The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
Alexandra Dumas In the Law Courts,
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONUMENT AND

From Gallgnani's Messenger May 10.1
IL has been stated that Madame dc Balzac, widow
of the late celebrated novelist had applied 70 the
Civil Tribunal to prevent NJ Alexandra Dumas
from executing design he had announced, Of rails
ing funds, by of subscriptions and theatrical
performances, for erecting monumental tomb to
Balzac. Yesterday the matter came on before tig
Tribunal. M. Nogent Saint Laurens, advocate q
Madame dc Bazac, represented that she had beef
extremely shocked and panied at reading in NJ
Dumas journal, the Mousquetavc, that he had 50
licited ard obtained subscriptions from the Empress
the Minister OF the Interior, M. Meyerbcer, ana
other personages, for erecting tomb to her hua
band, and that he was organizing theatrical per-
formances and concert for the same purpose. She
considered such an intervention on his part as ex.
teneiy indicate, and as an imputation that she
was wanting in proper respect Tor her husbands
memory. She accordingly sent gentleman to
HIM to represent that his assistance was not re-
quirod and she made her architect write to the
newspapers TO say that she had more than year
before ordered him TO erect monument to her hus-
hand. and had supplied the necessary funds. Still
NJ. Dumas persisted In bis project; but he wrote
letter In bis newspaper 10 Madame dc Balzac In
which lie stated that he did not propose to erect a
tomb 10 Bazac, az he thought that might safely be
ltft 90 her affection, but that he proposed TO erect
monument as tribute to his literary renown and
that lie was willing to leave Madame Balzac herself
or he governments TO say where it should be placed
This distinction between tomb and monument,
appeared unsatisfactory; and she persisted in de-
manding that her husbands memory should not be
"
that her affection should not be outraged by the
meddng of stranger in duty she owed TO her
husband. She accordingly called on the Tribunal to
compel NJ Dumas, under the penalty OF paying
heavy damages, to abandon his project N.
Palard do Villcncuve, advocate of Alex
andre Dumas, said that that gentleman had
been greatly surprised and grieved on paying visit
to P1re Lachase, TO find that the grave of one OF
the greatest writer's of France was simply marked
out by plain stone bearing only his name aud the
date Of his birth and DEATH and that this stone was
covered with weeds and rubbish. lie had, there
fore, conceived the idea Of having a becoming mo-
~ ment erected TO him, and of raising the neces-
seTy funds by national subscription. t. this idea
he had pot conceived that any objection couli be-
made, as it had been more than once started by
different persons, and had not then been objected
90 by Madame de Balzac. The advocate was pro-
ceeding with his augmentation when he was stop
ped by the Tribunal which gave Judgment to tn
eject that, as N. Dumas had declared that his i's
tention was 10 erect monument to Balzac ant
not tomb, and which monument might be con
dcrsd as a national debt, the demand OF Madame q
Balzac should lie dismiss ed-eubect, however, u
Inc ,xpress reservation that she only should be
lowed to erect a tomb.