The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20
A FRENCH HUrIORIST.
Hector Cremieux, Noted for His Jokes
and His Melancholy.
Paris Cor, London Truth.


There Is nothing more uncommon than a
brilliant. funny writer who looks on life
from an optimist standpoint. In say
ing this / have in my minds eve
the late NJ. Hector Cremienx and
his frequent joint author in writing
droll comediettas, opera-bouffe libretti, and
other amusing things. Halevy. whom /
think writer of tbs highest order In its
way. is Of sad humor in private life.
and Cremieux was far sadder. lie
had the keenest vision of what
was discrepant low. nasty, ridiculou
in human nature. and the power to show il
up with the keenest and apparently most
frolicsome irony. Life seemed to him a
tragi-burlesque without Rhyme or reason.
believe that there are deep meanings in it
TO which lie was blind.
Hector Cremieux was born to good for
tune. was pushed by his father, who gave
him when he was young the salutary
habit of turning his energies and talents
the Ministry Of State Sta Which P bpough ~
him into relation with De Morny
and some of the biggest men in the
empire when they held the wealth OF
France in their hands. De Morny, see
ing bis talent. and being ambitious
of celebrity as a dramatic author.
got him 70 assist him in writing
Monsieur Choutleury restera chez-lui."
for which Cremieux reaped none of the
credit or the discredit. the Due alone sign
Ing 1t. This literary partnership brought
Cremieux into relation with all the daring
and influential company-promoters of
the time. and. had he been as
s saas Sss, as is they sl, WERE he might
Rothschilds. His keenness Of vision pre-
vented him from believing that the
empire was going TO last, and he shrank
from making any great risk, the success
OF which depended on the Emperor stick
ing to his throne. However, Q gtheen years
OF small ventures amounted 10 great whole,
and then his theatrical royalties must have
come to colossal total. He was the most
successful writer of the "Pinafore" style
there was in Paris. His irreverence was not
held in check by any consideration of taste or
policy. bis friend De Morny being ready
for sixteen years TO get the censor overrulec
should be give any trouble. Nine. Gre
mieux was charming and amable woman,
aud his daughter deserved all the affection
he lavished on her. What more could man
desirep Hector Cremieux could not endure
the shadows that followed the lights. The
wife died when lie and she were old, and the
daughter got married 10 an officer. and fol-
lowed her husband 10 aprovincial town with
the full consent OF her father. OF course, his
vogue as dramatic author fell off with the
fall OF the empire. and the rollicking dissipa-
ton that it encouraged in the theaters and
elsewhere. He fretted good deal because
hhlos9 was tuo anu CDutu never
understand that the latter had a delicacy
and grace Of manner rs writer that
were denied to himself. But he had
magnificent fruits OF his successful
authorship In the shape Of amassed
capital Lad amusing recollections, and
even not long ago his share in the
theatrical adaptation: Of Halevy's "L'Abbe
Constantin" brought him a4OO0. His gloom
induced the disease which weakened him
latterly so as to incapaetate him from all
work. He WAS so bent upon getting rid of
life that ne managed to shoot three pistol
balls into Ills brain. Cremieux was, as q
with the genius of droll irony, and he did
not infict ranking wounds when he shot
his arrows. Hector Cremieux was little.
with blazing and somewhat google eyes,
and had singularly interesting face. His
ringieted hair, and some other characters
tics, made him resent BILE Lord Beacon sieId.