Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-12-08
A Visit to Dumas.

The illustrious dramatiN babe us wei
come with even ELUSIVE warmth, shook
hands with US most cordially, and declared
that his friend was very wrong not to have
apprised him of our coming beforehand,
so that he could have shown us through
the house himself. Had we seen every
part of it the library the drawlng-room
the picture-galleryi If We chose 10 go all
over it again he would be most happy to
accompany us. But We disclaimed any
intention Of occupying so much of his
time, so he declared he must take us over
his Swiss chalet. This picturesque struc-
ture was bought by him al the Universal
Exposition, was put up in his garden, and
now serves as place of deposit for por-
tion of his overwhelming wealth of artistic
treasures.
What delightful half hour ensued
Dumas talks as well as he writes, and
there Is straight -forwardness and frank
ness about him that is altogether captiva-
ting. He is a fine-looking man, tall, and
OF vigorous physique, with blue eyes, a
pale yet healthful- looking complexion,
and prematurely silvered hair and mus
tache, The chalet, TO which he conducted
US was so crowded with pictures, busts,
and terracotta, and other curioslties and
works of art, that it would have taken a
whole day to inspect them all. BE pointed
out to us CHASTITY picture of dead wo-
man with her baby trying to draw nourish-
ment from the lifeless breast, study by
Delacroix for one of his groups In his
Massacre Of SciO. Then he showed us q
veritable art cunosity in the shape of q
three-quarter figure of Luke painted by
Meissonier in 1888, to fill an order for q
publisher who was getting up an illustrated
edition Of the New Testament. FMS pic
ture was sold by the artist for six hundred
francs,
When we returned TO the house, NJ.
Dumas kindly brought down from his bed
room the gem of his whole collection and
displayed 1t TO our admiring gaze. 1t is
the famous artist ut Work, by Messonier,
painted in 1853, when his talent was at its
apogee, a small sized picture of such mar
yellous execution of perfection, that 1.-THE
sense ached at it, And yet it represents
merely q painter IN black, eighteen CEN
tury costume, with his unpowdered hair
gathered into a club behind, seated before
tator. This picture. originally sold for
2, 600 francs, was purchased some years
ago by NJ. Dumas for IL, 200, and within
the last few days he has refused 60, 600
francs (sl2, ,000), offered by picture
dealer. Well, it is worth IL 1t is Meis-
sonier of first quality, and such work as
the old man 10 longer has the patience, or,
perhaps the ability, To execute.
VI. Dumas told me he could never write
In Paris, as he was 40 exposed 10 inteTup-
tions. His Just t-completed tliree-sct comedy
which he wrote in six days, was composed
at the country house of friend. It's pro-
visional title is The Princess of Bdgddd.
Ii is intended for the Comedie Franchise,
and Mule. Croizette is to take the part of
the heroine, Lionnette. He laughingly re-
MI rked shat he did no: write for young
girls, and that his own daughters had never
seen any of his plays Till Mile. Colette
profited by her marriage TO go TO see the
Fills N0tureL. He spoke rather bitterly
OF the fact that La Dame dur Cdnletias
has been played fully 5000 times In the
United States since it was first produced,
and had never brought him in one single
farthing. l agreed with him heartily, Tor
The non-existence of any copyright laws in
our country, so far as the writings of for
eign authors are concerned, is q positive
shame and scandal. lie took from his
writing desk and showed us model in
bronze OF broad, powerful, tieshy hand
the hand of his illustrious father, and also
model in the same material of an exqui-
sitely female hand, that of the well known
water-color artist, Mile. Madeleine Le-
maire. And so, charmed with our visit,
and still more so with our gracious and
courteous host, we took our departure.