New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-03
ALBERT WOLFE.
TIE CAREER OF TIE FOREMOST ART CRlllU
OF PARIS.


tiol Of critics. and from all Paris one OF III"
rarest characters that the centurys close Has
| produced He was a journalist, noVellS', "
| dramatist a poet, a critic an amateur, a man VI
great wealth and wit. BESIDES all 'h1'' "'
| was an enigma, as a German naturaized Ill rid"'0
is apt TO be- It could be said of him lie was
nothing that he pretended TO be, or he was All
! that he seemed not 70 be- He appeared coarse
cruel. insoent, ill-bred and excessively VAIN III
reality he was kind, loyal and brave Ills nihu
was sensitive to the fincst and purest sentiments
| Albert Woln was born in Cologne on the lasO
day Of 1885 When a lad of eighteen he went
to Paris 10 learn designing in the glass painting
establishment of a relative. Finding mercantile
career not at all to his liking, he returned 10
| Germany and entered the University OF Iohh'
| His first book was published shortly after taxing
| his DEGREE IL was entitled The Voyage Oh u
| Iumorist Along the Banks Of the Rhine ana
! was partly IL description of a trip WON hlinsch
took in company with the publisher OF 'he
d" KIadderatsch The book was illustrated by the
author and made o hit. This decided WON
career His next literary venture was a serie'
| of chdren's stories which were wei reccNcu
| lie next assumed the editorship OF Inc DubSe'
| dorf NIontblc a journal for which he had prcvi-
ousy written. For three years he continued III
this Office. writing humorous articles under his
|
do plume of wv. Albert" The season Of pros
pcrity came TO an abrupt and sudden termination
| ,vbcn thc publishers of The Dusseldorf Monthly
| failed WoT was not only bereft Of his position,
but he lost a large part Of the salary due MN.
| At this critical uncture he had an opportunity 10
90 20 Paris The artist Larson, OF Dusseldorf, had
sent a picture TO the Salon and wished to go MN
self 10 the French capital 10 procure favoraole
notice of it, Being unacquainted with the IAN
! quagr he invited Wolf 10 accompany nm as
! interpreter As long as the Salon lasted WON
| wrote art letters 10 The Augsburg Ga7rtt'' p'l
| that closed the young author was once more WIZ
| ont means of subsistence. The Partisan life sultcd
him. and he decided to remain. He went through
the usual phases of the povcrty-stricken poet IN
strange city. the numberlcss applications the dis
appointments. the gloom, tine dscouragemen' ana
finally the last franc spent at the cafe for his
morning meal.
At that cafe table Albert Wolf sat long. wrapped
in meditation. There that latest cherished
,chcmc-pcrhaps it might pay 10 try ono" more
| for that Aftcrward would he time to apply fof
aid at the German Embassy. The coffee was
finally swallowed or rather gulpcd down, the
young man handed over his last bit of silver, ahG
walked OF with that air of determination "hIcE
plainly evidences an object at the end ot 'he
route With long strides he hurried down the
Rnc d'Amstcrdam. assembled the steps OF stately
mansion and rang tho bell. The door opened
be- i Monsieur Dumas n home ~ The master i
out Of town. answered the servant gruiiy. The
door closed
Slowly the Young German descended the steps
He was bitterly Disappointed and completely dis-
Outraged. lie could not 20 on, but Ieahed
against the wall and gave himself up 10 despair.
At that instant the door opened again ana
-. ,1ol, . .s.,s an
ing an the hacqarl and di>consoatc figure, he
recognized a coircc-housc Acquaintance whose in.
tclligcnt conversation had interested him on recent
occasions.
Why. what is the natter he exclaimed.
Tie real sympathy in his voice caused Wolh
10 confide his distress. Twenty times nave
applied TO speak TO VI. Alexandra Dumas, and
each time have been refused. The servant says
lie is out Of town. IL is of the utmost Importance
10 me. this interview. But fate seems against
me
Wait moment" said the gentleman: and ran
hurrcdly back. Returning after short period
lie said trumphontly: Go in; Dumas VIII SEE
YOU"
Wolf was conducted to the bathroom. where
the eccentric novelist received him. sitting breast
high in the watcr and holding on 10 both edges
of the tub with his fat hands. Ia steady himself
We'll. what do You want Nv was his good
naturcd greeting. Money
SURELY" answered Wolff We all want money.
but mine | wish to work for
Bien. work. What is your business with
mc?r
II came for the purpose Of securing the right
70 translate your new drama ! am young ana
inspired with tie highest ambition. have
already had some success; rs an author ana
journalist, and | believe could perform the tax
satisfactorily. promise YOU half the profits, ana
in no c..sc would you risk anything
Dumas from the bath-tub gazcd rciicctivcy ut
his caller on the rug lie was very shabby as he
stood there. leaning on faded umbrella ana
holding detected hat. BESIDES that. he was very
ugly TALL bony. and stoopshouldercd; long
gray eyes With lids that droop"d AZ the corners.
extraordinary eyebrows, ski pale as waN, and
colorlcss lips, thick a negros
"Ah." Dumas sad while lie gazcd, you are
n German 4 philosophical people these leutons
\ noble literature! Leasing. the German Shake
spcarc: his "Minna Won Barnhcm' is good
comedy; have thought of translating il myself
\ little obsolete though. Schiller is my favoritc
| Then raising himself in the bath, Just turn
around Young man, while | get ont of this
You'd better stand aside, or I'll get YOU wet
So. Now YOU may turn around
The author Of The Three Muslctecrs.' en-
vcopcd in Il dressing gown and pulling on hi,
stockings. continued his observations the Ger
man drama His Ignorance of the subject
truly French Rcsdc Leasing. Goethe and Schiller.
hc scarcely knew name. Gutzhov and Hack
lander were the only modern writers with whom
hc was acquainted at all. OF the condition OF the
drama at the present day, of IL, whole intellectual
tendency, his comprehension was wildly aStray
Wolff undertook correct his erroneous views, and
a spirited conversation cnSucd. The young man
spoke French nucntly il not quite correctly, his
manner was charming, and the knowledge he dis
played quite extensive. For some time Dumas
| listened hands in his pockets. the puAy underlip
shifting up and down Finally he burst out in
| characteristic phrase All! NouS nest pas
I.t,l