New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
Al. DUMAS LEAVES PARIS.
Ills METUODICAL HABITS OF LIFE AND
WORK


H., :; ro.,,v 60 ,osc one of its chief idols.
T.. ,,.o,s tho loss has been threatened PERIOD
collv there has been rumor that NJ Dumas was
,ha,, 90 lcove the capital Now it was as soon
nc HE now book was ont: and now. as soon as ne
had fairly launched another play. But he dd not
ro His charming house OH the Avenue de VIIerS
wos ctiu 4 landmark OF the city, and his library
mr. studio the favorite resort of those who were
favored with his intimate friendship so Paris
came IN regard this rs a delusve cry OF - oif!
and IN believe that this easc-oving author ana
man would always retain home WITHIN thc clr-
Gle of the Boulcvards
This hone has however. itself proved delusvc.
4 short time ago il was positively announced tiat
his city mansion was for sale More than that,
his spleudid collection Of pictures was for sale,
also A few small paintings were TO be reserved
and sent TO the country house which will hence
forth be his home But nearly all the works OF
art that adorned his walls wcr TO be sent to the
Hotel Drouot and Knocked down to the highest
bidder. AZ this Paris was incrcdulous. But
nevertheless il was true. The pictures are no"
actually at that famous auction mart, and on May
will be sold, as his house on the Avenue dc
Villiers has been already.
II is really nm extraordinary thing that VI.
Dumas should part with his paintings. It cannot
they will fetch, for he cannot need that Expcn-
sivcly as he has lived, he is very rich man.
The royalties on his books and plays bring him
splendid income each year, more Than hc can
possibly spend Moreover. his art-aolcciion is
one of singular interest and he is a passionate
lover of art, and it seems incredible that he should
sell it simply TO get rid of the bother Of caring
for it. or because there is not room for il in his
cottage AZ Marty lc RU Yet So il H. Think
This collection contains no less than twelve Of
Nj ssOnier's best works and a number BY Duprc
and Corot, and Troyon. and Fromenin, and Vol
lon. and Tassacrt. And W. Dumas proposes to get
rid of them for whatever they will fetch II is
extraordinary
NJ Dumas. after this incypcabe sacrifice
will go 20 Marty e Roi, ana live next door ,o his
close friend. Victoricn Sardou. Curious is il not
that they should he chums? For they are rivals
They are the two foremost playwrtcrs of the age
Perhaps the absence of jealousy between them
arises from the fact that they are about equally
successful, and, moreover. that each il sue
cessinl as he could hope Ia be were the other not
in existence nj ell. There is much difference
between them. however play hy Dumas Is n
finished hit of literature perfect in style and
profound in thought: while play by Sardou ia
merely brilliant plot full Of strong situations
''" ''"'"'" ii hiN'-''"'i -'"tN'
Nevertheless. NJ Dumas il a master Of con-
strnction. ms well M Of style His constructive
ability comes from his wonderful gift Of order
which il a monomania with him. and which IL
the most extraordinary trait OF all his character
Such gift Of order and precision lie IN, would
he remarkable in any man. II is much more So
in him. since he is the son Of OF the least
orderly and least mcihodical men that ever lived
no a. tler I)u nf Inc me cal p-,.
Of men in all respects: sprndthrift Of money
and Of genius hr has b~cn rightly called The
house. during the boyhool Of Dumas the Younger.
SAYS one who knew il welt. was continuity nll
Of literary tOadcs. I0hcmians and impcunioIs
artists. These formed the great DGmn,s court.
buracd incense under lis face. ate his dinner.
borrowed his money. and forgot 10 repay il; and
passed his boy about from hand 10 hand rs nm
artistic curiosity that was 20 he admired. or as
a pct dog that was 10 he spoiled. In This fashion
the lad grew mp until he was eighteen. NJ which
age his fnticr placed n roll Of bank-noics in his
hands and spoke in this paternnl wise wien
man inhcri's The name 81 Alexandra Dumas lie
should lead the life of prince, dine NJ the Cafe
Ang'as. and bc generous with his money GO
and amusc voursclf. When you have spent that
yon shall have more. II Won contract debts /
will pay them" The elder Dumas practiscd all
he preached and by degrees the cnsi-bowl- on his
desk ihis money YVES never locked mp in drawers.
but lay I'm bowls, open 10 all corners began 10 he
more and more often empty. one day when his
son came TO levy supplies from them he found
they were in possession II the bailins along with
thc rest Of the houses furniture; and though his
father cried 70 him with one Of his hearty laughs
that this nothing. and that money was a. fast
carried a. spent vet this little episode Net young
| sl,.s lao. han ba.
come an orphan he should find himself face 10
face with his own debts and his fathers. possessed
Of no osscts and no profession, and, besides all
this having 4 sister ~ support
Pcrlorce. therefore. young Dumas turned over q
rev leaf Of life He dismissed his servants, sold
his horses and carriages, separated himself from
all his ro,ous associates and Settled down 10
work. since thai time orlcr and regularity
| lave been the dominant passion Of lis lie. lie
has become cold mechanical. reserve man. with
that sciutiniying questioning vein which mlrks
scientists. lie looks upon play-writng rs a
| science which only a psychologist AMI "A moral
! Psychologists" can pursue. 1t is also an art. but
| tic art lies in the construction, the science
rendered iu the anrlS sis If motive. and tie por-
| travail Of character which must ic based upIn
long observation and close study. The highest
| OF his productions IL ami always has been the
result Of though, and labor He docG not n
| lis father did. Iii down of morning with
siy-and-thriy blank pages, quartz size, before
| him. and make II his duty ~ cover them with
writing OF some sort before aoing out. Having
! got an dr2-or paradox. for 10 his essentially
| French mind il Is all onc-irto his head, he turrs
tie same over patiently hy himself. discusses it
among his friends. perhaps for months He
determines upon the plot Of q play the characters.
the number Of acts. etc. beforehand, ami WHEN
all is ship-sbapc DC siis down 10 write. To each
oct he gives exactly twenty sheets OF paper, for
| he believes that brevity. conioncd with good
writing and a smart plot, is the soul of play.
| Each separate act must be comprcsscl within the
limits OF thosc twenty sheets Of paper. Dumas
writes his dialogue at hcadlong speed but after