The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-28

OF helg-board OF the most meagre sort.
There he had cruel experience. lie rarely
had sufficient food he was li-ciad. aai
Jared badly IN every way. HIS health SUI
fered from constant deprivation. The sole
comfort ne had was in talking With ths
mechanics and their families. and ooserv-
ing their habits and traits. an experiences
which was 10 be OF priceless value 10 h.m
hereafter.
Before long his surroundings. douaiy dis-
trsssful to a delicate nature ana ardent I'M
eesnatIon. became uncomfortable, and AZ sew
enteen years OF sge he and h.s brother. he
tween whom there was always ssroag
attachment. resolved 10 seek their fortunes
in Paris bis idea was 10 become poet
OF the poor. and he certainly was well
qualified for the position. The lads had
only few francs between them. but man
aged, by means Of strict economy. 10 reach
the metropolis at last, and Aiphonse -
once set 10 work. and in less than year
produced a volume. not Of songs 81 tho
poor but OF love poems. Les AInoureuses.
From that moment fortune began 10 smile
upon him. HIS verses naturally were iir1-
s.la,ure. but the fire. Of genius giowed n
them and attracted attention, Before lonS
he was welcomed as a contributor by the
Figaro and other prominent journals. ard
h.s poems excited the admiration OF ths
Due de Morny. who offered him thc posi-
ton OF private secretary. Thanks 70 me
Duke. he was enabled 20 travel. and 20
remain for some time IN Agiers Sardinia.
and Corsioa-there TO make the studies ot
which he made excellent use later on. He
remained for five years with NJ. de Moray.
whose cabinet provided an excellent post
OF observation for the study OF Parisar
life IN ali its phases During these five
years he published four volumes OF poemS
and the series OF articles 10 the Figaro.
entitled Les Geux De Province" which set
forth IN such vivid terms the degradation
and suler.ngs OF country schoomasterS
About this time, too. he began 10 write for
the stage. and produced a number OF more
or less successful plays. among which may
be named la Dern,ere Idole.' 'L'Desiet
Blanc" (played at the Francaise n 1850,
lie Frere Aine." la Sacrifice" ''i.isc
Tavern.er," and ''L'Arlesienne."
- But II was not "a playwright that hs
was 10 win lis chief fame. but IN ;hs
realm of realistic ficson. IL was IN lss
that ne published Les Lettres des mon
Moulin" which were followed IN quick sue
cession by .LettTes a un Absent. Les
Contes de Lundi." and ''Rober; HelInont.'
Then IN 1872 came the delightful ''Aven-
fssaE
con-" the popularity OF which soon be-
came Worldwide, and in iS7A Fremont
Jeune ct R.sIer Aine'' added still more TO
his fame and prosperity. Jack" which
was published In 1876. was Translated into
half-a-dozen languages. and had q trenle1-
dous circulation. and then came 'Le Ma
bab." with ITS keen satire az lEe ard per-
sonages under the Second Empire which.
perhaps was discussed more widely than
any OF It's predecessors.
Among the many volumes produced from
his indefatigable pen at this profile period
OF his literary life. are the charming "Rols
en- ExH.' ''Numa Roumstan.' supposed
10 be Gambetta: 'L'Evangeliste." Les
Femmes des Artistes." Tartartn sur rs
Alpes," la Belle Nivernaise.'' 'L'Imnor-
tel" the book whlch caused h.s exclusion
from the wrathfuI ranks OF the Academy:
Trent Ans de Par-s," Souvenirs a ua
Homme de Lettges' and Port Taras-
con-" which completed the Tartarn tFfl-
ogy II should be added that most q ttass
works were adapted for tho stage. ard
that some Of the plays proved exceedingly
successful and remunsratvc VI Dagtet.
indeed. after passing through his youthful
trials. enjoyed 20 the FUN ali possible re-
wards OF fame and fortune. Throughout
his career ne was a tireless worker. snf
a most severe and fssticious critic 81 his
own productions al his manuscripts be-
ing subjected 70 frequent and isb0riSuE re-
vision