The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06
DUMAS THE YOUNGER
Oyerrun With Callers and Not
Partial to Interviewers.
IN THE NovELIsT's sANcTuM.
How He Regards the Cheap American
Editions of His Works RE-
served and Cautious.

Inc nacre pulled up IN the Avenue de
Villiers before an aristocratic-looking
mansion. The bell was answered by a
servant, whose naughty manner impressed
me considerably and filled me with mis-.
giyings as to what the master might be
like. so that l would have given anything
to retrace my steps. Dumas servant car
ried the card upstairs on a silver plate,
leaving me, meanwhile, to amuse myself
in the vestibule.
The lackey returned, and making sign
to me to follow him, led me into the pic
ture galleries. telling me would have to
wait little, as his master was engaged.
Here was a rich harvest of beautiful
things for an amateur. There were sew
eral rooms full of paintings. I noticed
particularly several of Meissonier's ac-
quarelles a misty landscape of Corot, an
"Alhambra scene" by Fortung, pictures of
Veronese, Delacroix, Rrousseau. A bronze
statue of Barge, presented to the old Du-
mas by the Duke of Orleans, plaster cast
of Dumas pere's hand, all sorts of ancient
armory, Chinese vases and other precious
bric-a-brac, adorned the room.
had full leisure TO inspect everything,
for two whole hours passed before the
lackey again made his appearance to
inform me that his master was ready to
see me-
We mounted the thickly carpeted stairs,
whose luxuriant softness drowned the
noise OF our footsteps, to the third story,
where l was ushered into the study of the
well-known author.
There, at his writing desk, masterpiece
OF cabinet making in the style of Louis
| XIV, sat the author who had made the
word demi-Daonde typical for certain class
OF Partisan society. He presented strange
sight to unaccustomed eyes. His huge,
solid form had disappeared in an i'm
mensely wide white pajamas and blouse,
fastened at the waist by a white sash.
There was not a spot of color in his dress.
His gray hair was oombed back as usual,
and his hand toyed with the ends of his
gray moustache.
He turned around in his easy chair, an
arrogant smile played on his lips, he half
raised himself and then motioned me to
be seated.
"How can serve your" and he threw
piercing glance at me.
This was rather an awkward question to
answer.
He resumed: Nothing In particular, 1
suppose. Then pardon me if l continue
writing"
satisfied my curiosity as to the appear
ance of his study 1t was hung with
paintings, statuettes stood on the mantle
piece. The open fireplace, with burning
logs of wood, lent the room a cheerful,
easy aspect. Soft Turkish carpets covered
the floor, and lastly bed was perceived,
hidden behind heavy curtains and rich
draperies. All sorts of technical hand
books and dictionaries lay distributed on
A. l.. -
"Littre" was conspicuous. On little
delicately carved table stood a bottle of
Madeira and some biscuits.
I was attracted by bowl of milk stand
| ing near his desk.
He observed it on raising his head, and
| said: THAT is for my catsl'
"At this moment the door slightly
creaked on it's hinges and moved imper-
ceptibly, and large Angora cat made it's
appearance. After partaking of the milk,
it went up to its master in a confident
He finished his task, threw down his
pen. and petted and stroked the cat to his
great delight.
''What name did you mention2" he
asked
"Ah, yes! Monsieur -- sent you.
Pardon me-" he continued. "but, you
know, l am overrun with people who
simply. want my photograph or auto
graph"
Then he fumbled in his desk, creating
great confusion and displaying a large va
riety of stationery.
"Do you write much 2" inquired.
He shook his head.
mo, / am getting old. We can't keep
up with the young writers"
"Who are your favorites among themf"
He shrugged his shoulders.
They all make great deal OF noise.
w 70
do something new, but, at last when il
comes we find it is the old story over
again. Even the best, like Richepin,
Bourget, leave me somewhat cold. They
deceive themselves / like the Cuban
poets and 1t is astonishing what a litera-
ture they have There are the works Of
Heredia and Rodriqhez-" pointing to
some beautifully bound volumes on his
large bookshelf.
"Do they not resemble the Spanish very
much?" interrupted.
mo, they are quite original, full of IRE
and energy, true poets"
He lit cigar and offered me one, and
then the author of Camille" and
"Denise" began to speak of Cuban poet
who had died very young. This very in
teresting biography mentions particularly
an old woman, his former nurse, and her
anxiety because the young man spends
most of his nights sleepless, signing apd
talking to himself. On moonlit nights he
often went to the forest and remained
there for hours. One night she Thoughts
he was getting insane. The young man
rose in the dark and went TO the nearest
well, and she saw how he drew water and
poured il on the ground. He repeated
this several times. The old woman be-
gan to weep and murmured: "He has
lost his sensesl He has lost his sensespF
But the young man was only expert
menting. He wanted TO hear the sound
of running water on moonlit night. He,
called forth artificially those impressions
that were necessary for his next poem
marked:
II don't know much about il, but this
much / am aware of, they pillage my plays
and works whenever they can get chance
and such cheap editions as they sellP'
He pointed 70 one on the floor and vented
his irritation and disgust by giving il a lit
tie push with his foot.
But without them you would hardly be
known in America"
He put his arms akimbo and shrugged
his huge shoulders, as if he wished TO say:
what do / care?'
During his conversation remarked that
his gestures, his whole bearing. was as re-
served and cautious as his prefaces, in
which he endeavors TO explain his ideas SO
clearly that nobody could misunderstood
them.
We were interrupted by the servant,
who came in and whispered something
into his masters ear.
sob, pardon me-" Dumas explained.
''but 1 have TO be st session of the
academy at 2 1t Is nearly 1 and ! have
not dressed or breakfasted yet. Your
vie ahN ~ hf4f v.rffh a he