The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-28

enlargement, but the majority eX-
pressed themselves after this fashion:
''Such tremors are incurable. As ma
! ture has formed us bold or ti1nid 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
| jected to the fatalism of these observa-
tions, and one said: IF you ask for
converted miser, | can show you one.
! Here he is l am one"
The man, who said this was popular
dramatist, noted for generosity. His
statement was received with ejacula-
tions of 'Nonsense!' ''Impossible,'
''Do you expect us to believe that
''Indeed." answered he, quite seriously,
Il speak the truth. l was a miser, al
though now, | trust, l am such no
| longer If you would care to hear it,
| will relate to you the story of my con-
version It was effected by child's
tear" All present Immediately crowd
/ ed around him. and heard from his lips
the following recital:
| In 1884" said the dramatist, 81 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 were from Marseilles. One
was from a theatrical manager, inform
ing me that he intended bringing out
my new piece there and that he desired
my presence at the final rehearsals of
the drama. With regard to remunera-
ton for my trouble | might make my
own terms in reason. The second let
ter, very brief one, ran thus: Mon
sieur, the wife and daughter of your
brother are dying of want. Some hum
dreds of francs will save them, and l
doubt not that YOU viii hasten to visit
connections 50 near to you and make ar
engagements for their present and future
comfort This letter bore the signature
of Dr. Lamber of Marseilles.
LAS | have already told You, l was
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 ex-
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 his approaching marriage with d
fisherman daughter, |. ia my misera-
BILE pride and miserliness. had replied
that in marrying pennilesS girl con-
sldered that he was doing a most fool
ish and degrading action. | was even
wretch enough 20 advise him to break
off the match if that were still possible
Nv brother. like the honorable man he
was welded the girl he loved. Ny sis
ter-in-law. who was d higl-spirited Bre-
ton. never forgot my letter, and de-
spised its writer. When she lost her
husband and found herself in need it.
was long ere she could bring herself 70
apply to me. But the sight Of her only
child wasting away from sheer want
J had at last broken down her pride.
As the engagement at the MarSeiiles
theater seemed lileivto prove q highly
profitable one. ]. as you. might expect,
lost no time in accepting the offer. ]
wrote oft to the manager at onee. and
followed my letter IN person with as
( little deIav as possible When arrived
at the principal hotel Of Marseilies
encountered there. ii the act IF Inqulr-
ing for me. the doctor who had written
in my sister-in-laws behalf. As !
had not replied 10 his letter, the good
man had said in MS simplicity: lie psiil
BE here n person. ard had booked for
( ne every dgv. .Aou have lost no zine.
( 80 - sTse,,v a. f.szs y-ys., fftr-sr~g4.