The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-26

tempted by journalism. I gave an article
to the Chronique Illustrie, and this was
remarked by Emile de Girardin. Because
OF his influence was placed on the staff OF
La Liberte, where l earned 800 francs a
month. In the meantime 1 wrote several
tionales de la France 'Papiers inedits
de Saint Simon novel called 'Le
Dernier Trenholm and a comedy, 'Je
Dejeune Midi La Liberte, lie Bien
Public and LIE Petit Journal published sew.
eral of my artistic and literary criticisms"
But already M. Drumont dreamed of q
more serious work, and each day he col
lected documents and facts as prepare.
ton for the work which began a new era in
France-"La France Juive."
Well do we rem ember the excitement
made by the appearance of this book. II
was revelation, a revelation which caused
the most violent polemics. Many were
the duels fought by NJ. Drumont, the most
notable that with NJ. Arthur Meyer, direc.
tor of LIE Gaulois. Not in the least dis
couraged, NJ. Drumont published in the
following years 'La France Juive Devant
POpinion," Testament dun Antisemite'
and lie Secret de Fourmies." The entire
social, political and intellectual life of the
country is resumed in these books. But
after creating his party the chief of anti
Semitism found it necessary to give his
party daily organ, and in April, 1892 he
founded La Libre Parole. Then recon-
menced lawsuits and duels. M. Burdean,
the late Speaker of the Chamber of Depu-
ties, was the first to drag M. Drumont into
the law courts, and the director of La
Libre Parole found himself condemned to
three months in prison and $4,000 francs
fine. M. Drumont spent the three months
in the prison OF Ste. Pelagie, but each day
of his imprisonment the Libre Parole pub
lished an article by its director over the
signature "Silvio Pellico." During these
three months the journal carried on cam
paign against the Panama canal project, a
campaign which terminated by the defeat
of politicians who had accepted brides. In
July, 1894, after the laws made against the
press, NJ. Drumont, feeling that reaction
airy wind would blow upon the independ-
emit press, decided to go to Belgium. Not
long after he was tried before the Paris
courts and condemned by default to three
months in prison. The recent amnesty
has annulled this condemnation.
While the offices of La Libre Parole on
the Boulevard Montmartre are almost
luxurious in furnishing, the home of M.
Drumont in the Rue de 'Universite, at the
foot of the Eiffel tower, is simple. How
ever, I'll. Drumont owns country seat at
Soisy- Etiolles, and here he is very
fond of shutting himself in his study, far
from the noise of the boulevards.
As l entered the pretty cottage, which
has no window on its unim posing facade.
NJ. Drumont exclaimed: s'The simplicity
of my home astonishes you, does it notp
My poor cottage is very different from the
mansions you have admired all along the
route. 1t is the home of an honest literary
man, who has just enough to live upon.
If, instead of writing, had consented to
be quiet, to-day / should be millionaire,
but prefer cottage and the freedom of
my pen."
The cottage is simply furnished; the din
ing-room is rustic, with but one rich piece
of furniture. This is dresser of most
elaborate workmanship. NJ. Drumont
says that this dresser was bought with the
money received for his first book, and that
its purchase was the only extravaganza of
his life. The study is in the second story /;
the view Of this room is magnificent; cas-
tie after castle appear in the distance, and
sthese." says M. Drumont, "belong to rich
financiers, principally Jews" Mr.. Dru-
mont's chamber has for furniture bed
and a mahogany washstand.
state Of nature. No effort has been made
at cultivation, for M. Drumont is devoted
to pretty weeds. There is poultry yard
and stable for Bob, the little white
donkey. IA. Drumont never writes in the
morning. He rises very early, spends
some moments in devotional exercise and
then walks, or saddles Bob, and takes long
rides, sometimes as far as Champrosay,
where lives his friend, Alphonse Daudet
Then he returns and fences until the hour