The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-26

was living with my family in Paris. I
was IS, and as at the age of II had made
my first appearance in public print was
by this time not quite tyro in the jour
nalistic profession, which was then my res
reation between music masters and paint
ing teachers, and the rest of those people
who go to make up the sum of young
girls education.
The charm that newspaper work pos
sessed for me then was alike one of the
literary bent and Of the secrecy with
which ] chose to conduct my cacnthes scri-
bendi Wrote under another name than
my own for home papers and magazines
here in America solely, until finally one
day I suddenly decided that would try
my fortunes with-what, think your
Nothing less than Figaro itself. But a
woman1y nom de plume-that deferred
me. feared; hesitated. Should 1t be
boldly, then, my own name?
No, and at once I selected short, crisp,
yet euphnnions and wholly likely mascu-
line cognnmen. wrote my copy address
and sent it to III. Jules Dessimoir, the well
known manager of certain department
of Figaro. dated the accompanying note
from my own home, and forthwith took
my family into my confidence as well as
the butler and honsemaid, who might be
likely to answer the postman's call, or the
concirgSs3 inquiry for 'tCount Karjak.' -
WAITED Not long, however, for in the
next but one Saturdays issue of Figaro,
10 and behold was my story. Not only
this, but my amused father, on turning
over the paper, held up to my astonished
and somewhat terrified gaze the announce
ment that IN. lie Comtc Karjak, dis
tinguished Russian now visiting Paris for
the first time, would probably be induced
to contribute 10 these pages certain other
of his impressions to follow those most en-
tertaining and unique ones contained in
the present number"
How they all laughed about the ia Bile,
as with flushed cheeks sat speechless in
bewildered amusement
was then Russian? Very goods to
that had no objection to offer. Rus
speaking our English and my family's
French SO well-were indeed my special
alteration So, when note came the next
morning, ipa5osing check for $50 francs
(Which l indorsad t.Karjak,'' and my "a
Their Reimbursed and obtained the money for)
and asking if should be pleased to fur
iiioA tlIUiClES Oh Ju6 ESEtSGLl0
theme Of French society and manners as
sontrasted with those of my own country,
replied very promptly that Iwould do So
My own countryi Russia? Decidedly the
name had misled M. Dessinoir. Very well,
it made little difference. Since had be-
come man, might just as well be a
Russian man as any other. So accepted
the situation, and throwing myself men
tally into the little of my supposed native
country with which was acquainted, and
diligently beginning at once to cultivate
al the Russian people and Russian books
that knew of, felt myself present quite
q Slay and commenced to discover that I
had q prediction for all the magnificent
bizzazries and delicious incompatibilities
Of the wolien-L mean the men of that
fascinating race.
1 sent in to M. Dessinaar regularly for
four weeks the impressions of Karjak"
and received in return my $50 francs; be-
sides which had the pleasure of seeing
him as well advertised as any journalistic
writer ever is by the French custom, which
is widely different one from ours.
Presently, too, at my mothers weekly
receptions, Was heard mention of Karjak.
Who was hep Did we know? Did know?
Since had been lately in Russia, perhaps
had something to tell of him, his person
atty, age, estate? And one young and
beautiful woman even went so far as to tell
me in confidence that she was much taken
with his style, his thoughts, his wit, hu-
NOR, esprit and half Russian Tartaric way
OF looking at the amenities of Partisan So
cial Lis.
She declared that she had made up her
mind definitely to know him; that M.
Dessinoir was an intimate friend of hers,
and thar he had promised her only that
very day most faithfully that he would
use his best endeavors to bring the Comte
Karjak to her next evening at home.
said to her 'How delightfull'' and
thought "How dreadful What will M.
Dessinoir do?" and then all this passed out
of my mind as caught the drift of the
conversation of two literary men who
stood on the other side of me.
"Oh," said one, che is a novice, that is
too evident Still your Karjak is enor-
mously clever. Slav an bout des ongles--
Q little raw and barbaric still''
"You ara mistaken, =" returned the other.
"I am convinced that this new light in
our Figaro is man of experience, consid-
N1b1lS oSSs ttLo fNAAdPS tllCo OsAU w I'LL
what is called the world -
/ turned away. The situation was too
much for me- rushed over to my young
friend, Pauline A., and took refuge in dis
cussing with her the gown l was next
week to wear as her bridesmaid at Notre
Dame de I4orette.
Two days later came my usual envelope
from Figaro, containing, besides the Gus
tomary check, IL note from NJ Dessinoir
inviting me, most courteously, to "a little
breakfast which he was about to take
much pleasUrein giving in my honor at the
Cafe Dignou, on any day that would be
50 conaescending as to mention"
In my homer! The Cafe Bignon! / al
Elost expired between laughter and nerv-
business. rs / put pen to paper, and If
haste ;:.Ss,lred NJ Dcssinoir that-what
should 1t hs?-'4;a sudden call into the
country on important business would de-
prive me Of the Infinite pleasure" And,
foresacing u possible, further step toward
M. Dessinoir' S fulfllment of his promise to
my pretty friend, also added that "be
ing foreigner was shy and perhaps it