Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-24
DAUDET ON DIVORCE
TIE GREAPfFRENCH REALlSI is BITTERLY
OPPOSED TO II.
Parental Dutiesato Caildrea-Abolus Integrity to
the Marriage Ties Is NecsssarY These DAYS
n. Daadei Convinced That Liieraigrs Is
Very Poor Proiession-Sags
Advice to Young Writers.


and evenfful life. Styled with some
truth the French Dickens, his works,
which arbdull Of poignant, yet Doetical
realiSm. are not only popular IN bis own
country. but have made him well known
in both Europe and America
Born atSNimes some fifty years ago
next MAY, he had a sad childhood, after
wards described with much dramatic
power In lie Petit Chose For two
years he was usher at a school Ia Alas,
end went through the drudgery or the
humble calling 40 an age when other
boys are generally at school. Even In
thoae early days he had intense literary
ASPIRATIONS, and when only seventeen
years OF age he and his brother Ernest
went 10 Paris in order 20 gain liveli-
hood by their pens. After passing
through some bitter experiences. during
which time the two. lads lived on some
ching Ike Si3 a month. AlphOnSe brought
but a volume OF poetry, Les Amoure-
ses. which Immediately gained Tor him
a certain reputation, and led to his en-
p}ovmept on-several newspapers. From
that time forward ne wrote constantly
for the Figaro, composing between
. whites short plays, and writing the ad-
Nn1rHDIe GrLlclEo WHICH WpAO az va W 10
lpublished in q collected form as Com
hes de mon Moulin" For forty-fve
Wears be was private secretary TO the
fDuc de Morny, the half brother OF Ma
Fpoleon Third: and 10 was during this
lperied of his life that he moved in the
Z brilliant society afterwards described
with such minute fidelity aud scathing
satire in kings in Exile" and lie Ma
bah"
During the last three or four years
Mons. Daudet has suffered much from
, persistent I'm health. At no time did he
mix much in Partisan socity; his home
hnd his work absorbed all his time, and
S5.'Rte he has seen none but very intl-
mate +, ends, such as Emile lola, 3D.
/mund ID, GoncSut and nj. and Nine.
Lockroy the mother and stepfather OF
his sons wife, pretty ''Peach Blossom"
Hugo. or whom Frances great poet
wrote The Art Of being a Grand
father
However, armed with letter OF in
troductiOn fromM. De GOncourt, made
way TO tho quiet street situated In
the heart of the QUARTER Latin, where
Alphonse Daudet and his vile have set
I'D their household gods.
A Like most old-fashloned Parisians,
Kbey live In a fat, but the novelist has
been fortunate enough here In the Rue
Ee BelIachassee 20 secure a fine view
hver Southern Paris from hlsstudy win
EQw.
lThe room 10 which Alphonse Daudet
II Arks .s plainly but comfortably fur
she'd Two large settees, drawn close
the roomy fireplace. filled with bright
WurDing pine logs. give a cosy air % The /
Apartment The writing-table, large, I
massive block. covered with papers and /
Apamphlefs. occupies the whole OF one I
a .de on the room. ut. Daudet now Ole /
stes most % bis work to his vile and /
10 secretaries. When receiving V.si- /
, tba- De places himself With hts back CD I
0tat lght. and thus naugnt out the huge /
"Iffiue Of che poet-n0yelists fun head /
cen by bis guests
I suppose. M. Daudet, that you are /
" resting from the task OF writing /
lur two last plays and the story which /
AS Just come Out?'
'sOn the contrary. / am working hard \
new book. which I laid aside 10 or I
er 20 write Rose co Ninette, the study /
OF social life TO which you refer. The |
modern problem dealing with the posi- I
ton Ofchildren whose parents have been |
divorced has long haunted me. / could |
not throw the thought aside, and felt |
that must write IL out.
Then / suppose that you are entirely |
against divorce?"
I could see that panied expression |
came over the sensitive face hall con- |
cealed in the shadow.
at is a most difficult question. Surely !
peoples first duty is TO those whom they |
have brought into the world, and who, !
after ali. did not ask TO come into exist /
ence. Think Of the effect produced on |
children by the knowledge (which is /
quite inevitable that their parents have |
separated because one Of the two was /
unfaithful 20 the other. What a revO- |
luton i'm an their thoughts! All III |
changes, everything they have been /
taught to believe seems untrue. As you |
doubtless know, by Freuch law beth /
father and mother are allowed to see /
their children from time to time. Con- /
slider the grotesque and painful side Of /
their visits You must not speak OF /
mother TO father or again, you must |
not sneak OF father TO mother Yet az |
ter ali these children are an indissOluble !
cbain,which bound the former husband /
and wife 70 one another, and the con- !
sent Of both must be asked in case one /
of the young people wishes to get mar
Indeed, here in France divorced !
play at their old role Of husband /
a.. gife In these ceremonies. No, be-
levi me, when people have children /
Legal separation is Of no avail Also
Lutte Integrity OF the marriage tie IS ne
cesSary. In choosing wife man must
be able 10 say, When / am dying, these /
are the arms in which ! shall pass away, /
these srs the fingers which shall close
my eyes A man can not feel this II he
knows that In five or ten years time his
wife viii be able 20 cast him of and be-
come the legal property Of another; or
that he, on his side, II he gets tired Of
her, car have recourse TO the help which
the law Is only too willing TO accord him
in order 70 rid himself OF her"
There was long pause
"Have yon any specia. notion on the
modern 'heatreY''
''No, 10 not believe in the new terms
which they have lately invented. IL
does not batter whether play is acted
by a group OF people who call them
selvea 'realists' 'idealistS, old OF
'moderh,' IL the play is good and the
comedians have genius all will 90 well.
/ need hardly say that do not believe
IN brutal realism on the boards. Lifeis