Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-18
LA DAME Aux C4MELIAS.
DUMAS TELL hpW HE WROTE
HIS BRILLIANT BOOK.


From the Vac York Star~
LONDON, Nov. 22.--In the edition de
luxe of his hest works, which Alexandra
dumas fils has been preparing for some
years past, has now appeared LA Dame
aux Camelias," with q hitherto unpub-
Iished preface. All lovers OF the witty,
and in some respects profound work.
which NJ. Dumas has done in these come
dies. will be pleased to see the following
extracts from this new Introduction to a
plav so universally known as ''Camille'
as we call 1t In English. The distin-
cuished author, addressing his pub
Usher, in a preface to the preface, re-
marks:
You ask me for preface for new il
lustrated edition of LA Dame aux Ca
melias." You ask it from precisely the
nne man in the world who can say neither
GOOD nor ill of this book. Janin has told
us about Marie Dupiessis all that was to
be said: he even added little embroidery
here and there. l have repeated, Ia my
tu%f, either In the preface to the play or
in the notes on the Comedians edition,
everything remaining in my memory
about this beautiful girl, who had such
marked influence over my literary career,
since | owe to her my first success as a
novelist and nv very first as a dramatist.
NJ. de Contades recently published IN the
review called ale Livre," a series of
studes and a mass of most exact infOr-
nation concerning her. / have nothing
more to add now, save how l wrote the
hook in three weeks, on the corner of a
table, at Saint-Germaln-en-Laye, in a
room for which l paid a frank q day, at
Ubif HOrGn-thn W
had found open one evening when | had
missed the last train. Have | already
told that? For that matter, IS it very in
teresting? Would it be better to indulge
in philosophical reflections on prostitution
and on the fatal influence OF cOuTtesans?
Hardly, would 1t? Well, here goes
for the history of the birth of the
book.
had, then, as we have seen, missed my
train, and had gone to stay at the White
Horse, on the nam street, some thirty
seven or thirty-eIght years ago. l was
accompanied by a friend who had been
to dine with me at my farther's house at
Monte Cristo. We each took a room at
this inn, principally frequented, in those
DAYS, by carriers and stage drivers, who
were employed on the neighboring
routes.
When we awoke in the morning it was
a superb day. Instead of returning at
once to Paris we decided TO go TO Rave
let's and take horses for ride in the
wood. You never knew Ravelet? | am
sorry for you. Ravelet kept a livery
stable and riding school on the first round
point of the terrace Of Saint-Germain. He
was celebrated In our generation. He
bought all the unruly, vicious, balky, rum
away horses from the garrison at Saint
German, and people came in bands from
Paris expressly to mount them. AT SOC.
an hour, all summer long, from in the
morning until 8 in the evening, they were
soon cured of the vices which caused
their exclusion from cavalry service.
They we're saddled either with side sad
dies or the others; as soon as the gentle
men or ladies we're in their seats the anil
mails were driven from the stable by a
few good blows from whip, and away
they went, 1t was very amusing, sea-
soned with youth and laughter. Not
every rider got a fall, and those who
did picked themselves up again Happy
days!
This Ravelets place was, as you can
imagine. favorite rendezvous. From
1910 to 1s60-in which latter year improve
ments on the terrace caused the removal
of his Observation-Disclosures had seen
on the backs of his sorry nags most Of
the pretty girls of the Partisan demi
monde, including Marie Duplessis,
who was very fond of coming to this
spot, and enjoyed, to the full extent Of
her feverish nature, the CALICO in the
forest.
remember a rather drOll story about a
cherry tree, which was the finest orna-
ment of the country and of this stable.
One day, came and asked the hostlers to
saddle me a horse. While waiting, l
asked Ravelet II / might climb his tree
ana eat some OF the fruit. "YOu may"
he answered. "You will find some )ne
already up there" 1 then perceived a
small ladder leaning against the opposite
side OF the tree. L run up 1t and found a
Young woman, pretty, although bru-
nette, as my friend said, seated in crotch
between two branches, and TRANQUILITY
eating cherries:
with your permission. Madame" 1
said Comment done Monsieur! With
The greatest pleasureW And there we
were, eating cherries, and babbllng of
everything which came into our heads, on
ahne June morning, youth OF 20 and a
girl who had met in a cherry tree. Four
or five years ago l went into a curiosity
shop to price a Louis Sixteenth mirror. l
found the shopkeeper, an amiable elderly
lady, with hair turning gray-well, 1t was
gray-but with black eyes still alive and
WIN uu6 Jo6Iu Sblll W0aGe. edlu W my
SELF 1--we seen that face somewhere.
She looked at me with smile. Finally l
gazed so steadily at her that she felt that
was on the track OF remembrance. So
she said, Eyes, in the cherry tree at Saint
Germain."
Ny friend was so delighted with the
beautiful weather that he wished to re-
main few days longer at Saint-dermain.
ne offered to return to Paris and bring
out such linen and garments as we should
need Tor this improvised sojourn in the
country. Meantime l offered to go and
see my father, and prepare rooms for my.
sell and friends which would be more
comfortable than those at the White
Horse. But my friend was afraid of dis
tur0ing the author OF the "Mousque-
talres" and, besides, the neigh borhood OF
wavelet, the horses, the cherry trees and
me consequences which these various
tllngs might bring about hau superior
httraction for him. Hardly had he left
Tor Paris, hardly was alone on tine ter
race where l had walked 50 often with
marle Duplessis, when | began to think
SCout her,and then the idea OF writing her
history, or at any rate a story about her,
LOOK possession of me, and so imperiousiy
tnaI bought three or four Quires OF fools
cap, pens and ink, and went back into my
room at franc day. where | began the
,uok while awaiting my friends return.
Nnen he came back to dinner, he found
lne bard az work, and with such enthusi-
ism That | did not wish TO leave Saint
uermian hafOrn I hal writtpn tho last