The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-28

on the drama of the day was very marked.
After the production of Hugo's Hermann
I'm 1879 the Romantics had run riot on the
French stage Tor five or ten years, until
they began rapidly to 20 TO seed. The
production OF the Dame aux Camelias'
In 1S2 changed the whole front OF the con-
temporary drama; II revealed 10 the many
competent and clever dTamatists of the
day the possibilities OF modern life. and
1t suggested the best method OF treating
the problems OF modern life In the theater
NJ. mile Angler. for instance. was writing
pretty and poetic plays before 1852, but 1t
was after 1852 that he wrote his fine series
OF social satires. And on others, on
Theodore Barrere. on NJ. Victorien Sardou.
on NM. MeiIhac and Halevy his influence
was not less marked. In 1884 Dumas was
made q commander Of the Legion of
Honor.
Dumas in his latter days was very
rich. He had a charming chalet near
Dieppe, which was mantled with ivy and
filed with pretty furniture and valuable
pictures. Then he had a splendid house
in Paris which contained marvellous treas
urcs Of art. Dumas was a strong and
vigorous man. who bore his years we'll.
and with his keen eyes twinkling with
wit and malice. his short. brush-like
moustache. robust appearance and erect
stature. he ave the impression that he
was either a general on half pay or a
retired planter.
At tho time of the killing OF Mrs. Dea-
cons paramour at Nice ny the woman's
husband. Dumas delivered himself OF
certain highly proper opinions on the sub
Jet OF morality which prompted the
Marquise de Fontenoy TO write:
ITO any one who is acquainted with the
history OF Alexander Dumas this new in
carnation OF his. In the role Of an arbiter
of the moral code. is intensely anus
ing, for there is no Frenchman living to-
day who possesses a more infamous rec
ord thar Alexander Dumas, and there
are few more horrible stories in exist
ence than that OF his intrigue with the
beautiful Russian Countess de NesselTode.
who, coming TO Paris a comparatively
pure, virtuous and respectable woman.
was depraved by him TO such an extent
that from sheer viciousness She adopted
the life OF a COurtesan. he acting the
while as her counselor. her guide and her
mentor in this ignoble pursuit. At last
the scandal became SO great that the
Emperor or Russia invoked the assistance
of Napoleon III. The countess was ar
rested as insane and sent back 20 Russia,
where she was placed under restraint.
This was a fresh source OF dismay 10 Al
exandcr Dumas. for the countess. who
was the dauEhter-in-law Of the famous
Russian chancellor. Ncsselrode, possessed
I'm her own right "a large income. amount
NIX NO 0Ntk ENHFE q Nt4Ar AAN +Aofs III
ablod Dumas 10 live on the fat Of the
land during his intimacy with her.
Moreover. Il should not he forgotten
that Dumas IS indebted for his present
name and fortune mainly % his morbid
and fantastic idealization and gIoridc7tion
~ The courtesan In la Dame aux Came
las This work has always appeared 70
me as vicious Bra the extreme, and q IS Ger
tainly difficult O. nnd anything more 0Ios-
phemaus than tho use Of the words.
much would re parione1 10 her. because
she h23 loved much over the tomb Of
the Geml-morde. Marguerite Gauthier.
Alexander Dumas lis the great grand
son ~ the Marquis De IN Paillcterie and
| ~ q San Domingo uegra. He Is NOT. how
/ ever. a legitimate descendant. on the con-
/ tra~y. the noble blood OF the De Ia PsHle-
terle reaches h.m through three flegstt-
mate unions. and. I suppose. Inherited vice
( ~ .hr4 ktua tells iu the long run. Tor 7 no.
I ttce chat N. Dumas daughter. Nine. T-np-
mann. one - the ~hest-known amateur
/ actresses FIN France. has Just been divorced
from her husband. after barely five years
( wartIsgr. for reasons which L IS Best nct
~ enter irto here.
"Afevlaaer Dumas himself as r have
/ just mentioned. was nor mis- fathers leett-
I innate son. as be was already well in his
+ hovhaod when tNe famous author OF
( Monte C-'s,s married the popular variety
( actress. Ila Dorlugo. ~ The Porte Saint
/ N8rti0 tse8frr. she was q daughter az
the eute-0- sing individual NAa had So
+ curel the rr.v'ltg" ~ removing IN carts.
falsely described as t11 deTcS. the contents
( n the reSsy1Cls. Whi-H in those DAYS. ruu-
sftuturt an tUd.svcusa la feature ot egtrt
Partisan houee 7 may add that p-etl-
7uS. a0i I regret tn say subsequently,.
- hrr marriage wth N Dumas. tae flr
hut gal ia. who evidently had a fond
ness for literary men. divided her Iaeers
hatgKrar himself and his u,-st frt~.ats