The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-01

tinct, therefore. when It's present repre-
sentative dies. He has led a regular life.
He was never III. His food Is plain and
simple.
IN 1874. when he reached scarcely p
years Of age. ne wrote and published a
book Of verse. Most French writers make
their debut II literature by issuing such a
volume. AIphonse Daudet published one.
ard Emile Zola. when he was a boy,
penned r poem in honor OF the Madonna.
Jules Claretie writes that Dumas wgS a
sorgster before thought had developed in
in his brain. The book was entitled
'PecheS de Jeunesse-Sins Of Youth
The poems. if his effusions deserve such a
igniaed title. were love lyrics and mel
ancholv siesies on the dead These contri-
buttons were written in the DAYS % Du-
mas bovh0cd. when he was becoming
tired Of az Idle life. His next work was
entitled "LAffsire Clemenceau. a novel
which. when completed, he intended 20
sell 10 the publisher CABOT, hut on second
thought he considered that CADETS price,
so frances-SiE-was too insignificant.
He pigeon-holed the Ms. during many
years. 1t was published in $3.50 by Levy
Bros. and had a successful sale. Dumas
profits having been $500 francs or S.oa.
When he had decided TO retain the manu-
script OF "L'Affaire C-leneHceau.' he COM
menced writing his first drama. La Dame
aux Camelias.' whose real name was
Marie Duplessis. and whom Dumas immor-
talized by the name Of Marguerite eau
tier. Marie was a poor girl. born for
sorrow, and who was q victim OF Paris.
She hequeathed. while dying the profits
OF the sale OF her furniture 10 her niece,
who resided in a hamlet in one Of the
provinces, on the condition that the young
girl should never come to Paris. Her last
agony was Of a most luguhrious character
and the casket that held her remains was
followed TO the graveyard by three gentle
men. one OF whom was Alexandra Dumas,
who had been acquainted With Marie Du-
plessis and her sad life. Dumas drama
was the confession OF a heart Of -. Of one
who confided in love which only ended in
sorrow.
The drama Of la Dame aux Camellas"
transformed contemporary theatrical art
from romanticism 10 true portrayal OF
modern life. The truth-the bitter
truth" is the motto Of Dumas. said Stend-
hal. Between 1874 and 1854 he wrote the
following talented novels: Diane de Lys,
La Dame aux PEERLESS '~Trois Hommes
Forts. ''Antonine." l. Vie a Eingt ans
which translated into English are: Dian
Of Lily. the Dame of Pearls" Three
Brave Men" and life at Twenty
Years" Among his other plays. after
LA Dame aux Camelias" turned out TO
be such a success. were lie pemi-
monde" lie Pere Prodigue'-the prodigal
father-and his ideas OF Madame Az
bray Dumas. fills. adopted in his plays
the method suggested to him by his
father, which was to the effect that the
first act in its dialogue should be clear as
crystal: the last act be brief. and SHOULD
have the most fascinating interest
throughout. Dumas wrote lie Demi-
monde in a week. He writes all his
plays in the same rapid fashion. He de-
votes three hours in the forenoon and
three in the afternoon TO its composition;
but the characters. the wit and humor in
the dialogue, the various scenes and the
plot occupy his mind for an entire year
before he takes up the goose quill 10 write
his drama. There are very many correc-
tons in his revised manuscripts. The au-
thor OF The Three MusketeeTs' said one
day to his SON: Your copy is like a page
of music. one does not see on It hut bars
and several words" He wrote the last
act of ''Heloise Paranquet' in three
hours. hetween his breakfast and lunch
con. For each OF his first acts he uses
twenty pages Of large copy paper; for
the last act seventeen. When / Demi-
monde had been written and revised.
Dumas proceeded to the Gymnase theafer.
where the director. ". Montigny. read the
play, after which he refused TO accept the
narrative that closed the drama Of a sup
posed duel and a brutal death.
Take care" said NJ. MOntigny: II
warn YOU that the audience viii protest"
Perhaps So" said the author, hut the
audience win applaud afterward. I in
sist that the final scene be represented"
NJ. Montigny had to consent.
on the evening of the first representa-
ton the audience became fTiGid as an Ice
berg at the last scene. Dumas. pere, who
was sitting on a chair in a box near his
son. whispered 70 him: ooh. what a mis-
%fortune, To have spoiled a fine play by
such a scene was an absurdity.' When
the audience discovered that the "duel'
and the brutal death" were only irlag-
mary. a tempest Of braves swept through
the theater. and Dumas. hls, was ap-
plauded enthusiastically when he rose 20
leave. one of his more recent pamphlets
he has written several, among which are:
1.-THE Question of Divorce" THE Women
Who knl' and The Women Who Steal
The Homme-Femme." The Husband
Wife" is an eloquent and curious appeal
in favor % an intimate union Of heart and
soul. created one by the magical passion
of love. The author processes TWO prin-
ciples-the holiness Of marriage and the
possibility Of divorce.