must do them that justice, but
for metaphysical and incomprehensible
article of Santo Domingo they condemned
Soule to three years imprisonment.
Lucasson. who was sitting beside M,
almost tainted. ''Three years ~ said he,
u Al Il