The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-17
VENDREDI SOIR.
How Alphonse karr Accident
ally Named a Famous
Book.

Of gossipto the Partisan daily and weekly
press one of the most indefatigable in
unearthing the latest titbit of contem-
porary anecdote was Jules Lecomte.
Less eleganti in style than Henri de Pene,
less humorous than Auguste Vilemot, he
was nevertheless mainly Instrumental III
promoting the circulation of the journal
to which he was attached by his happy
choice of subjects and generally reliable
information. One day he received a let
ter from an anonymous correspondent,
beginning with the usual compliment
tary phrase, you who know every
thing" and terminating by a rather puz-
cling query: "Why did M. Alphonse
Kafr select for a volume of tales pub
lished some twenty years ago the in
COMPREHENSIVE title of 'Vendredi SoirY"
FRIDAY Evening"
Mot q bad idea of my friend, the
writer, whoever be may be-" said Lee
cornte, with a chuckle of satisfaction,
.sto apply to me, as | happen to be the
only person able to answer the question.
/ may as well crafty him, particularly
the bourse and the boulevard are pretty
well used up, and a retrospective article
for once in a way will be a novelty"
Not having the paper by me, and COM
PEELED therefore to trust to my memory,
/ can only attempt to reproduce the SUBJ
stance of one of the lively 'onicler's
most amusing feuilletons, re1@eed some
what in the following terms:
A good many years ago, when / first
essayed to gain a living by my pen, Al
phonse Karr, If not already famous, was
at least regarded as one of the most prom
ing young authors of the day. He then
occupied a tiny apartment on the top
hoor-the seventh-of a house in the
Rue Vivienne, where / occasionally
passed half an hour with him, when-a
frequent occurrence, alasl at that period
of my career-I had nothing better to
do. One afternoon, after clambering up
his interminable staircase, I found him,
contrary to his won't, sitting in a de-
iected attitude at his window and look
ing the picture Of misery.
"What is the natter" l inquired.
"Anything wrong?"
Everything" he replied, drumming
his knuckles impatiently on the window
pane. 81 have a bill for 800 francs due
today, and no funds to meet it"
"Diablei"
ct must be understood that in Louis
Philippe's reign, to a literary man, liv-
ing as it were from hand to mouth, 300
francs appeared a fabulous sum-
"Not a soul" he continued, land that
isn't all; Tuesday is the last day of the
carnival, and l have promised a pretty
neighbor of mine to escort her to the
ball at the Varieties, which of course en-
tails supper"
"And champagne" / suggested.
EXACTLY, and where on earth am I to
find the money!"
This was a poser, and for some min
utes we looked despondently at each
other.
Suddenly an idea struck me.
"Why not ask your publisher, said I,
''to advance it to your
"No USE" he muttered, witt. a melan.
choly shake of the head. ST am in his
debt already"
eff he won't, "Ipersisted, "others may.
And, now I come to think of it, why not
collect those tales and sketches you have
written for different reviews2 They
ought to make a volume"
eyes" said Kari, with a dedication,
a preface, plenty of margin and an in
dex, perhaps they might"
Every well, then. Put on your hat
o.9 49, xr-t+1, -, +O C0,,-,o-osHn %
"Your publisher? You don't mean tc
say there is any chance of his taking itY'
"Why shouldn't hep I replied. "He
will be only too glad to have your name
in his catalogue. At all events, there is
no harm in trying"
The establishment of NJ. Hippolyte
Souverain, the fashionable publisher OF
the period in question, was in the Rue
DIES Beaux-Arts, and on our arrival there
we were directed by of the clerks to
a restaurant in the Rue Jacob, where the
| great man was in the habit of dining.
He had nearly finished his repast and
shook hands cordially with me as I in
PRODUCED my companion. I thought it
best to act as spokesman on the occasion,
and explained as briefly as possible the
object of our coming. Souverain lis
tened attentiyely while slipping his coffee.
Very happy to know NJ. Kari" he
said. 1--WE will talk the matter over one
of these days"
"That will be too late," 1 replied de-
cis;vely. sit must either be settled now
or never. If it doesn't suit you, we will
try GosselIn."
"But, my good sir" objected the pub
Usher, you cannot expect me to pur-
chase a book without having the least
idea what it tsp
"Oli," said ], "if that is all, there will
be nc difficulty in satisfying you. Kari
is ready to sign an agreement, making
over to you, say for five years, the ex.
elusive right of republishing in any form
you choose certain specified tales and
sketches which have appeared in various
periodicals, in consideration of the sum
of five hundred francs received by him
from you"
"Not in cash!r baatily interposed Sou
verain. "A bill at three months, per-
haps."
"Out of tile question. Karr has one
of his own due, and to pay it he must
have money down"
Every sorry, but | make it a rule never
to pay cash until my bills fall due"