Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-22
ALEXANDER DUMAS.
The Novelist in the Role OF "A Nor
RlfAt
Publisher and Proprieto

~ AeIAo vi MUI-
RIfst.
A Paris letter to the London
Times, under date of August 2,
says:
M. Alexander Dumas made his
public appearance to-day in a new
character-that Of a moralist. His
fellow Academicians had deputed
him to draw up the annual report
on the Montyon Prizes for Virtue,
and there was great curiosity as to
how he would acquit himself of a
task which seemed somewhat incon-
gruous. Some expected him to
launch startling paladoxes, and no
body supposed he would adhere to
the well-rounded and conventional
periods of his predecessors. This
curiosity was, perhaps, a little dis
appointed. M. Dumas did not, IN
deed, altogether keep to the beaten
track, but neither did he widely
diyerge from it. The body Of his
address was necessarily a sketch of
the careers Of the recipients OF the
2000f and smaller prizes, and Of
fered little scope for originality.
NJ. Dumas, indeed, threw in touch
OF his own by speaking of the. Gu
rious moon peeping in at the win
dow to see who was still toiling by
lamplight; and a second heroine
being a native Of Metz, he had an
opportunity of expressing sympa-
thy with those obliged by impera-
tive reasons to make the additional
sacrifice Of becoming Germans.
"The kingdom she has long inhab-
tied is no longer Of this world it
knows no limits or frontiers, no
foreigners or enemies, no victors or
vanquished all who inhabit it are
the children of one Father, whose
name is Charity" Apart from these
two passages, M. Dumas individ-
uality appeared only in the pro-
logue and epilogue, and in the for
mer he certainly struck a new vein.
He discussed the reason why rich
people are miserable, and came to
the conclusion that it is because
they do not sufficiently devote their
wealth to making others happy.
Charity beginning at home, it is so
natural to take him who is nearest
to you, who promises to be the
most grateful, who shares your sor-
rows, tells you constantly of his
own, and even exaggerateS them,
implores, importunes and harasSes
you till you comply with his de-
mands.
We have. all within us this un-
fortunate companion, at once weak
and exacting, who has habits which
he will not renounce, desires he
thinks imperative, dreams he con
siders not unreasonable. lie knows
us so well, is so tenacious, so eIo-
qaent, 50 wheeling, this eyerlast-
ing companion, that We end by
Yielding to him, warning him every
time not to tempt US again. The
fatality is that it is always Just
when we have formed this wise
resolution that others try to excite
our pity for their distresses, where
upon, to put promptly in practice
our brand new severity, we tell
them they talk Of things as familiar
TO us us to them; chat we, too, have
our vexations, and that We cannot
help everybody, after which proof
of energy we again become little
more jnduigent TO ourselves. If
we are softened after all, we are
only charitable out Of our super
fluffy, and fortune SO easily creates
wants that before long the super
fluffy can scarcely suffice for the
necessary.
After suggesting that the prize
winners should be commemorated
by tablets at the MARES or schools
Of their yillages-a questionable
idea, for it may be feared these
humble philanthropists are already
in danger of being spoilt by praise
and prizes-M. Dumas concluded
by stating that the study of their
lives had done him more good than
the finest treatise on philosophy or
wisdom, for genius did not explain
IGod hut poo1npsS nroved Him