The Portland daily press., 1881-02-01
Alphones Karr.
Why Dagger Hangs at His Desk-His
Hour for Strawberry Picking.
[Pan Mail Gazette.l

1uhli ddzeIleJ
OF no living Frenchman are told more good
stories than of NJ. Alphonse Karr. Just as it
is impossible for him to write dull line, SO it
is impossible to mention him without smile.
Dizziness is certainly not characteristic Of the
French people generally; and in the case of M.
Alphonse Karr esprit is combined with strik-
ing independence of choracter. Throughout
long literary career, which his detractors chose
to consider in its decadence he has given free
utterance to his thoughts, often to the offense
of many. and to his own worldly disadvantage.
No less happily endowed physically than men,
tally, NJ. Alphonse Karr disproves an insular
prejudice that Frenchmen are all esprit and
no muscle. A frst-rate swimmer, rover, fenc-
or and marksman, he has saved more lives
than one by his bodily prowess, and his own
several times in the bargain. Most of US know
the story of Nine. Louise Colet, Victor Cous-
in'sEgeria, and the poignard with which she
had intended to end the days of her critic
This lady. more famous for her beauty than
for the excellence of her writings, had re-
ceived a severe castigation from the pen of AL
phonse Karr. 1t was more than a spoiled
beauty, the inspirer OF a philosopher, could
bear; so, hiding the poignard under her man
tie, she sought an interview for the purpose of
avenging her injuries. 1t seems that she was
uncom,nonly dextrous and that but for his ex-
ira strength and skill, things might have
turned out unpleasantly for the author of the
Voyage autour de mon Jardin. He sue
ceeded in disarming his fair assailant, not
without scuff1e, and suspended the weapon
on his study walls with some such inscription
as the following: "This poignard was des-
tined for the heart OF Alphonse Karr by Mme.
Louise Colet."
NJ Alpbonse Karrs whole life is no less
amusing than his books, and through both
runs a vein of satire. His fame as a gardner
is European, and in his villa near Nice he
grows strawberries which to taste is an event
in the life of an epicure. But NJ. Alphonse
Karr grows strawberries for himself and his
fain patronize him. Not long ago a certain
imperial lady, doubtless bent on honoring the
literary gardener as well as gratifying her love
OF Strawberries, sent an emissary to fetch some
OF his "primeurs". NJ. Alphonse Karr polite
ly but curtly replied that there was a certain
hour OF the day when he gathered the fruit,
and that the imperial wish could not be graft
fed at any other. If this incident seems TO
SAVIOR of churlishness, set against it the follow
ing: Our author happened to be on the sands
one day when two bathers within sight OF land
got out of their depth and were on the point
of drowning: Immediately throwing off his
paletot, he brought the first to shore, then
set out in search of the other. Both
were rescued, but the hero Of the exploit dis
appeared, and it was some time ere the rescued
men learned the name of their deliverer.
NJ. Alphonse Karr's entire career has been
in harmony with his writings, which hide un-
der a veil of persifage and pleasantly, real
convictions on many subjects After the fall
of the Empire and the establishment Of the
Republic, he travelled from one part Of France
to the other for the purpose of learning the
attitude of the people, and gave no little Of
fense in some quarters BY reiterating that ''the
wish of the people is for peace"