The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22

Last Hours of Great Writer.
Arsene Hou5saye's Recoections
- Heorge Sand never had drawing room In
Paris she had but smoking room now and
then dining room but particularly n study i'm
when Philosophers and musicians came together
Few literary men were to be seen there-Heine
Balzac' Maileflle Two painters met-Eugene
DelacrolX and Paul Huet but thew ca,na ratbar
as ltterateurs than as painters They had to
plunge willy niliy into the thick OF political dis
cussions with Pierre Leroux. Michael de Bourees
Lamennais, Anselme Petiu and Charles Didier
Strange to say, George Sand was not at all fond
of the political conversations she set afoot and
as the disputants fell out-and this hap
pened speedily-she motioned to iszt to Che.
pin, To Pauline Garcia, one of whom went to
fret or to caress the piano; after which came a
frugal supper. in accordance with the usages of
the period The trucuient partisans of romanti-
cism male and female, were ignorant of the art
of gourmandise; they talked a good deal
Of their deeds in orgies, but drank water
1t was ever so with those that dazzled
their readers eyes with radiant descriptions Of
prlncely Interiors and dwelt in rooms such as
the burghers of the present Gay would not
occupy. Merimee, Sante Beuve and all their
fellow academiciaus, as well as many outsiders,
did not know how to lead la grande yfe-not
even Lanartine. Hugo, Janin, Beauvoir, and
karr alone understood the luxury of stuffs and
furniture. AS for myself even before | had
money possessed Gobelins tapestry; like Tardiff
l would rather have dined amid art works than
have & good meal and poor abode At Nohant
George Sand ended by having bedroom Of some
character, though it was adorned by framed
er cravings of a miscellaneous sort Why this
al d why tnatl Why Rembrandt's Adulterous
Woman Gradually the bourgeois appearance
of the place disappeared, and it took on an
artistic air. George Sand placed on the mantel
an ivory Christ. got Gothic armchairs, and
locked at herself in Venetian mirror; but what
Impaired special majesty to the room was the
bed in which her grandmother died. majestic
bed, topped by four gded pomegranates. A few
dacgers were scattered here and there, and some
pipes arranged in most inviting fashion. For
George Sand pipes represented not merely smoke
but summoned voluptuous Dreams"
Tie last hours Of De Bazac were described to
Houssaye by Eugene Giraud the painter, whose
story is now repeated:
"The dying author who not seriously
alarmed because Nine. de BalZac possessed the
art of decevng him, wished, Notwithstanding
to ask his medical adviser few questions. NY
dear doctor said he i am not an ordinary
man; l should not like to have death take me by
SUNRISE and still have much to do to complete
my work. Tell me the whole truth. How much
longer do you thing can live!' The doctor
gave no answer. Come, doctor do you think
me child? tell you once moro that | must
not die like an indifferent peSon. man like
myself owes a will to the public The word
will !oosened the physicians tongue, If Balzac
owed a will to the public perhaps one was due
to his wife and family. My dear patient, said
he, how much time do you require for what
remains 10 pe QOne' ok months replied
Balzac, with the air of a man
who has made a careful calculation.
And he locked steadily at the doctor. Six
months Six months observed the latter, shak-
ing his head. 'Ahr exclaimed Balzac, sorrow
fully, i see you will not grant me six months.
Give me at least six weeks Six weeks with
fever are an eternity. The hours are days. And
the nights not lost either The doctor
again shook hts head. Balzac raised himself up.
almost indignant. The doctor had taken his
patients summons too seriously; he had decided
to tell him the truth. Balzac continued: IL
your conscience does not deceive you, do not
deceive me- What can l hope forl You will
surely accord me six days The doctor could
say nothing be turned aside to conceal his tears.
six days! repeated Balzac. Well, / shall point
out broadly what have to do in order to put on
the finishing touches, and my friends will dot
my fifty volumes. l will tear out the
bad and emphasize the good pages. The human
will does miracles. God created the world in
six days; | can give Immortal life to the world
| have created. | shall rest on the seventh dayr
Then came painful look and still more pain
full sigh Since BalZac began enuncating his
terrible questions he had grown ten years older.
He was voiceless and could not continue address
ing the doctor, who was voiceess to answer him.
by dear patient. said the medical man at last,
endeav0rlng to smile, who can promise single
hour here below? now in good health
may die before you do; But you asked me to
tell the truth you spoke of will that was due
to the public 'WellF Well, the will TO the
public must be drawn up to day. Besides, you
have perhaps another will TO frame; you must
not wait until tomorrow Balzac raised his
head. Then | have but six hours left mel he
cried out in terror. And he fell back on his
pillow. The doctors last word was death
blow. The dying agony of him whose name
had been Balzac began. He sought the truth;
the truth killed him before his time"