New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-16
ERCKMlNN.CH1TRIAN.
Paris Letter 10 The Lo,pion Eeho.

Paris Letter 10 The LOitdOn Fem.
| have had the good fortune to meet NM. Erc'i-
mann-C harian who as "A rule lead the quietest and
simplest of lives, and rarely seen IN what lt 10
the fashion to cali society. AleXandre Chatrlan
was bonn IN ,2G at SOldatentha, village IN the
Mcurthe. He Is man OF small stature with Sill
,cred. crrled locks, beard Nentdii, broad hunpy
forehead and jet-blacl1 eyes. He comes from p
family who for the last two centuries have followed
the trade Of glass manufacturers. His father pos
sesscd three books winch. when child, he was
made to read attcntlvely-a translation OF the
Had by Madame Dacier. history of Rome. and
the Billc. Every day before sitting down to
dinner Alexandra was bound 70 learn by hear'
some striking passage from one OF Them. On reach
ng his bOyb0od he was sent to the College OF ihaIS-
bong where he had for Professor OF RhetC 10 one
NJ Ferret, who Was destined to have no small m
luonce on his future career. lailng ilhiSlled MS
studies he went 10 Belgium. to serve rs secretary TO
lis uncle and to ct initiated into tie art oil glass
making. But he soon grew tired oi that occupa-
ton and, running away. joined Il company OF stroll
speedily cut short by his uncle Who rs he was yet
with his family. wrots to NJ. Perr0t who had now
become head master If Phalsbourg College, and
who offer, him the profeSSorshp OF history. The
Oiicr accepted, and Tor thIce or lOuI years no
remained in that post.
Emile Erckmann was presented to Chatrian by
NJ. Perrot. Both were students at the same college
Emile is a little older than Alexandra. lie was
born in $50 at PhaSLOurg, where his father kept
booksellers shop. He intended for the bar
and went to Paris TO study law, returning home
during tine holidays. 1t was during one OF these
vacation trips that the two old schoolie lows set to
work together. They began by writing dramas one
OF which. "TiAlsace en- ISL" was played at the
Strasbourg Theatre, but it was suppressed by the
Project after the first night for political reasons
They then wrote sensational romance, entitled
" lie Brgands dies Nosges,' whic. was published IN
local print with great success The two INSOFAR
abes then set out for Paris, poor II pocket but rich
Ill hop.
Two years elapsed before they could get n manu-
script accepted. In the meantime l-rckinaui llEed
on the rcmittances OF Ills parents While Chairman
took cieTkshlp IN the French Laa.erh halfway
COMPANY where he is now director "t he share ne
partmcnt. The name Of the first work they got INTO
print was LIllustre DOc,cur Matthews" They
forwarded il in the first instance to the grave hcrHc
dGs Deur WOBdcS During eighteen months lney
tried 10 obtain q decisive answer from VI. BulOl,
the Editor but in vain; and, in despair, they with
drew the manuscript. and sent 1t To NJ. Laurent
IichRt, who agreed to insert IT IN ms Ii'tht az
Pdr8. But our heroes were doomed to further dls-
appointments Hardly bad II lew chapters appeared
place and the Ecrue was suppressed. However
the end OF their trial was drawing near; they lOuhd
a willing publisher at last; the wor, was a success
and ever since they Rave been able 10 command
novels which have issued from their JOINT pen, and
been translated into almost all languages.
NM. Erekmann-Chatrana are now wsI OH. Erc>-
mann resides ut IOul, III Lorraine, ana comes rarely
10 Paris. He is of middl height, rather corpuent,
has blonde moustache and bdTjcAe. fresh COM
plcXiOn blue eyes. and shining BALD head. lie Is
bachelor. hen he pays a VISIT 10 the capital nc
alights at the house of ChatTau, az kalncy, a
charming suburb. where he has ms apartment al
ways ready for him. Chatriau Is married, and has
three sons He goes 80 his office every morning at
10 O'clock returns homo at for dinner, and retlIcs
to rest punctu1lly mt 10. How the literary twins
work together IS a secret which they have managed
To keen to themselves. All that Is known for GER
tain is that their characters studiOusly taken
from life and that 1t is Chatran v 40 supcrintends
ihe theatrical portion OF their combined productions