The morning call., 1891-10-12
A FAMOUS BLACKSMITH.
Death of BouIanger, the Artistic
Worker in Iron.
The Flemish Poet, Maurice Maeterlink, Known
as the New Shakespeare "A Certif-
cate Settles Point in History.
Special Paris Letter to THE MORNING CALL

PARIS, Sept. %. The famous artistic
blacksmith, Boulanger, died only few days
ago in Paris, and his death recalls many
incidents regarding the beautiful doors of
Notre Dame Cathedral. There is a legend
that Biscornet, the blacksmith of the Middle
Age, who made one OF these doors, was
aided by Satan in person. But, as Bis
cornet only finished one door, he must have
been deserted by tile Evil One, or what is
m ore probable he was overtaken by death
before the completion of his work.
Boulanger was the son of simple lock-
smith. and his fathers apprentice. When
al mere boy he possessed ambition, and
wished to make something more than locks
and keys. The father each day leetured his
son about visionary schemes, and told him
that no longer could blacksmith or lock-
smith be an artist, for art had died with
the old masters.
One day father and son visited the Cathe-
dral OF Notre Dame, and as the boy had
never seen the famous door, he was stupefied
by its beauty. Rushing forward in order
to examine the door more closely, the boy
was held back by his father:
Remember the legend; do not touch the
work of Satan. 1t would bring US mis-
fortune"
NOT AFRAID.
But the boy was not afraid, examined the
door thoroughly, but never dreamed that
his hands would comp iete the work begun
by Biscornet. From that day the young
Boulanger had but one purpose. to initiate
Biscornet. And the doors of Notre Dame
are worthy of careful study. They are
ornamented by foliage, designed with as
tonishing freedom and of miraculous exc
cution. The foliage was all beaten by a
hammer from red-hot iron, and for its com
pletion prodigi0us difficulties were over
come. So wonderful was Boulanger's work
that jealous ones said the iron was cast,
not wrought. 1t was Boulanger who made
the decorations for the entrance of the
Cluny museum, and these are so eXquistely
beautiful that even NJ. du SOmmerard, Di-
rector of the museum, believed them to be
OF cast-iron. The poor blacksmith was
much grieyed that his artistic work should
be considered imitation, but chance came
to his aid A cart, loaded with coal, passing
through the gates, struck heavily against
the decorations. Had they been OF cast-lron
they would have been irTeparably injured,
broken like glass, but instead they were
only slightly twisted.
Boulanger aided Violet lie Due in restor-
ing old castles and cathedrals. All the ar
tlstic iron work in the cathedrals of Mines,
Bourges, Digne and the abbey of Vezelay
is due TO the genius Of Boulanger. In oiden
times a goldsmith, worker in enamels or
blacksmith skillful in his art. was not con-
sldered inferior to sculptor or painter, and
an effort is made to-day to destroy the line
Of distinction between art san and artist.
THE NEW SHAKESPEARE.
Much is said in Europe and America about
the wonderful talent OF the new Shake
speare." for that is the name given to the
Flemish poet, Maurice Maeterlink, author
of La PrinCesse Maleihe," recently trans
lated into English. As is well-known. LA
Princesse Maleine" is a fve-act drama in
prose, and all its fascination comes from its
extreme weirdness; the drama is filled with
superstitions. strange imaginations. unex-
planned forebodings; and after reading the
book one feels that one has been in the COM
pany OF ghosts, phantoms; That one has lis
tened to waillngs, weeping, and ,gnashing OF
teeth. LA Princesse Maleine" is a night
mare of awful fancles, butt is a marvellous
study of the souls inner workings.
have friend who recently made Mae
terink's acquaintance, and he says that
the youthful Shakespeare, for he is only
twenty-eight or nine, is placid, common
place man, with no trace Of inspiration in
his appearance, no sign of genius IN his face.
His eyes are blue and smiling, his dark
hair, cut short. his forehead, ordinary in
breadth and height-in all he resembles
comfortable bourgeois. He lives quietly at
lis fathers home, near Client, and seems
more than dIspleased that he should have
been compared to Shakespeare, who in
tine opinion of Maurice Maeterlinb. repre-
sents all that is great in literature. The
young author had already written Hot
houses" book OF poems in blank verse,
and Blind People" dialogues, but outside
small literary circle in Belgium he was
little known. La PrincesSe Maleine"
has brought success that aston
ishes no one more than the au-
thor himself. and now he says that he
is afraid to resume his work. Before sue
cess came he wrote without fear of the pub
lie, or rather without thought of the pub
lie, and now he fears that be would write
alone for popularity. So the new Shakes
peare" will give us nothing more until he
RECEIVERS from his sudden elevation to fame
and is able to write for himself. not for
those who are aDXiOusly awaiting inspira-
ton from his pen.
THE CERTIFICATE FOUND.
The death certificate of Joseph Balsamo,-
the famous Count de CagliUstrO, who played
so important a role in French history. has
been found. Until now the death of Gag
liostro was shrouded in mystery. but the
certificate gives us definite information con-
corning one of the most extraordinary men
in the eighteenth century. Cagliostro died
at the fortress of Saint Leon August 2Sth,
in the year 1895.
The part that Cagliostro had played in
France made his every act of great impor-
lance to the French people. In spite of the
fact that France was passing through ter
ribe ordeal Of blOodshed, the arrest of
sation in Paris. Some thought that this
enigmatica parsonage had been tho cause,
direct or indirect, of every important event
in Europe, but In reality nothing very tang
ible could be found against Joseph Balsamo.
called Cagiostro