Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-30
A VISIT TO BULWER.

Dumas Visit 60 BuIwer-A Magical
Word Inspires the Young French.
man - Described After His Own
Peculiar style. f
NJ. Alexander Dumas describes in the
last number Of the Revue de Paris, a
visit, which he paid to Lord Lytton in
1868. He says: " When Dickens died,
my heart was sad for / knew him well,
and so did my illustrious father, because
he knew us and liked us; but when the
great Bulwer died, felt still sadder, for
Bulwer, only few years ago raised me
from despair to hopefulness. They who
are able to do such things are better
than apostles; they are angels. Misun-
derstand me not. Bulwer did not en-
courage me in anything mean. he only
took me up, broken reed, after fifteen
years of literary life, when l was heart
broken, and said: $500 3HH0 II
Courage"
Hew did | become acquainted with
Bulwer2 Go back thirty years. What
was l but boy? What was my father2
A great man. This great man lived at
Versailles. He had court Who were
his courtiers? Balzac and Eugene Sue.
], poor little fellow, was almost stupifed
in seeing around my father-the incarna-
ton of goodness--so much ability and
brilliancy. Do you know why | never
appreciated bonmotsP Because i heard
too many of them. One day there ap-
peared at my fathers table slender
gentleman of foreign aspect. My father
took me upon his lap, and said to his
strange guest: "This is my sonl" The
distinguished stranger, with wonderful
air Of kindness in his fine eye, took me
in his arms, kissed me, and said:
"Dear child"
| was anxious to know who he was. |
asked papa, and he said: i
"He wrote Eugene Aram."
1t was Bulwer. They made me learn
the English language. | never regret.
ted it. That was long ago. We were
all happy. We grew up, and grew old,
and father remained young. France
was quiet. Iwrote, and sometimes peo-
pie applauded me. One day they hissed
one Of my plays. / was there; but, when
| heard these sounds, / did not betray
any emotion. / thought my play was
good yet, when | went home, and re-
tired to my couch, l buried my head in
my pillow. Ahl France had become too
small for mel wanted to fee, and |
went to England. Whom should meet
in England but NJ. Louis Blanc2 He
said to me:
"You must see Bulwer." r rsuFtFf
Everybody in London knew where the
great man lived. Next day | knocked
at the door of his elegant house. He
sent at once that he would see me. /
entered his library. There he was, the
same noble features of him who had
taken me in his arms at Vincennes, at
my fathers house, only his hair had
grown more silvery. He was affected
when he saw me, and | was hardly able
to restrain my tears. Once heard M.
Theirs complimenting a parliamentary
orator. That made deep impression
upon me. But what was my sensation
when the great Bulwer said to me he had
read my plays, and he had been deeply
interested in them2
Our conversation was very long; but
to me it seemed very brief Bulwer said
that he would rather be great dra-
matist than a novelist. With that
naivete which is sometimes peculiar to
great authors, he asked me which of his
works | liked best. was embarrassed,
for liked them all; but | answered.
Pelhaml"
Everybody likes that, he said slowly;
"but have you read Rienzi2" "
"Read and admired it." was my
answer.
was it really good?"
"In my opinion faultless."
There was q smile Of qualification in
his beautiful eyes. Mine grew lustrous
as | saw it.
he asked me how long l would remain
in England.
I told him what had brought me there.
He laughed at me.
What so small 8 misfortune as
that F"
| dropped my eyes. Bulver laughed,
and said:
"You Frenchmen are the most clever,
but also the most sensitive Of play
wrights. know something Of your first
night audiences in Paris. have been
among them. But nothing does them
more good than to tear down what
ought to be applauded. ] assure you !
myself would neyer venture with play
first before Partisan andieRce."
"Ah,' ] said, your Lady Of Lyons is
popular all over France" :"
9 Yes" he answered, because ! an
an Englishman."
When We parted be whispered into my
ear-
"Courage"
That noble word sustained me ever
aftsrward, and recalled il when l re-
eeived the news Of the death Of the great
and good man. nIr I|I|
A coroners jury in Kentucky found I.
man guilty of murder and sentenced
him 20 Jail for life. The condemned man
- ...-.,--.~~.. fn have = frrnN