The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-03
For The National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
YyIy-AUTHORs AND ARTISTS.
PARIS, March, 1856

xxIv.-AUTHORs AND ARTISTS.
Paris, March, 1856.
Political events, things in which the authors
r. France viii interest themselves, have had
,le eject 10 throw into exile the larger number
~ those y stranger most desires to look upon.
Of the great names from which the to-day's
lyo-y or the people will be suspended, very
cv remain in Paris-their beloved Paris; the
ra,, are wandering over the earth, suffering
orteayts. The men who will be remembered as
crl7 the undying dead are remembered, live in
obscure alleys, miserable garrets, and gain a
doubtful livelihood by teaching French, music,
fralg. and, even By hard manual labor in
alien places.
lanartine is vet in Paris, with brain-driven
fingers striving night and day 10 clear off debts
his little experiment at craftsmanship brought
lin. Through the kindness of our excellent
consul, Mr. McRae. we had the pleasure of
presentation to the great man, shortly after ia
king NJ our residence in Paris. The interview
vas enough commonplace-he looked upon US
only as some of the many curious Americans
who break into his room for an intense stare at
one whose name once rung over the wide earth.
Well do not say but what the past statesman
was very right-such was our motive and con-
duet
His receptions were at an early hour, and we
drove from Mr.. McRae's residence Immediately
after dinner-that is, halfpast eight or therea-
bouts. Pulling up in front of huge house in
the Rue Vile E5eque, we found the porte CO.
cheTe open, and, hanging upon the arm of our
pleasant introducer, We led the way to the Rez
de Chau;see, passing through first conserva-
tory filed with plants, more or less in flower, to
the entrance, where a solemn-looking domestic
threw open the door with pretended announce
ment Of oar names. N. Lamartine rose to meet
Is. aud ! was absolutely startled by his resem.
i.aace 10 Henry Clay-a handsome edition Of
Henry Clay-Henry Clay revised and improved,
tliret in expression, almost in feature, in every
movement, Henry Clay.
We were presented to Madame Lamartine
and several present, whose names l have en-
ireIy forgotten. The room was very small,
s!h the walls entirely covered by paintings
nom the hand of Madame Lamartine, and
GIVING undOubJed evidences of genius in that
me As said, our interview was without any
striking event or word worthy of record. La
marine looked wearied to death, and xpress-
"a himself Ill., from fever and hard work Poor
man. Inc sea Of debt he had to encounter was
appalling. lie began one year since with
"9a0Oo francs before him, and nothing but
IaM ne7er-resting brain to blot it out-nothing
10 I.t 1t but the delicate pen. Happily his
Writings are popular, and he has only to exhib-
ue utepage Of any effort, to find it check
on abundance. The amount in this way has
been reduced to $4,000 francs.
ms VISIT to Lamartine, with an accidental
encounter with Dumas, makes up the extent
o' our on literary lion-seeking in Paris. We we're
Waking along the Boulevards, near Rue Lafitte,
e U@!!' when this last-named romance-writer
ta,ssa Us. l knew him by the many prints and
f'"-'S IN circulation, and we all turned for a
~ ,F stare He passed at brisk walk, wor-
-e man who spins off such volumes in so
une lie was on his. way to an open
''1-e' N which were several gentlemen wait
70 speak to him; and we paused, D.
J'''.g that if Monte Cristo came back near
-. intended addressing him. The Monte
uld return, and ID. in the most nat
- manner asked the direction to an adjoin-
A., l 5''. The quick, restless eyes of the gil
r..i 1-5'ef 'ook us all in at glance, and then
$50 ou' NE direction very much in the same
,s;... MN m which he wrote the Three Mousque-
I.-s] I9en the author of hundred romances,
q - urged IN one truth, went on. / watch
Tho h r5aplaly-vanishing phenomenon. saw
s.. '1aaIed volumes vet to come ascend the
en-, u Caie dc Paris, and the coat.tail of the
a, .J.' World-renowned romancer vibrating
ma - !, me almost hundreds of famous authors
cont 'ou' Farls, to have ones observations
,1 70 an evening with Lamartine, and a
Heors a. DHmas, Is a fact by no manner of
er,;,-:.l peasant to admit. Yet such it is; the
world soon wears away, when one is in the
e,oe - wonders; not only is this true in refer
lsu;no authors, but every day / find myself
irHsss @nous places with scarcely thought
s,8 %no had seized Lamennais's books,
lsrs,a,5 through them soon as he could un-
En,alf uozen words, was ever promising
sel7s;..' I'n enthusiasm, great pleasure in an
gl5so .'o"ce, when his knowledge of the Ian
tai 40, uu permit free intercourse. Before
ar! came, the large-headed and simple
ss6 h. philosopher folded his cloak about him,
Ee o.. - DOWN to die-as the good only die.
sg,,s t mined to assist at his funeral;and, un.
fr Il, ~ . an order issued by the police, set out
tes, Vas ~, a beautiful day. The sun poured its
tie b,lss ut over steeple, dome, and river, where
and thousands wended their many WAYS
pave INFUSED Inurmur, like a halfsuppressed
Cd iba W Teit up from the mighty city. we pass
inrDsn.- eiene, and saw the front draped in
Did ID ieStoons of black velvet, and the stu
Gora la entered our minds that perhaps the
@ knas ne was doing honor to one of the
hno5s VI thought" Alas no. 1t was some
and NJ nobody for whom the cannon doomed
sodiar umeS nodded and vast ranks of glitterine
back tho n med the wide thoroughfare, keeping
II. 'Ie staring crowds.
supIot ,et the heavy Madeleine suffering in the
edR66a rom Its pomp of woe, and soon gain
before ~. late the residence of Lamennais
were ps @b,cn few carriages and small CROWD
CuestssS Sta M He had in his last illness, re
teremon mat no priest should trouble him, so n.
Crowd utes were observed in his burial. Tn,
nucb us WIS not so great that we experience,
Ou0ie In making our way through.