Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-07-25
ALEXANDRA DUMAS.
Tho Eminent French Author as He Al.
= In His Luxurious Home.

ALEXANDRA DUMAS.
The Eminent French Author As He A.
pears In His Luxurious Home.
NJ. Alexandra Dumas. writes a Paris
correspondent of the New York Times,
is tall and thin. Ii he were not very
careful people would say that he stoop-
ed. But in order to prevent any such
adverse criticism NJ. Dumas draws
himself up on every possible occasion,
and looks fully six feet in height. He
is pale and somewhat sa!low. and this,
with the bushy white hair that curls
vigorously round his oval-shaped head,
gives him an out-of-the-common look
which q budding author would sell his
soul to possess. He must be IS if aday,
and though he is what his country,
men call bien conserve, there are certain
wrinkles on the forehead which time
will not allow to be concealed. NJ.
Dumas wore a glossy-black suit, ire-
p%roachably cut, and fitting like glove.
A conventional black necktie and the
immaculate cuffs and collars so indis-
pensable to the successful outfit of q
French gentleman completed the ex-
ternal attire. The drawing-room in
which ! found him was a comfortably
furnished. though not very luxurious,
apartment. There were velvet chairs,
q few pictures which seemed to be
good. u couple of statues-none of
your draped figures, please-and a
grand piano, dramatically closed, and
with no music near it. There is no
denying the fact that it was a very
comfortable room, and one in which to
pass an agreeable hour. Il like to see
people look surprised when they come
in and see me lounging on a couch.'
said NJ. Dumas. still continuing tn
smile, and still looking intensely pleas.
ant, ''but the fact is" he went on, 81
work in the country. Imagine me sit.
ting down here to write q chapter, and
in the most engrossing moment hear.
ing Alphonse come in with his placid
'un monsieur qui veut vous parler.
The fact is, people won't let me worl
in Paris. They are incorrigible. and
know it. Perhaps they think tina,
folks with gray hair ought to be salts
fed to retire upon their laurels. Per
haps they do. Who knows?" NJ. Du.
mas stroked his white locks, and glanc
ed in the direction of a mirror, il
which, however. he could see nothing
as his gaze fell merely upon a larg,
a placed before it
II write just as easily now as l die
twenty years ago." he said, ..but i
amuses me less. The game l play nov
has less intoxication in its successful
results than it had a quarter of a cen
fury ago. Now ] need no money.
'need no reputation. In fact, ] dom
know what do need, though l an
convinced l do need it. One gets phil
osophical as he grows old. I knew
that by hearsay when l was young
Now l know it by experience. Their,
was no necessity for me to have writ
ten my last play. now being performed
at the Gymnase-'Denise.' l mean
but l never can rest. l nee: neve
again have appeared before the French
public. but l have not yet learned th,
art of retiring gracefully. l am glad
wrote Denise But l am not nearl,
as glad as l should have been thirt,
years ago. The profits of u successful
piece to-day are enormous. 1t is won
derful to think OF it. l have already
made 22,OvO francs by the book of DE
nise.' l had an agreement with tn,
house of Calmann-Levy by which the,
were to give me 20 centimes for eacl
copy of the book sold, and to guaran
tee in any case $4,000 francs. Well, a
l said, l have already made %. 0O'
francs. From the book of La Dam
Aux Camellias,' which l wrote when
was 20 years old, l only got 1,6O(
francs, though at least 800. 600 copie
were sold. The profits of the stag,
representation of Denise if all goe
as successfully as it promises to do
will bring me in atleast 800, 600 francs
Ohnet made that sum of money by hi
lie Maitre DIES Forges,' known in YOU
country as Lady Clare An Ameri
can offered me $4,000 francs for til,
manuscript of Denise if l promise,
that it should not be printed in France
l declined with thanks. l refused an
other offer made me- by an American
short time ago. 1t WAS 10 go to Amer
lea and lecture. l can't lecture, yo,
know, but that made no difference.
was to cross the Atlantic and shoy
myself as though l were some freak Q
nature, some wonderful physiological
phenomenon. Merci, Monsieur,
think not NJ. Alexandra Duma
grew indignant at the idea of such
trip, and, rising from his chair, pace
slowly up and down the room befor
l could recall him to the subject of him
self.
81 am not very fond of speakin,
about myself" said M. Dumas. '.fo
the simple reason that [ had a father
and such a father. So much create
than l could ever hope to be. Alex
andre Dumas pere is immeasurabl,
superior to Alexandra Dumas tils."
Fully onc-t.aif ri ,iie names of tn
mailing "tlicsr- siaIapc,. OH letters an