The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-29
"sURIsSER,s MONTHLY,

"SURIBSER,s mONrHLY.v
The contents of Scrtbher's Monthly for
April al 9 as follows
''Life in the Cannibal Islands," illustrated,
by ]. @. Bates; 'In the Park, by E. Fl. O.
GA Breakfast with Alexandra Dumas" by
John Bigelow; "a Gentleman's Prerogative,"
by Elice Woodruffe; "Children who Work"
illustrated, by Julia A. Holmes; ''Thorwald-
sims Sacred Marbles, illustrated, by William
Wells; "An April Violet" by Mary e. G.
Wyeth; discovery of Antique Silver, illus
trated; The Fly" illustrated, by L. NJ.
Peterselia; Lucky Peer" concluded, by
Hans Christian Andersen; ''The Martyr
Church of Madagascar" by r. w. Howard;
"Florida Roses" by Elizabeth G. Kinney;
'The Anthracite Problem, by Edward Crap
sey; GA Horoscope" by w. @. Wilkinson;
''Wilfrid Cumbermede," illustrated, by Geo.
MacDonald; ''Topics of the Time;" ''The
Old Cabinets" "Home and Society,"" Couture
and Progress Abroad" Couture and Prog
ress at Homes" "Etchings," Dolly Sullivan,
illustrated by Marian Douglas.
From Mr.. Bigelow's description of "a
Breakfast with Alexandra Dumas" we take
sthe following
We waited breakfast till one o'clock for the
arrival of Mr.. Genesco, the editor of the
EaTope, from whom a telegram then arrived
"
two minutes. The proprietor of the cottage
and a professional musician were the only
other guests. The honor of conducting
madame to the table fell to me- The break
fast was admirably served, though it did not
escape the criticism of our host. A carp, cold
and more than two feet long, taken from the
neighboring lake, with sauce piquante, was
followed by hot roasted leg of delicious
mutton. Then came a 9Ss de 0eau, with
Wbar, nrp,oo hapd al
some he declined, saying: me defe de
la sauce tomato que je ne fails pas moi-meme."
One of the guests insisting that the sauce
was very good, "Ah," replied Dumas, in a
tone between sigh and grunt, sit is not
as like it," He afterwards remarked of an
other dish not entirely to his taste:-'T can't
quit the kitchen five minutes" After the
ate enormously. BY this time his
breathing had become as distinctly
audible as if it had been effected by the
aid of high pressure engine. never saw a
person eet SO much like an animal Grapes
and pears concluded our repast, which was
led to its place with champagne, claret, and
some excellent Burgundy.
Soon after we had made an end of our eat
ing and drinking, our host relapsed into a
state OF stertorous somnolency against which
he struggled for while manfully but in vain.
1 observed, however, that this was familiar
experience with the household, and was not
to be noticed Though some what reas-
sured 10y the tranquil air or my C0HtDtoUSdEoS,
could not help feeling little as if were the
guest of honor at one of La Fontaine's feasts
of the animals. In about half an hour, how
ever he overcame his drowsiness, and then
talked on rapidly, and sometimes eloquently,
and the more he talked the better looking he
became. His smile was very sweet, and there
was not a sordid, or mercenary, or selfish
trait in one of his features. He spoke of
topics of current interest like man of
decided opinions, but evidently saw them
from very restricted rather than
from philosophic or national
point of view. He said some things that
were striking. The Emperor, he remarked,
was I'M 0rdi c0nSptrdtelr and not a brave
man, hence he did everything requiring
courage in the night, and then enumerated
several of his important nocturnal perform
ances. He compared him to those beasts of
prey that only seek their food at night, such
as foxes, wolves, jackals, etc., and said that
he had the eye of that class of animals.
The Franco-Italian Convention of the 18th
ptember, which had been then recently
| signed, and of which the world had Just wit
messed the auspicious consummation, he pro-
nouDced very ingenious and quite sure to
restore Italy to Rome. He spoke with great
admiration of our novelist Cooper, whose
works were lying on his table, and whom he
professed to have known.
Before leaving st. Gratian 1 returned to the
subject of his projected American expedition,
made proffer of such letters aud counsel as
might promise to be of service to him. and
repeated the advice had given to him before,
to make book about the United States and
not to sell it until it was written. 1t was OBJ
| vious that for some reason, then not quite in
| telligible to me- this advice was not palatable
altogether.
Rejecting upon what had passed during
my ride home, / came to the conclusion that
his hope was that our Government, following
the example of several European States when
in trouble might desire TO enlist his pen in
its service, and that perhaps was prepared
under the cover of a booksellers engage
ment, to take him into the service of the Re-
public.
Speaking of his prop osal, few days later,
to distinguished member of the Institute
he told me that should caution all TO whom
gave him letters not to lend him money, for
said he, he Will levy upon every one of them,
ii est un grand n1dngeur, and always in want
of money. This, he added, is so notoriously
his character that feel no remorse in warn
ing you of it. He thought, however, Dumas
might make good book, and perhaps, under
the circumstances, useful one.
/ need hardly add that l never offered
Dumas any special inducements to visit Anne
RIGA, or that he never executed the project
about which he consulted me. Neither did
he ever renew the subject with me nor with
any one else that l know Of His sceptre
was already broken, and his literary Influence
was rapidly passing away. During the winter
succeeding my visit to st. Gratian he tried to
trade a little upon his past reputation and
notoriety by lecturipg; but bis success did
not warrant him or his friends in trvinp the