, 1889-09-11
A NAME FOR A BOOK.

"a pleasant time enough while it lasted
among the many privileged purveyors
of gossipto the Partisan daily and weekly
press one of the most interchangeable in
unearthing the latest titbit of contem-
porary anecdote was Jules Lecomte.
Less elegant in style than Henri de Pene,
less humorous than Auguste Vilemot, he
was nevertheless mainly instrumental in
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 NJ. Alphonse
Karr select for a volume of tales pub
lished some twenty years & the in
comprehensive title of 'Vendredi Soir?'"
Friday Evening"
Not a bad idea of my friend, the
writer, whoever he may be-" said Le-
comte, with a chuckle of satisfaction,
ito apply to me, as l happen to be the
only person able to answer the question.
! may as well crafty him, particularly
the curse and the boulevard are pretty
well used up, and a retrospective article
for once in n way will be a novelty"
Not having the paper by me, and COM
PEELED therefore to trust to my memory,
l can only attempt to reproduce the sub
stance of n of the lively chronicler's
most amusing feuilletons, related some
what in the following terms:
A good many years ago, when 1 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
foor-the seventeen 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, 1 found him,
contrary to his wont, sitting in a de-
jected attitude at his window and look
ing the picture of misery.
What is the natter" 1 inquired.
Anything wrong?"
Everything" he replied, drumming
his knuckles impatiently on the window
pane. 81 nave a bill for 300 francs due
eObbl anu IN IN W LlttI H..
"Diable!'
Ut 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-
mot a soul" he continued, ''and that
isn't all; Tuesday is the last day of the
carnival, and L nave promised a pretty
neighbor of mine to escort her to the
ball at the Varieties, which of course en-
tails supper"
"And champagne" l suggested.
Exactly, and where on earth am 1 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 1,
"'to advance it to your
N use" he muttered, with q melan-
choly 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 a volume"
YES" said Karr, with a dedication,
a preface, plenty of margin and an in
dex, perhaps they might"
VERY 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?" 1 replied. HE
will be only too glad to nave 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
des Beaux-Arts, and ON our arrival there
we were directed by one of the clerks to
u 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 l in
troduced my companion. l 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. Kari" he
said. 1--WE will talk the matter over one
of these days"
THAT will be too late" l replied de-
cisively. ut 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 isi'
"oh," said l, elf 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 cashi' hastily interposed Sou