The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-06-17

couragement, but the majority cx-
pressed themselves after this fashions:
''Such tremors are incura bic. AS ma
ture has formed MS bold or tirn;d, cold
or ardent, grave or gay. SO we must re-
main. Whoever saw an ambitious man
cured of his ambition, or miser of his
avarice?'
Some members of the company OBJ
jccted to the fatalsm Of these obscrvn-
tions, and one said: IF you ask for a
converted n1iscr, I can show you one.
Hero he is. / am one.
The man who said this was popular
dramatist, noted for generosity. His
statement was received with ejacula-
tions of '.Nonscnsc.'' '.Impossiblc:"
"Do you expect to believe that?"
"Indced." answered nc, quite seriously,
81 speak the truth. l was a miscE. al
though now. l trust, l am such no
longer. If you would care to hear it.
/ will relate to you the story Of my con-
version. 1t was effected by Il childS
tear" All present Immediately crowd
ed around him, and heard from his lips
the following recital:
lin 1884, said the dramatist. ~ had
just given to the theater of the Porte
Saint Martin one of the most successful
of my pieces. One day about that time
two letters reached me by the same
post. Both We're from Marscillcs. One
was from a theatrical manager, inform
ing me that nc intended bringing out
my new piece there and that he desired
my presence at the final rchearSals Of
the drama. With regard to rcmunera-
ton for my trouble l might make my
own terms in reason. The second let
ter, very brief one. ran thus: Mon
sieur, tho wife and daughter of your
brother are dying of want Some hun
dreds of francs will save them, and
doubt not that you will hasten to visit
connections so near to you and make ar
rangements for their present and future
comfort This letter bore the signature
of DR.. Lambert. of Marseilles.
LAS 1 have already told you, I was a
miser in the worst sense of the word.
The physicians letter, far from moving
me to pity, merely renewed certain
angry feelings which had formerly eN
listed in my mind toward my sister-in-
law. When, some years back, my
brave sailor brother, who had since
been drowned, had written to tell me
of bis approaching marriage with a
asherman's daughter, I, in my misera-
BILE pride and miserliness, had replied
that in marrying pcnniless girl con-
eldered that he was doing most fool
ish and degrading action. l was even
wretch enough to advise him to break
off the match if that were still possible.
Ny brother, like the honorable man he
was, welded the girl he loved MY sis
ter-in-law, who was a high-spirited Bre-
VOAs ACsSA AoISoG lily 1cILe1t, oAAeA siC-
spiscd it's writer. When she lost her
husband and found herself in need it
was long ere she could bring herself TO
apply to me. But the sight of her only
child wasting away from sheer want
had at last broken down her pride.
''As the engagement at the Marscilles
theater seemed likely to prove highly
profitable one, I. as you might expect,
It lost no time in accepting the offer. I
wrote off to the manager at once. and
followed my letter in person with as
little delay as possible. When 1 arrived
at the principal hotel of Marseilles
encountered there, in the act of inquir-
ing for me, the doctor who had writ ten
in my sister-in-laws behalf. AS I
had not replied to his letter. the good
man had said in his simplicity: lie will
be here in person. and had looked for
me every day. You have lost no time,
SIR said he. Doubtless You thought,
hnd rightly, that did you delay, .eeth
might foressall yeu! All! am. indeed,
GLAD ~ see yous