Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-07
DUMAS YEARS AGO,
Working Long Hours and Ever Ready to
Help the Unfortunate.

Working Long Hours and Ever Ready to
Help the Unfortunate.
All read Andrew Lang's delightful paper
In Scribner's Magazine on Alexandra Dumas,
incidents rather personal thnn literary in re-
card to this novelist and draInatist occur to
me. For SO young a man rs was then
fully thirty-fve years ago-I was intimate
with Dumas. My acquaintance commenced
in a curious way. During my collegiate term
at home was much giveL TO athletic exer-
cises. and when at work in the Paris schools
felt the want of them. Living for a summer
at Marty, had set of quoits made for me
by the village blacksmith. | remember the
difficulty had in having them forged, and
the many curious questions asked me Is to
their use. There were some French Ameri-
can friends near my country home, and | in
duced them TO pitch quoirs. Alongside Of the
road there was good stretch of soft sward,
and here the pegs were driven in. One day
in the middle of our game q portly gentle
man approached and watched our game.
noticed a peculiar awkwardness Oh the part
Of my partner in the game, and to my up
hraiding his reply was: II can't pitch, be-
andre Dumas watching US"
Presently there was disputed point and a
hot discussion, and NJ Dumas curiosity was
excited, for he approached. bowed, and began
somewhat in this way; Permit me TO e1-
press ny delight, my establishment, to be
present at renaissance OF sport, for here we
have the old Greek games over again. 1t is
only the English who''-
Then one of the party explained to N,
Dumas that We were Americans not English,
and that the game was more common in the
United States than III England. That state
ment seemed to bofl please and puzzle him.
The ice being broken, NJ. Dumas joined in the
game, taking OFF his coat, and was as gay
and happy as the youngest of U.s.
a day or so afterward l called on him at
his request in Paris. He at once told me, in
bis quick, impulsive way, the story of young
artist who had drawn bad number and
would have to join the ranks as conscript.
By a strange coincidence, some months be-
fore had interested myself about another
young Frenchman with American relatives,
and a substitute had been obtained for him.
There happened to be some small amount Of
money over, which was in the hands of a
French gentleman l was acquainted with. |
at once put the facts before M. Dumas and
said | had no doubt that the funds would be
Forthcoming and he might use them He
seized on the idea at once. With his usual
vehemence he cried: thine is everything.
VIII you set about it ct onceF'
Il can" replied, "for it happens that l
have to call on NJ. l. today on business,
and should not be surprised if could bring
you the money at once"
Then, my dear young man, go as fast as
YOU can | will not set foot out of this room
until you return"
I was in luck l took a coupe, saw NJ.
L. and put the case before him. He as
sumed the responsibility and gave me the
money, something less than 200 francs. In
two hours | was back, and it was NJ Dumas
who admitted me. l put the money in his
hand, and he absolutely danced with joy.
There Is only bagatelle more to get and
the man is free. Now, where to get it, I
can make it by sitting up all night"
suggested my trying the depths Of the
purses of certain friends OF mine for the sum
still wanting. Then NJ Dumas absolutely
Rugged me. left second time, and my
good fortune carried me through, for before
z o'clock that night the additional francs
wanted were given to II. Dumas.
Telling H. Dumas the names of the con-
tributors, placed the POO francs in napoleons
and five franc pieces and small change on the
mantelpiece. III. Dumas looked at them a
moment and said: "No, not there. If you
placed them there some poor devil would be
sure to come and ask me for loan and how
could | refuse him9 The money would DO
gone in an instant and then l should be
obliged to sit up all night in order to make it
up, and IS it is have overrun my working
hours for this artist. So give the money to
me- will put it out of sight" And, taking
a key out of his pocket, Dumas locked up the
money in a drawer.
Having received the money he babe me
take a seat near his table, and l watched him
write. l was amazed at the rapid way he
worked. The peculiar kind of paper, a blue
with lines, has been before described AS
sheet was covered with copy he would throw
it on the floor. Recalling q caricature Of
CHAINS, which represented NJ Dumas with
pen in one hand and another attached to his
nose, laughingly called his attention to it.
Il only wish it were possible; then perhaps
l could supply the demand" he replied.
1t had been noon when l first saw Dumas
at work. What interruptions he had met
with during the day could not know Ii
was after o'clock in the evening when / left
him, and be was still writing, and the floor
was covered with sheets of manuscript.-P
in New York Times.