Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-19
Dumas the Elder.

Even the slightest "reminiscences CT
so distinguished a man as Alexandra
Dumas, pere. may be of value, and l
cannot pretend to send you any others.
had the privilege of his acquaintance
in 1860 for we were both engaged, in
different ways, in preparing Tor the
advent of Garibaldi, and for securing
the liberty Of the oppressed people OF
the Two Sicilies. Dumas was, L be-
lieve, the proprietor and editor of
small paper called the independents,
and his photograph, which he sent me,
has inscribed under it, "A. Dumas,
Ricordo dell' independents. He was
spirited contributor to it, and lashed
without sparing the faults of those
around him, and so great was the lrrl-
tation produced by it among certain
class that l know not how many chal-
lenges were sent or threatened. Those
were fiery times, but Dumas never
shrank from doing what he considered
his duty. His photograph is expressive
of that bodily force, which, united to
his powerful mind, enabled him to work
what may be calle1 miracles, In those
busy times, when a man was here, there
and everywhere, II was not often that L
was brought into personal connection
with him. He always received early in
in tine morning at the Foresteria, amt
there it was that, during his breakfast
and after my own, l saw him-at times
in his shirtsleeves, for he was laborer
in the veriest sense of the word.
On one occasion L begged him to give
me some autographs in order to gratlfy
the wishes of several of my country
men, and they were kindly sent to me.
His instincts were always in favor OF
the oppressed. L shall not forget his
disgust and indignation at hearing OF
the barr arities inflicted on poor guar
dIano by brigands, the supporters of
Church and King and OF the principle
of Divine right. We both went to see
him at different times in the hospital.
1t was a mummy we looked on, for the
unfortunate man had had his eyes
gouged out, his nose and eals cut of
and he was so swathed up that not a
feature was visible. Dumas, L was
told, had the figure photographed, but L
could never procure copy. During
the time he was here Nine. Titiens was
also, and every one must remember the
painful episode which occurred on the
boards of San Carlo when the greatest
singer Of her time was grossly insulte1, |,
| went to her to express my sympathy
and of er my assistance, and it occurred
to me to seek that of Dumas also. He
readily promised it. and a singing artl-
Gle in the Independente was the conse-
quence. ALPS well that ends well; the
great author and the Neapolitans made
peace, at all events outwardly. The
recklessness Of his expenditure is well
known, but it was not all on himself.
The kindness-nay, weakneSs-of his
heart exposed him to being constantly
gictimized. ''He cannot keep money,
said a mutual friend. 81 brought him
recently HANDFUL of notes and he gave
them all away to some poor woman
who told a most pitiful story to him
and now he is leaving Naples for a shorl
time and wants money, and l know moi
where to get it."
| 1 visited him in the Foresteria, as
have already said. This was small
palace. now the Hotel Washington
beautifully situated on the border Of
the Mediterranean, whose blue water;
Tapped the base. 1t was usually as
signed to foreign royal personages whC
came to visit the Bourbon Princes. OI
Garibaldi's entrance int Naples, Du
mas was installed in 1t, al the proprle
tor, 1t was said. do not pretend tC
know what passed between the two
great men, but the illusion was sooI
destroyed had it been entertained. Or
Victor Emmanuel entering Naples, and
on the Two Sic lies being united to the
other part of Italy, the right of Carl
baldi to distribute palaces was disputed
and Dumas was obliged to leave. What
a change there was on my going to II
one morning, to find Government Off
cials in occupation of it instead Of the
kind and courteous author OF Nont'
Cristo. 1t would be very diffic lit tC
say what part Dumas took in the i'm
portant events of 1850. / do not hkt
to say that he was very ''fussy''--ht
was very active and a real well-wlshel
to the liberties Of the Two Sicilies.
have only the postscript Of a lettel
written by him on the eve OF the reyO
luton; the letter itself was withheld
1t runs thus
"P. S.-si vous aveZ un homme d,
confiance a Naples charge de vos af
faires, je m'efface ou me reunis a lul
lN'avez-vous personne, je reponds d'
tout? "ALEx- DUMAS,
| 1 have been sending you a piece o
ancient history, but the erection of thu
statue of Dumas has brought the pas
to life, and there may be some to whom
the slight incidents have narrated ma.
be interesting.