The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-11

prince Of hunters; Of duel ne IS more learned |
than Grisier.
every instant by tome Information to be
procured by a doubt, lapse OF
memory, an obstacle OF some kind. He is
stopped by nothing. Moreover, the habit OF
writing for the stage has given him surprising
facility OF composition. Join to this a sparkling
imagination, gaJety, an exhaustless flow OF
ideas, and you will easily comprehend how,
with such resources, man can OBTAIN in his
laboTs wonderful rapidIty, without sacrificing
ability OF construction, and without ever iniur-
ing the quality or sterling value OF his work.
And Is 1T such q man whom you would call
a Monstem Why Monsieur is an unknoWn
personage-a man who has never written u
good work, who has never performed a noble
action, made an eloquent dlscourse-a man
whom France ignores a man OF whom Europe
entire has not heard. Certainly NJ. Dumas is
much lees OF marquis "a ridiculous parsonage
OF French comedy than M. Three Stars; but NJ.
Three'Stars is much more OF monsieur than
Alexander Dumas.n
Commend us to true woman of mind when
we need a friend!
Dumas. like other men great and small who
were born in the early part of the present cen
tury, can number at this day but small sprlnk-
ing OF his early associates. He has lately been
called on to write biographical preface to a
posthumous work of an old friend and man of
letters Roger de Beauvoir, ore who was not
driven into the profession by need. 1t were
better for him, perhaps, If he had been; for
though his friend handles his memory teuderly,
IT is evident that hs was a life of dissipation.
The book to which allusion has been made
enters into some amusing particulars of eccen-
trio characters known to the author, and forms
volume OF amusing reading. The writer's
real name was Roger de Bully; but
his uncle Deputy de Bully obliged
him, when he took to the profession of letters,
to assume new surname. The enforced change
was really happy one. He was born in Paris,
2Sth November, 1909, and at an carly age i'm
bbed taste for fctons on medieval subjects.
In 1885 he went to Holland, and resided there
some time; and in his after works he introduced
many interesting sketches of the lite he wit
messed there. He married Mad'lle Leocadie
Doze, a beautiful and accomplished actress, in
lS40; but the uuon. as IN many other similar
conditions, was not happy one. Tue separa-
ton OF the gifted pair was effected with much
noise, in 1850, and the husband sought balm for
account of the trial. His wife, a native of
Hennebon in han, Brittany, was known in
the world of letters. She died 30th October
1859, at the early age OF thirty-seyen years and
ten days.
This is the prosaic side of the matter; let us
look at 1t from Dumas poetic point OF view.
"At his return IRON Spain he fell in love with
beautiful, witty, poetic woman, PIedestine1
by her very name to be loved. There was
genuine love, but with it came genuine sorrow.
lie tancied 1t one of these passing tancles such
as he bad before experienced, but he. was de-
ceived. This love, like the tunic of Nessus,
scoTcbed his heart. From the moment he
began to love her he loved no other. He loved
her faithful, he loved her false, he loved her
x,
"He quilted his house (pHotel Pimodan) in
lS45 He would quit Paris, he would quit France,
he would return to America, to Italy, TO Spain.
to India, to China, to New Caledonia. He
remained, and the man least fitted iu the worli
to be husband welded woman the least fitted
TO be wife. How explain this He
charming young man, she an adorable young
womau!r y
Roger de Beauyoir, as his friend says,
enjoyed an iron constitution, constant good
health Che implies that he abused these gifts,
and consoled himself Tor the domestic estrange-
ment, but not in a Christian or philosophlc
way. In November, 1861, when reaching for
a book in his library, Rue Richer he fell, and
the results were a swelling of the abdomen and
legs. The most skilful doctors in Paris were
among his intimate friends. They did all that
could be effected by zeal and SKILL but for
eighteen months the malady went on increasing.
At last an operation was deemed necessary, and
DR.. Favrot was selected to perform it. But we
are unable without Dumas aid to describe the
sequel.
with the resolution come to by the physicians
In one hand, and the instrument of torture in
the other. Roger felt the trOiS quar7s three
quarters, the instrument). and SAID he would
ra her die than undergo the operation.
:" Faith, believe you are right, said FaVrot,
who belonged to the skeptic school.
"'Well said Roger, 'as there is nothing fur
ther to be done in the operating line, let us
have glass OF champagne together
"'Champagne let 1t be- SAID FaVrot, who did
not wish o annoy his patient.
"lnstead of glass apiece they emptied two
bottle.
well said Favrot, as they we're separating,
let us embrace, for it is probable we shall
never see each other again in life"
"'Y YOu hope then, that my suffering won't be
long,
'0I can promise no more than about twelve
hours and the patient and doctor embraced
again.
'FaNrot withdrew.
"'Come tomorrow, at all events said Roger.
Certainly, said Favrot, II it were only from
curiosity
"Aud Roger laid himself out on the sofa, to
die as comfortably as be could.
Contrary 10 his expectation, he enjoyed a
profound sleep.
During his sleep crisis came on. An issue
was formed in his legs. Out flowed the water,
and Roger, on awakening, found the room inun-
dated and himself healed.
Next day Favrot came, expecting to find his
patient dead. He knocked, and it was Roger
himself who opened the door,"
Poor ger had fourteen physicians. He en-
tertaned them all at dinner one day, comparing
himse eli TO the Republic which had sent fourteen
armies to march against death.
But the enemy had OILY made a temporary
retreat With the togs and irosts of winter it
returned and for long time the poor man was
unable to lie down. He lived on, however, till
26th August, when he was visited by Count
O'Hagarty (O'Egherty in the text and Father
Aubert, two of his early friends. Having re-
ceived all the religious consultations in the po wer
of his friends to afford, he died next day, re-
tainlDg consciousness to the last.
Some verses com posed by him during his long
malady are not without their mora:-
"I had friend for twenty years,
He YVES the flower of my spring. time
All gave place to his mad joy,
The most morose welcomed him,
How he drank how he sang