New-York tribune., 1870-12-15
ALEXANDRA DUMAS.

was -. oDd +bourb he rallied enough to be
pronounced out of danger 1t was with inteec' si"'
p15 a,d ,,bysical powers so completely wrecked
b,st friends could hardly wish 10 see his HE
prolonged. -,.-,-., .,aoo !,
This extraordinary man never obtained place IN
a., o, highest rank OF French authors, but he will
10 ron,cmbered rs the most perfect representative ot
,he porisian romancer. With gifts Of Imagination
that almost amounted TO genius, brilliant fancy, an
inexhaustible fecundty of wit ceaSeless actiVi'y
of hand and brain, and a knack of c0mposllioh
which was not literary polish hut with the miliohs
made very good substitute for it, he was for quar-
ter of century the Idol and exempar in France VI
,be literature of amusement. The stage ana the
fcuilcton those two great instruments Oh popui"t
entertainment which reflect the life and thought Oh
- % ,,crfcctlv were mastered by him at
single effort aud until age and over-produe-
,i,n aud cav living combined TO check his brilliant pen
Ia ncvcr ceased 10 captivate the hcke affections OF
his countryucn OF TO dazzle half the noVelreaders OF
the world Comparatively few OF his works, ar'iSucaS
dged have great permanent value "a literary creauos
INT as models OF constructive ingenuity ana r'elS VI
,.,,iou oTlc Three Guardsnen,' Monte Crsto,'
and some Others will hold honorcd places IN the 1u'ue
museum Of novels In romance he was not poetieai; IN
tbe historical novel he was conspicuous for bold ana
suhlime ignorance; in essays and travel he showed
neither kccuncss OF observation nor comprehension VI
the human heart but in the hazy gores OF the frehch
literary paradise which lies between the borders Of the
poetical the grotcSque. the witty, and the sensuous
Alexandre Dumas was without rival
The name OF Dumas that OF his Grandmother
fblooded African by whom the Marquis de la Paille
terie rich French planter, had son. Alexandra DaV!
horn at JCrtie in the Island of Hayu in li62 Ihls
SON who was the father Of the novelist, was sent 10
France 10 he educated and at the age of IA enlisted
under his mothers name in a cavalry regiment lie
rose To bc General of Division, and served Win great
cory under Bonaparte in Italy and Egypt For his
calanry at the battle of Brxen where, snge-handed
he defended bridge against the enemy until the French
came ND Buuapare presented him to the Directory as
"thc Horatius Coolies Of the TyrOl;" but when Few
wears later after long and painful confinement III
Ncspotau prison he returned TO France ana asKed IO
a command the First Consul refused to employ nm on
account Of his republican opinions He retired upon th
rebuff To the little town OF VillersCoterets, near soils
n and there in 1906 he died consumption in state
OF pitiabe poverty. Alexandra born at Nilers-Co-
trcs on the oath Of July 1903, three years before his
fathers death. His mother left him, as he grew up,
nearly TO his guidance and when he was Is years
old he seems TO have learned little except to ride fence
hlay billiards and write good hand. II was his pen
,uanship (about the last accomplishment which we
should look for in Dunas that gave him start in life.
The family difficulties grew worse and worse, until one
d,v his mother confessed to him in tears that there was
nothing left them but the of 2j2 francs Alexandra
ok he 52--a
,ayng game OF billiards with the conductor of the
diligence for the price of his fare to the capital and for
tunatey winning We DO not know that he was actually
reduced TO the traditional last and last crust Of bread
with which readers of the adventures Of rustic lads in
search Of employment have for been famiiar but
hs prospects first dark enough and, though ne
had already written two plays, none Of the man
ayers would have them At last he presented himself 10
Cen Foy, with letter of recommendation from an
influential person in the department which the General
then represented deputy. The General was ready to
serve him. but what could be done with young man
who only knew how TO ride dance, shoot, and play bill
lards Dumas confessed that he was ignorant OF ac
counts mathematics law languages, almost everything
The General asked for his address, hut no sooner
saw the beautiful penmanship in which the young mar
eet down the direction his modest lodgings than he ex
claimed "we are rescued! You hare fne hand
Vriting."
The result OF this interview that Dumas obtained
situation as copying clerk the Office OF the secretary
the Duke OF Orleans (afterward Louis Phippe), with
salary of 100 francs month and great deal Of har
work But 100 francs him meant fortune He sent fC
Mis- mother to come 10 Paris he spent the most Of hi
nights I'm repairing the defects or his education, an
heshng his pen with vaudevillcs poetry, and grea
variety Of rubbish which gave him neither fame no
money hut some useful practice in composition. He as
crbcs the awakening Of his real dramatic powers to tn
visit of q company Of English actors who perforne
some Of shakespeare's plays in Paris in 1927 but
could not really have been Influenced by poet whom
was incapable of understanding. and it is quite fair
assume that the which at last rewarded his labor
was due merely 10 the natural development OF his taeT
and the improvement Of his education. His Christine,
a classical tragedy had been accepted at the Th6atT
Francais, but il was not Immediately acted, an
ne lost So much time running about after the manage
that his superOrs who did not about having the
copying done by young French shakespeare, shove
ter dissatisfaction by degrading him to lower clerl
ship Nothing daunted, he wrote another play, the hi
torical drama Of Henry ILL.," OF which he says: 81
l.. easy to see this piece that the dramatic facu
in certain is innate. / was then IS year
Old. and Henry Ill my second scriou
work \ conscientious critic may subject it TO tn
seyercst examination, and though he will find much Il
censure the style, he pick no fault with the plan
have written so dramas since Henry ILL.,, and not one
OF them is more judiciously constructed" 1t marked
as he elsewhere says the tUrnngpOint IN his
and thanks partly 10 It's merits, partly TO luck and
partly-f his Memories are be trused-tO his bold and
adroit management, IL had a speedy hearing and an
almost uuexsmpled The rehearsals nearly
finished when there appeared. in a nOOriOusly veDal
journal bitter article calling the attention OF the cen
the forthcoming DRAMA and denOuncing it as
most dangerous work. This serious business; but
81 Dumas called upon the editor with big stick in has
hand, and the next day the same paper assured the
world that it, criticisms of the day before all a
mistake On the Of the first performance the young
clerk demanded an audience Of the Duke Of Orleans.
The request audaciOus that he felt it would
be granted. He admitted without much difficulty,
aud thus nc describes the interview
Monscig cigncur said l. tomorrow Henri ILL., is to be
performed. come to ask Of you favor or rather an
act justice. For year past people assured your
Hi ighness that was q vain and obstinate fool have
been for year humble hardworking poet and with
out giving hearing, MOnseg gneur yOu have decided
IN favor OF my accusers Perhaps your Hghness ought
20 have waited your Highness judged otherwise
Tomorrow the to be tried before the public
The PRAYER which have come TO make Monsegneur is
that you will be present at the trial
"The Duke looked at me for moment, and Observing
with what tranquility supported his gaze, replied
"' would do 50 with pleasure, NJ Dumas for several