Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-07

BALzAc AND HIS WAYS Balzac had the
zeal. assiduity, and almost the dress ofa
monk Of the middle ages. His working
costume was white flannel robe, thrown
back at the throat and tied with a cord at
the waist. 1t was not stained with ink, as
one might suppose-he holding that the true
man of letters should be clean at his work
He probably had an idea of symbolizing in
this cloistered life devoted to literature.
He had thick neck, white and smooth as
a woman's, which was in striking contrast
to face highly eolcred. His lips were
sensual and good-hum red , the nose was
square at the end, with well-cut nostrils.
When he posed to David Dangers for his
bust he called attention to this feature.
PAY attention to nv nose, David there
is a world in my nose" The forehead was
noble, with a perpendicular line in the
middle, reaching to the space between the
eyes. His hair was thrown back in con-
fusion. The most striking feature was the
eye, clear, handsome, and magnetic. Ac-
cording to Gautier, the habitual expression
of the face was one OF puissant hilarity, of
Rabelaisian j0y-the monk 5 robe probably
giving birth to the idea. He had small
white hands with tapering fingers, the rose
cOlOrcd nails scrupulOusly cared for his
hand was one of his vanities, and compli-
ment thereon pleased him much. His vanity
was not confined to his hands, and was
proyerbial. On the sword of a statuette
of Napoleon L., given him by the sculptor,
was written
Whathe could not achieve by the sword will
accomplish with the pen. HoSoRE DE BALzAc.
Another sign Of his vanity was the par
ticlc de" which he put before his name,
and to which he had no legitimate claim.
lie believed, or affected to believe, that he
was descended from the De Balzacs 'Entra-
CUES, whose history goes back to the Crusade,
and he had the coat of arms of the same
placed on his plate and paper. When some
one had the courage and candOr TO prove to
him that he was not descended from the
members of this family, he replied :" So much
the worse for them To be the gentil-
homme was his most marked puerility, when
his vogue as writer began. Then he play
ed the character of modern Alcibiades,
dressed himself in fashionable and consp-
cuous garments, carried the noted cane,
frequented the lodge infernale at the theatre
and several noted salons. But this existence
did not last long, for it was unnatural, and
Balzac soon retired from it, after enjoying
his triumph in the character Of lion, and
gratifying his vanity with the parade.
When the idea of book presented itself to
him he disappeared. He has been heard to
say to himself "To work, my friend, to
work cat loose from every lien which
attaches YOU to gross humanity Isolate
yourself from the world entire; a truce to
reason; roll up your sleeves, spit in your
hands, en- ayant Ia heSOgne, dig ike q mig
ger Then he shut his door TO all the
world. even his best trends, and worked
Is hours out Of the 24 No letters were
opened during the period Of labor. He was
clOistered in absolute solitude the shutters
and curtains were closed, and be wrote by
the Light Of four candles, habited in his
Dominican robe as far away from the life of
Paris a. if he had been in the interior of
Africa. From the middle Of the night, till
II OF l. in the morning. there was no
Interruption; if he felt sleepy, be woke
himself with black coffee. at L, he |
breakiasted with eggs, bread, and cold |
water, finishing with a cup of black |
coffee. and went back to his table |
after ishr dinner toward evening lie
slept SIX hours When be became more ex-
ldA-tca lsdu usual Lllef tuls regimen, lLt !
rubicuui Rose, bis cook, softly approached |
with plate OF fragrant soup and trembhngly |
offered it 10 him which be harshlya and peremp- |
toriiy declined But monsieur Will become |
seriously Ill. " Rose, YOU annoy me-g I /
out" Then, repenting Of his treatment Of |
her, he would call her back, eat the soup. /
and adm0ni,h her solemnly not to attempt /
it again under pain Of dismissal This was
his lie for four, six, or perhaps eight weeks. |
lie disappeared fat, rosy, and came forth /
pale, dahby. with black circle around hi, /
eyes, and chel-d 'euvre in his hands
After this travail, lie allowed himself 4
holiday license. lie has been known on
one OF these occasions to consume at a single |
dinner, 100 Ostend oysters, dozen mutton
chops. young duck with turnips, pair
Of roasted pa1tridges, ! sole normande, and .
several pears, the whole accompanied with .
copiou- litations of VINE. Morally. his work .
had a good effect on MIN. The formidable /
studies Of Jean Jacques Rousseau brought .
miSanthrow in their wake, and those of .
Moliere, melancholy. Balnc issued from
his laborS serene and cheerlul-AH.u
Rt9d.s az Nrg5pcr