The morning call., 1893-06-25

and affection is Alexandra Dumas, the
younger, whom | met first at the age of 81.
We became chums almost at once. He
was the first to encourage me. | may say
that he was my first protector. | never see
him now. but as long as live / sha never
forget his Kindness To me nor the debt
that | owe him. He introduced me TO
his father, he worked with me in cola bo-
ration We wrote together play called
formed at the Gymnase, and a comedy
in three acts entitled ONE Jours de
Siege, which was performed at the Vaude-
vile Theaier. | was living then on a
small pension allowed ME by my father,
and had dreams of wealth which led me
into one or two SpeculatiOns at the bourse
which did not realize my dreams, may
add. But | derived some benefit from my
freque ntation of the coulisses of the bOurse,
for it was there that | got to know the
romance of commerce, the fever of bust
ness. which l have often described and
| used in my novels.
while specializing at the bourse and
collaborating with Hignard In operette
and chaDson. and with Alexandra Dumas
in comedy,1 contributed short stories to
the magazines. My first work appeared
in the 'Musee des Families where you
can find story of mine about mailman
in balloon, which is the first Indication
of the line of novel that was destined to
follow. was then secretary to the Lyric
| Theater, and afterward secretary to Mr..
Perrin. adored the stage and all con-
| necteG with it, and the work that [ have
enjoyed the most has been my writing for
the stage.
II was % when I wrote my first scientific
novel: That was Five Weeks in a Bal
Loom 1t was published by HetZel in 1861,
and was great success at once"
l here interrupted Mr.. Verne and said 4:
Il want you to tell me how you wrote
that novel and why, and what preparation
you made for it. Had you anv knowledge
of ballooning, any experienced"
None whatever" replied Mr.. Verne.
Il wrote Five Weeksin Balloon OF as
story about ballOoning, but as story about
Africa. | always was greatly Interested
in geography and travel, and | wanted to
give romantic description of Africa
travellers through Africa otherwise than IN
a balloon, and that is why balloon was in
tr0duced. At that time / had never made
an ascent. Indeed, have only once trav-
eled in balloon in my life. That was
at Amiens, long after my novel was
published 1t was only 'Three;,quar.
tiers of an Hour in Balloon,
Tor we had a mishap in starting.
GODDARD, the aerOnaut, was kissing his little
boy just as the balloon rose, and we had to
take the lad with US, and the balloon vas
so weighted that it could not 90 far. We
sailed as far as Longeau, the junction You
passed on your way here. ] may say that
at the time 1 wrote that novel, as now, 1
had no faith in the possibility of ever
steering balloons. except in absolute stag
nant atm osphere, as in this room, for in
stance. How can a balloon be made TO
lace currents running at six, seven or
eight meters to the second? 1t is q mere
dream, though l believe that if the CUES
ton is ever to be solved it will be with a
machine which swill be heavier than the
air, following the principle of the bird,
which can fly. though it is heavier than
the air which it dlsplaces."
Then you had no scientific studies to
90 upOn?"
None whatever. may say that have
never studied science. though In the course
OF my reading | have picked up great
many odds and ends which have become
useful. l NAV tell you that | ain great
reader and that l always read with the
pencil in the hand. l always carry note
book about with me and Immediately jot
down, like that person in Dickens, any
thing that interests me OF may appear to be
OF possible use in my books. To give you
an idea of my reading, l come here every
day alter i1nch and Immediately set to
work to read through fifteen different
papers, always the same fifteen. and can
tell you that very little in any of them es-
capes my attention.
when see anything of interest down
it goes. Then read the reviews, such as
the Revue Bleup. the Revue Rose, the
Rsyue des Deux Mondes. Cosmos. Tissan-
dier's La Nature. Flammarion's L'Astron-
omie. l also read through the bulletins of
the scientific societies. and especially those
Of the Society of Geography. for mark,
geography is my passion and my study.
| have all Reclus' works-I have great
admiration for Eiisee Reclus-and the
whole of Arago. also read and reread. for
] am most careful reader, the collection
known as lie Tour de Monde which is
series Of stories of travel. have thus