, 1884-02-13
HOW ALPHONsE DAUDET WORKS.
The Novelist n TIreIess WORKER
How He UtIIizes MntsrIaI---Psr-
aoual Appenrance.

paris Cor. Philadelphia Press.l
Tho famous novelist ia a t~irelsss worker.
H0 believes that genius, however great. can
accomplish nothing durable without labor.
He Is u rapid composer, but his first compost
ton Is always revised and ~rO-revised, oftsn
entirely changed, even reconstructed. Usu-
ally he does net begin "A new chapter until be
has finished to his satisfaction the one he Is
engaged upon. But when his whole manu-
script is complete, he goes over it word for
word, in the most critical spirit. II he finds
anything that he believes he can make better
be tries TO mend II, regardless of tho time
and toll it may cost him. He Is unqueStiona-
bly, torment01, as 10 many great artists havo
been, with the passion for perfection
It ia hls habit to write between tho two
breakfasts that Frenchmen take-ths coffee
and rolls on rising, and the meal, about l or
3 O'Clock IN the afternoon, when meat, egg,
and wine are served His hours OF compost
ton average from four TO six daily,
though they are prolonged whsu he Ia INK
ious TO complete u chapter or a situation that
presses on his mind, and might lose vividness
and force II it were deferred until the NOR
row. No author hore or elsewhere is morn
absorbed in his calling, which La rarely for
gotten. HO never secs or hears anything re-
InarEable that II does not present itself TO his
alert and ever-vigilant mind as material to
be used for his art. 1t may be sGid that he Is
eternally composing; for. be where he
may, he Is regarding his environ
ment as a possible fragment Of a future
story. His memory "a singularly retentive,
yet he seldom fall. TO record my
thought or Incident or speech that may be
rendered serviceable. He has any number
Of notebooks for the purpose, and does not
go any where without one Of these on his per-
son. In society, which he seoJns fond OF, he
IL rarely 80 much Interested n not TO DO
thinking of his trade,
Once when be had a sentimental scene
with his wife, something quite dramatic 90
curred, as tho gossip COOS, and be romarked;
"This seems, my dear. like a chapter that had
Slipped out OF a novel" at Is more likely,
Alphonse," was the reply, ito form a chapter
that will slip into a novel; Surely enough,
within a yonr the scene was reproduced In
ono Of Daudots stories. She evidently un-
derstands hor husbands method OF compost
ton.
Daudet is decidedly handsome. He has an
olive complexion. well.proportionod features.
dark, expressive eyes, and dark, thick hair,
falling about his brow and ears, with full
flowing whiskerE and unhimTnsl mustaches,
something after the manner of the art
students so prevalent In tho Latin quarter.
He looks like q son Of the south, and his
NlNhSlty oi uhhheiJ SOppouh kesTirSs anu
changing emotions, when he Is moved and
among his intimntes, denote the region OF his
nativity. In general company, however, he
is often reserysd us II lie held a check upon
himself, conscious Of his fervsr and tendency
to observation-disclosures
His writings have boon worry profitable,
particularly his later oneS- Authors who
nave $50, 900 francs lSss than $50, 06et arO nc
counted rich here, and he is reputsd 70 own
a property valued at 9,OOJ, 900 francs, or about
t4Oo, 900, all directly or indirectly tue pro-
duct OF his pen. "The Nabob," the most
popular Of his novels, is said to havo yielded
him loo,o 600 francs, and it is still selling. Tho
gods have been kind to him.