Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-11-27

Ito apply to me. as happen to be the
only person able to answer the question.
may as we'll crafty him, particularly
the bourse and the boulevard are pretty
we'll used up, and retrospective article
for once in a way will be q novelty"
Not having the paper 10y me, and COM
pelled therefore to trust to my memory,
can only attempt to reproduce the sub
stance OF one of the lively cllronicler's
most amusing feuilletons, related some
what in the following terms:
A good many years ago, when first
essayed to gain living by my pen, AL
phonse Kari, 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
foor-the seventh-of a house in the
Rue Vivienne, where l occasionally
passed half an hour with him, when-a
frequent occurrence, alas! at that period
of my career-I had nothing better to
do. One afternoon, after clambering up
his interminable staircase, / found him,
contrary to his wont, sitting in a de-
iected attitude at his window and look
ing the picture of misery.
"What is the natter" I inquired.
Anything wrong?
Everything" he replied, drumming
his knuckles impatiently on the window
pane. 81 have bill for 800 francs dae
today, and no funds to meet it.
''Diable!'
Ut must be understood that in Louis
Philippe's reign. to literary man, liv-
ing as it were from hand to mouth, 800
francs appeared fabulous sum-
mot a sour' he continued, land that
isn't all: Tuesday is the last day of the
carnival. and 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 to
find the money!
This was poser, and for some min
utes we looked despondently at each
other.
Suddenly an idea struck me.
"Why not ask your publisher" said I,
ito advance it to your
''No use he muttered, with o melan-
choIy shake of the head. 81 am in his
debt already"
''If he won't" persisted, "others may.
And, now l come to think of it, why not
collect those tales and sketches you have
written for different reviews? They
ought to make O volume"
Eyes," said Karr, with dedication,
preface, plenty of margin and an in
dex, perhaps they might
Every well, then. Put on your hat
and come with me to Souverain.'
"Your publisher? You don't mean to
say there is any chance of his taking it?'
"Why shouldn't he?" l 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 one 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 in
troduced my companion | thought it
best to act as spokesman on the OCCASION
and explained as briefly as possible the
object of our coming. Souverain lis
tened attentively while slipping his coffee.
Very happy to know M. Karr, - he
said. "We will talk the matter over one
of these days"
THAT will be too late" | replied de-
cisively. st 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 book without having the least
idea what it isl!
"Oh," said l., IF that is all. there will
be no difficulty in satisfying you. Karr
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 cashr' hastily interposed Sou
yerain. "A bill at three months, per-
haps." u.s.. s ~.
'Out of the question. Karr has one
of his own due, and to pay it he must
have money down"
Every sorry, but l. make it a rule never
to pay cash until my bills fall due.
"In that case," said Alphonse, who
was chatting at the delay, sit is no use
wasting any time, and we had better see
Gosselin. -
"Wait amoment, "expostulated Souve-
rain. "You don't suppose carry 300
francs about with me!'
"We said 500, not S00," quietly OBJ
served Karr. when you have finished
your coffee, it is but a step to the Rue DIES
Beaux-Arts.
"You are in such desperate hurryl
Can't you wait until have thought it
over?'
'Bills won't wait" retorted, "as you
know very well. So. unless you decide
quickly, there Is an end TO the matter"
"H'm," muttered Souverain, visibly.
'perplexed; tive said 400. did we nots"
ssNo," emphatically replied Karr. mot
asou less than 500"
"A quarter Of an hour later we were
seated in the publishers room, where SO
many illustrious colleagues, Balzac and
Frederic Soulie among the number, had