The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03


good. II remember rightly, he asked
me To give him some slight analysis OF the
hook. which I did as well as my Limited
French would allow. Though his pen
never stopped. he asked me many questions
about the book. and ut regular Intervals
copv was thrown on the floor. picked
mn n sheet and complimented him on It's
ncatueSs.
+ "Work.' he said, In Government bu.
rcau accounts for that. II all trades failed
me might become writing-mastcr. On,
the trouble Balzac made with his copy;
not that his hand was illegihle. but to one
mage of first draft he would add two pages
Of interIlneations. Bazac's method was
an aftcrthopght. think rs i write. L
don't know how 1t is--there really seems to
be very little effort about Il. There. it's as
easy as that" and another page was thrown
ON the floor. "But | am writing against
time this morning. and doing extra
work. and this extra work IL for an object
I have i'm view. You know about our con-
scriplionS Well, in Brittany there is q
proffqe of mine. He happens TO ne In
! Paris now. Once on time, on the bor-
dcrs OF the SEA. heard fisher lad PLAYING
violin, and IL was music. The boys
, hands were stiff with net-dragging, and
the fingers cut to the bone with the tug
cling of ropes: but still knew the lad had
TALENT. | have been taking care OF that
how for five years, and interested the Cure
and the Project in his department. His
talent developed He was the wonder OF
the country. Some OF my friends paid his
expenses TO Paris. A week ago he was
thought worthy Of becoming pupil OF the
q ha
But then came the wretched consumption,
and q week ago he drew an unucky num-
Der. and unless we can find some one TO
take his place he will have to go to Africa.
II is bagatelle of 6,000f. i am good Tor
I .O00f-that's the overwork OF three days.
| have promises OF 1.0O0f. more-that's
two. but where the devil will l get the
rest 7"
Just then servant brought in note.
Dumas read il through, his face leaning
with smiles. Good, good!" he cried.
"a Russian friend buys picture OF mine
for 5000 francs worth 5000 francs. We
only want 1000 francs more. But | am
stranded. The money must be had TO-DAY,
or IL will bring on extra expense. |
wasted half yesterday in trying to post
none the business for only n couple OF
days, but the Minister OF War Is oDdu'
rate"
was fortunate enough to offer some sug-
oestions which | believed would raise the
other 1.0O0f. This would entail some
slight labor of an autographed character
on Alexandra Dumas. Dumas rushed from
his desk. took me in his arms, kissed me.
then opened his door, hustled me out, and
said. "Do not waste moment: | expect
1. \ I. 4
in an hour: give me three. and | think |
can do it." / replied. 81 will wait for
YOU; / will not bulge until YOU return"
| had not a great deal OF trouble in get
ting the money among the American colo
ny, and about o'clock | hurried up to
the entresol where Dumas was living. lie
came himself to the door. / struck my
hand against my pocket. which gave out
the chink OF coin. | was embraced Sec
ond time. On the mantelpIece | piled up
the money, which was principally in gold
and silver.
"Not there! not there!' cried Alex
andre Dumas: "for whatever money is
put there is common property for my
friends. a score OF needy men would
come in-therc are so many needy people
in Paris just before dinner-whO might
be hungry, and seeing the money there
would help themselves, and | couldn't
deny them. BY O'Clock there would
not be Il sou left. | wouldn't have
the heart to say no. Somehow char
ity has no definite object. 1t must
be universal, but in this case j must be pru-
dence ITSELF" and saying this he took up
the money and locked it in Il drawer in his
writingdesk. | had no trouble in obtain
ing from Dumas the autographs lie had
promised. He wrote Il whole series OF
charming letters to my friends as return
for their liberaity.
The young Breton fisherman was fully
worthy OF Dumas's kindness. He became
a distinguished violiniSt. and might have
made a mark in the world had he lived.
but he died before his patron. Dumas
was prodgal to a degree, was careless in
money matters. but with him "Charity
shall cover a multitude OF sins His was
the kindest heart that ever beat.