The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-25


talked about-these people, say. are all
people who themselves are not decorated,
who seem to despise the reward which
they dangle before our eyes, saying: III
you are good boys and write properly
you shall have this pretty cross.
They treat US like children. despis-
ing, themselves, what they hold out
to Us as such great inducement. Floquet
wouldn't believe that didn't care a snap
OF the fingers for his cross, and that all
/ wanted was to get away behind the
scenes to compliment Mounet on
his performance. When / saw the
news officially announced next day, I felt
very sorry because / had received this dis
function above the head of de Goncourt,
and feared lest de Goncourt. for whom |
had the greatest reverence, would feet hurt
at my having been preferred.
Speaking of actors and Of theaters. IL
may be of interest to relate that | never
am present at any of the first productions
of my plays. / am much too nervous,
and always go as far from the the
alter as / can contrive when play
of mine is being produced for the first
time. 1t is only on the following MORN
ing that / learn whether 1t has been q
success or not, and that generally from
the manner of my concierge. If il has
been q success. she is most respectful:
has scored failure there is pity blended
with contempt in the way in which she
hands me my letters. 1t is an amusing
insight into human character that
is afforded TO dramatic writer
by the conduct of his friends ana
of his acquaintances on the morrow of .
failnre. Some pretend no. to see him.
not knowing what TO say. Others come
and try TO console him, literally try to rub
in lotion on the wounded heart. The
servants grow familiar, and it IS when
your porter asks you for a box or a
pair Of stalls in the dress circle. that yon
know that your work is definitely con-
demned. But I have been 50 fortunate
in life--I am paving for it now--that have
very rarely had these experiences.
Speaking of his friends, Daudet said
that since his illness he has rarely gone
ont. He is o frequent visitor to the
house of the Princess Matilde, and
rarely . week passes without his visit
ing De Goncourt. for whom he has the
greatest affection. But the most part
of his time is spent at home. On Sunday
mornings his friends call on him, and
often a. many as twenty people are sitting
round his chair listening to his talk.
'If the people haven't revoited," he says,
sand If there has been no revolution
caused by denominations which only
few years ago would have caused
barricadss to rise IN every street in
Paris, il is because, as l have noticed, .
complete transformation has been enacted
in the character of the French people dur
ing the last ten or fifteen years by the
militarism, to which the country
has been subjected since the enforce
ment of the new army laws. The fear
of the corporal is upon every Frenchman,
and it is discipline that keeps quiet ths
men, who fifteen years ago would have
lad ar hAz int ~ hA h1v nat
against the abominabie scoundreis who
are plundering France.
Daudet, it may be remarked, saws what
be has TO say without fear or reticencc.
The other day in some salon he
was sitting next to an advocate general,
who began a panegyric of a certain pro-
cureur general. who, at that time, was
the most powerful man in France. al
don't want to hear word about him, :"
cried Daudet. "He is the most abomi-
nahis sconndrel that / ever heard OF. I"
II is strange that with such frank out
spokenness he should have so few enc
mics, but the reason of this is no DOUBT
the inex pressible charm OF his manner.
0ue cannot approach Daudet without
loving him, loving him for his handsome
face, his large heart and the entire SIM
plicity of a man who has been petted,
but not spoiled, for so many years by
fortune and by fortunes fayorites.
Amongst men of letters, though many
criucise his works, he is n universal IA
vorite. / have seen him embraced like
father by those whom he has be-
friended. His charity Is immense. No
body applies to him for help or assist
ance in vain. Ii was amusing and vet
pathetic to hear him the other day de-
scFiblng the interview he had with poor
confrere. who came In rags and who
stood tearing at his struggling beard
hesitating 10 tell the real reason Of
his visit, which was 10 ask Dauder
for the means to pay three terms of rent
which were owing. and which had TO be
paid at once as an alternative 70 the ex-
pulslon Of himself and his family, and who
went away happy man With Daadet's
promise that the children should not be
turned into the street.
In reviewing my past life. said Dau-
Diet II find that no period has remained
more windy impressed on my memory
than the period Of the war. My memory
betrsys me in MANY respects. so that
l have compared it To forest in which
large patches burned mp by the sun are
quite dead. But isT0 Is as clear in my
mind as II il were yesterday. l can see
the streets withou. light the slouehing
shadows Of the streets. ! remember IS
II they had just crossed nv lips toe in
famous fricAsees that We ate. / vas
soldier a. the time and oh. so energetic
and full of life. IL was the most active
period of nv life. / vas always q ba->
sasilemr, fond of sword-plav and the
hazards OF combat. and think that
that period was the most intense of nv
existence. One late that remem Der most
wildly was thas of the sist Of October.
when the news of the surrender Of
Metz reached Paris. l was then in the
Ssuety-seveash. de ssareAe. and vas sent 10
com tnunscass the asws on winters
morning 10 Myrs de Villiers, who took
me with him TO communicate 1t to the
soldiers st the different forts around
Paris What poignant day that was
Al each fors the general was surrounded
by men. Metz Is surrendered; xe have
bean betrayed. baEainc has turned
traitor, Vas what he had TO say. | can
remember some who burnt into teaYa