The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17
DUMAS, SARDOU, lola.
Struggles Of Three French
Dramatists for Recognition.
TOLD BY "cAMlLLE.s" BROTHER.
Zols ~ . Common Warehouse Work
man-Bailfn and Actress Helped
Sardou to Fame and Fortune.
Chicago Herald.

Dumas, lola and Sardou had a mighty
hard struggle for years and years before
the first sample of success, artistic or
financial tell to their lot. An elderly
Frenchman. now residing IN Chicago,
Raou Duplessis by name, had a converse
ton with the writer of this article, in the
course of which he made a number of in
teresting statements bearing on the early
part of the career of that famous trio,
whose combined luster at present renders
the contemporaneous French literary firm
ament SO brilliant. Many of the facts
he related have never been published
in any of the biographical references, but
they are, nevertheless, quite reliable. 1t
will readily be understood how NJ. Duples-
sis-who lives at present at the corner of
Wentworth avenue and Forty-fifth street,
and who is employed in the capacity of
confidential bookkeeper in the office of
one of the big stock yards firms-is in
a position to impart correct and de-
tailed information on so interesting a
subject when it is mentioned that
he is the brother of Marie Duplessis.
beautiful woman who served Dumas as
original for his Dame aux Camelias" Tor
Americanized, "Camille'). Marie Duples-
4
List, the famous composer, who immor-
talized her in his memoirs She was char
acterized by List as 1.-The most absolutely
feminine woman have ever known in my
life." 1t was her charming PERSONAL
ity and her sad fate which gave
Dumas the idea for his novel,
and subsequently his playa play
which rendered him famous the world
over. Her brother, Raoul Duplesss, at
that period of his life on intimate terms
with Dumas, Sardou and lola, met with
great misfortune during the siege of Paris
and the commune, and that IS what finally
brought him over to America and this city.
The writer will not attempt to repeat
everything NJ. Duplessis said on the SUBJ
ject, but will merely pick out the more in
teresting and best-known facts.
The elder Dumas, known to his friends
as Alexandra lie Grand" had lived a
registering life, and had never taken pains
with the education of his son. Hence.
too, when the younger Alexander was
ready to step into life he said to him;
go, my son, drink of the cup of JOY to
thy hearts content, and be not afraid of
the future. Thou Dearest the name of
Dumas-a talisman-and modest no saw
ings. When, however, thou art ready
to marry come to me. Thou wilt re-
ceive 100000 francs down." Thus adj
monished the son did as he was hidden:
but when one day the father was asked
to pay the debts of his son, it was discov-
cred that he himself had minus of 600 100
francs in his accounts. He had overdrawn
his own account and was unable to pay the
debts of his son with his own. Thereupon
Alexander, the younger, was forced to
hustle for himself Then the same energy
with which he had whilom plunged
into the vortex of pleasure. he now
plunged into the ocean of labor. His
first ambition was to pay off his debts
An enormous amount. But reporter
or assistant editor on the Partisan