The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-08
pure Food. Wright's Old Runkwhoof
L IA OO' Fashioned DughHn6QtI
WRiCHT'S MILLS, Berlin, Wis.

oument the case presents few divergent
features.
Dumas possessed In the highest de-
gree the characteristic. manly virtues,
the fantasy, inCiining to the baroque,
the emotional qualities, and the vulgar
tty that destined him for leadership in
war or peace, and finally compromised
by making him g, great dramatist Yes,
the vulgarity, too. Those who pro
nounced him an original thinker, ever
a paradox, deceived themselves. Du-
mas never expressed a new opinion; he
always said, with that assurance eS-
Sential to produce hypnotic suggestion,
the very thing his audience felt When
ever he charged with the bayonet of his
wit and his oIatory upon an obnoxious
law or some social usage. he was sure
to have the whole public with him.
Assuming the attitude of the pugilist,
or the grin1ances OF the SoothSayer, he
proposed solutions OF public questions
that hal long been in the iron stock
Of the Petit Journal leader writer's. The
form, mind, which he adopted for say
ing these tr1te things was peculiarly
his own and was so clever as to make
the subject seem new and original.
Dumas was the most suggestive dra-
matiSt that France has produced. Ar
his books and dramas told stories from
his own ljfe's history; re-echoed his
joys, his sOITOws; they defended, they
avenged n.m as the case might be Be
ing subject 10 strong emotions, his own
fate was always uppermOSt in his mind;
ne was incapable of adjective observa-
tom Everything that applied 10 his
case in the most distant relation was
eagerly solicited and absorbed IN his
writings; things not appealing 10 his
egcCiSIn had no existence as far as he
was concerned. Wherever his oInni-
present Il ran amuck Of others, he con-
Sideped himself Sinned against, and be
came possessed of the revengefG fury
of an Eastern Caliph. who engaged
hundred headSmen and wipes cities and
GOWNS off the face of the earth because
some stupid servant spilled his choco-
late.
Dumas was born out OF wedfo-l1. and
in his youthful days was sometimes
reminded OF this accident He avenged
himself by the wTathful play, The Ma
r1ral Son His mother led a gay life.
He never tired Of demonstrating, first,
that the sy>ducer must either marry his
victim or die; secondly. that Tespecta-
bic man may marry the woman with a
past without the loss Of dignity to him
self; thirdly, that p girl Is not diShon-
ored by her fall II hove played a part
In her drama
Dumas had personal reasons for dos
marriage relations: they stood IN the
way of his PASSIONS or whtU1S. There
upon without the least he's UatOn, he
advocated their abOlishulent, acting,
however, IN good faith. for whatever
pleased him he considered uaif and gen
orally biHdsng. Bismarck was some
what similarly Inclined while IN power;
Dumas. following the august example
Of the great chancellor. tried 70 influen-
&c legislation IN his imaginary world
where the existing laws cOndiCtsd with
his personal C1Gnfo-t.
II was easy and natural for Dumas
70 preach la,wlessness and combat the
usag@s q polite society for accida--
% 'biuth and education had placed him
outside the pale - society. is benefits
were not extended 20 him. he had moth
ing - lJs- by destroying Lhe1r Inauelces
Dumas faced ethics ard order Ike 8
savage, relying upon his own reso-r--
ces having nothing but them % fall
back On.
The creation O. history n did Tot -
spe--: the valuations q others were
uon-accep-able - IN unless he had
previously found them correct as Apply
ing % his own U.S.. Not unlike a Mac
e31l an Eireiiny VINO inv des an As-a-.c
sanctuary and estatl.slled The worth q
me t1nazes found che1e b. thetr weight
n gold Tr.tan,Ft ever thinking q the
noly- i-lss-es- They inspired . IRE fascA-
e. id Dumas confront CIVILIZATION
Dumas haE 10 schooling. al - knew
h acquired - turning over re leaves
n ne bo0l< - lie Think = =. be -
cane a member q me academy. grand
o1Ec-- q he IeziD1 az Honor. ne most
c-,.-sJrs ID d-a-natist q sTazc cssi-
tT1-,-I pA-rIs --.-h1ur knowing anything I.
a. <s- as scl1ooi e1Qcalcn goes
The Go1re remarks % ne phys1oio- 4
go aSpN~- - ~ Lz-e AleLz-drr d. Z
mas lfs- % MT p7e-e1d % - eIharls- i
we W-1oev@- -hslks himself czpsn5e 4
= giving al es1uafe q a rEcliv 81 I
5ovei man "a rvo cosu,1s ether ~ 4
-f-3s rs su1tec- 81 a rival s-gfg-, c. 4
J-e-s-a--1es rs own tsfsuss
MAX NORDAU"