The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-02
the "LADY or LYONS"


Readers of poetry and romance are al
ways anxious to know OH what clrcum-
stances of fact or particular observation
the works which charm them have been
founded. Tnis was very much exempli-
fed in the edition Of Walter ScotJ's
poems and novels, begun in 1879, in
whIcn, more or less in detail, he related
| in a series OF anecdotal introductions,
upon what incidents or recollecti0ns
| each narrative, whether in prose or
verse, has been founded.
| These revelations created q great fl-
rore at the time, and especially revived
the somewhat abated popularity of the
novels. Readers were eager to be taken
into the confidence Of "fhe Great Un-
known" Gas Scott was finally designated,
while the authorship of Waverly WAS
unacknowledged), and these introduce
tions, taken altogether, are to be re-
garded as a valuable contribution to lit
erary history.
Bulwer, whose s''Lady of Lyons" has
been the most succ esslul melo-drama in
the Englisn language said, in his pref
ace, when he published the play:
San indistinct recollection OF very
pretty tale, called The Bellows Men,
ders,' suggested the plot Of this drama.
The incidents are, however, greatly al
| tered from those in the tale, and the
characters entirely recast."
Ine tale in question, entitled "Perou-
rou; or tue Bellows Mender." was much
more largely drawn upon than Bulwer
mas here acknowledged. L have never
seen a translation OF it, but, thanks to
my very good memory have u pretty lull
and accurate recollection of It's main IN
cIdents, though read it only once, some
forty years ago, and then in the French
language. Let us see what these Incl
penis are.
Perourou, who is supposed to tell the
story, represents himself as the son OF
a poor beilows-inender, In the south OF
France, and himself while yet II young
man, doomed to earn a precarious live
llnood by the same low trade. Anxious
to better himself, he goes to Lyons
where his good looks and youth made
him u favorlte with the cnambermalds,
who became his chief employers. One
evening, as he was coming home, after
| bis days rounds, Perourou (whlcn is
the name iamlliarly gwen to bellows
| members in Paris }, was accosted by four
well-dressed young men, who, engaging
| him IN conversation, drew him OUT, anu
discovered that he had "a great deal ol
wit and liveliness. Ihey said TO each
other, ''This is the'man for U.s." and in
vited MIN to sup with them, with the as
ance in little scheme, and would pay
him well-only, ii he did not agree to do
| it, he must promise to keep their secret.
To this he assented, and went with
them to a handsome house in one OF the
principal streets.
There they met six other well-dressed
young men, to whom Perourou was in
troduced. The party sat down to a good
supper, and the champagne, which he
f,.,,
this guests tongue, and excited his i'm
agination, apparently 10 the satisfaction
vi his hosts.
When he was properly primed, they
BECAME serious, and one OF them said
that all the ten were engravers, and citi
: Zeus of Lyons, in easy circumstances
making handsome living by thelr art
and firmly bound together i'll the bonds
of friendship. There came time, how
ever, when Love stepped in tp disturb
their peace. one of tue ten fell in love
with the daughter of well-to-do pic
ture-mercnant, whose remarkable beau
ty was matched only by her intoleraDlt
} pride. 'phe admirer proposed for her
the father sanctioned the proposal. The
girl insolently rejected the suit, and in
suited the saitor, asking:
s.Do you think that such person as
am was born for nothing. better than tt
be an engraver's wife?"
J The ten friends, angry at this repulst
of one OF their body, and indignant a
the slur she had cast on their profession
. had resolved to SHOW her that she wa.
not indeed, born to the honor OF beipa
, an engraver's vile, and asked Perourol
: whether he would assist in their re
: venge.
TO this he assented, in the excitemen
of the moment. During the next three
months, they and he were mucn oceu
pied in preparing Tor the part he was t
play. Preserving the utmost secrecy
: they took intiuite pains to transform tie
belIows.mender into fine gentleman.
: Bathing, hair-dressers, tailors, sc.
brought his person into state Of refine
| ment. He was taught music, drawing
dancing and other accomplishments, anl
: fortunately for the plot he was iond o
study, apt to learn, and endowed with
very god memory.
L La due time, it was believed that b,
was able to begin the play. According
: ly he was ms allied in the first hotel II
: Lyons, as the Marquis de kouperon, pre-
= prletor OF vast estates in the ancieH
! province OF Poltou, between La Rochelle
: and Poictiers.
I, Under this high-sounding title, an,
I. supplied with ample means for support
Ing ltS Cioulou ulOppGa III VI
). the picture merchant, to purchase q lev
I'll works of art. A business intimac,
a arose, and one day message reached
!. the fictitious marquis, to the effect lha
. a large collection of fine engravings hat
been received from. Rome, Which ne wa
q invited 10 examine.
g He went, and was received, not by th,
! picture dealer, but by Aurora, TIN
4 daughter, VINO was even lovelier than hi
: fancy had panied her. Under the infu
! ence OF herrare beauty, the iInpostor ha,
| nearly forgotten that he was only play
3 ing part, and his admiration was ex
v pressed, not alone by look and manner
, Dut in passionate words. The lady re
A ceived this homage as her due, and al
] ready fed her pride with the expectation
t of soon wearing the coronet ol a MAI
: chioness.
Several months passed away, durin
! which the intimacy of the mock marqui
t and Aurora increased and became III
a tensitied. The ten engravers kept hiI
/ literally supplied with money and jew
n els. AT last he offered her his hand
which she accepted.
All this time he was the victim of r.
/. morse, when Out OF rhe young lady
n sight; ia her presence, smltten with
true passion, ne remembered nothtn