Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1860-01-04
origin fihs ntquut Of lIopts ChrisIO." ]"

Ullbtu Ultn0 UVuht vi HOHtO OhtistVs
In the years 1s4l45. were published
twelve volumes, containing he Comte
de Monte Christie" by Alexander Du.
mas. This story originally appeared in
a Paris Journal. the CsplitutiOu,el,
where it attracted general attention. -
With the exception Of SCOTS best 70
mances and Dickens home novels, no
work Of fiction has ever been more
popular IN our time. Through the me-
dunn of translation it has been extern
sivelY circulated, wherever the English
language is read. It is generally known
now that Dumas did not write this won.
derful romance Of life This was charg-
ed against him in HS45, in Alphonse
Karr's brochure, Sur le Mercantilcsme
Literaire," and in the same year by
"Fabrique de Romans, MaiStn A Du-
mas ct Gle" BY Eugene Mirecourt, the
sarcastic author Of that remarkable Sc.
ries Of biographies entitled, LES Con-
tempOrauies." These publications af-
Fliate "The Count de Monte Christie"
upon a certain Monsieur Auguste Ma.
quet. At anoter time, perhaps. we may
return to the disputed authorship. Just
now, we desire to show upon what actu'
al circumstance the characters Id Mon
te Christie" were drawn, and the thrill
ing incidents framed.
The original Of Edmand Dantes, who
subsequently, figures In the romance as
the Count Of Monte Christie, was one
Francois Picaud, who in 1907 lived in
Paris, and made a respectable income
as chamber shoemaker Young Lively
and well-looking, he was nr the exc ot
marriage with 4 toapg o'e sssl silo pas.
sassed 3 resppcl aowry
Laa ! lneighbor Who kept .
M near Tic Plleo sainte OpportuBe
a widower, with two children, who had
one great fault--though himself very
we'll OF be had a remarkable jealousy Of
any neighbor who was thriving, or seem
ed likely to thrive. This mans name
was Mathieu Loupian, and he was a ma.
tive Of Nismes, the capital of the depart
ment Of Gard. whence Pioaud originally
came. also. and his three most intimate
friends all came from the same neighbor-
hood.
Visiting Loupian's cafe, and attired
in his holiday costume, Francois picaud
attracted the attention of bis townsman,
Loupian, and contested that in three
days ho was about taking the important
step called marriage. The damsel, he
said. Was Marguerite De Vigoroux. with
d dowry of one hundred thousand francs
equal TO about twenty thousand dollars
Of our money He invited Mathied Lou'
plan and the other three Nismesites, his
friends, to attend the wedding, Of Saint
Leu. and to join little bal champetre,
with which the evening would close
They accepted, ahd Picaud retired.
sNaturally jealous and grudging, Lou
plan became indignant at the idea of Pi-
caud's happiness and, ,gcod fortune, and
declared he would arrest bis steps into
prosperity. His plan wss to notify the
COMMISSIONS u Die District, who FIRE.
quently visited thc cafe. that picaud
was ah agent Of the English with whom
Napoleon was then at war, Then, said
said the enyious man, "dir friend Pis
caud viii! be Summoned and examined
he viii be frightened to death and in.
stead Of being married in three days, as
he expects bis marriage cannot taAe
place for Ten days on afOrtnight." Lou
plans three couHdanis agreed that it
would be i good practical joke on Pi-
caud who looked 80 prOvokhgly happy;
but as they were quitting the cafe, one
Sf them hamcd Allnt who had been
thinking The matter over. warned Lou.
plan to abandon the scheme, saying that
Picaad was capable Of taking fearful
revenge, II be ever discovered tic tick,
and declaring that, for his own part; be
washed bis hands Of it, Quilted the com
pang The other three laughed at bis
fears. and resolved to proceed.
Tho Commissioner visited the cate
that same day, and the result Of Lou
plans conversation with !him was he
iiuncaiasely made reportlwhich found
It's way into The hands OfEavary, Due
le RovighO, who bad succeeded. .Fouchc
ii sbS oiHso Of Minister IL Police at Paf.
is Uniorlunatcly for PiSpua tkcre had
reached ne Duke Al tAe same time: