Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-09
NINE. DUMAS Az HOME
MISS BROOKS TELLS OF HER VISIT
TO THE WIFE OF THE NOVELIST.
THE CHATEAU AT NARLY.
sGrdOu. the Playwright, and Flea
nora Duse, the Great Italian
Actress, Entertained-Ar Amusing
IncideDt-Statue of LOie Fuller.

Miss Nancy Brooks, who arrived here
recently from Stratford-on- Avon, has
been recognized in England as a reader of
rare accomplishment and ability. She is
a pupil of Miss Scrivenor. Of London.
and Mr.. Ben Il. Greet, in whose stock
company she played prominent parts for
several seasons. Her last appearance on
the stage was in the Sign of the Cross"
and the press notices she received were
highly flattering and enthusiastic
Miss Brooks had always been ambitious
to become a reader. and she served her
apprenticeship on the stage as a means
of improving her technic. She was not
enamored with the life behind the scenes,
and finding that it interfered with her
social duties, she left il, when she felt
that the end she sought had been az
tanned.
Miss Brooks has appeared with equal
success in Paris as in London, and during
her travels on the Continent she met
Madame Dumas, the widow of the great
French novelist, who entertained her.
She is. of course, an enthusiastic admirer
of the eminent Frenchwoman, and talks
very eHteIldlIlHSly VI Hei ieNtPliOh AZ
Marty lie Roi.
a VISIT TO MARLY
Il suppose most people would be glad
TO receive an invitation from Madame
Dumas" said Miss Brooks TO Dispatch
reporter. "Then, pray imagine my de-
light when such an invitation reached me
last summer.
1T was almost p. NJ. when the train
arrived in Paris; Madame was there
anxiously awaiting me.
II am staying at my country house, at
Marty lie Roi, she said, and II VIII be an
hour before the train starts. Come TO a
cafe and have something 10 eat. You
must be dying
Madame is charming--such pretty man.
ners Indeed for the matter of that,
| came to the conclusion before l LETT
France that Frcnchwomen have far bet
ter manners than the ordinary English
women. They are not ashamed TO try to
please. The English woman IS good I'M
derneath. but her everyday behavior IS
gauche, rough, tomboyish.
Behold my Madame Dumas then, or
middle height, plump, head beautifully
set on her shoulders, brown halr' unged
with gray. fair skin with pretty pink
color. and blue eyes.
well we reached Marty at last; low
carriage and pair of sweet, black
ponies awaited US. Madame took the
reins and away we flew up the straight
village street, ?
"As we drove into the courtyard l
thought about a score of servants came
ont TO meet us. carrying lanterns, but
afterwards discovered that l multiplied
too fast
fascinating supper was served In
the dining-room. The table glittered with
silver and glass. But | was too urea 10
do Justice to the good things. l could
only keep my eyes open by pinching my
arms every few minutes.
So Madame and her maid. Maria, es-
corted me 10 my room. Now mere Is d
strange thing to be found In many
French country houses. The family sleep !
i'm one house and the guests in another
called. in this case, "le pavilion" Here |
had a dear little suite of rooms, hung |
with quaint patterned chintz, garlands |
of roses flung all over IL, and the turni-
ture upholstered in the same.
Madame's own private rooms are fur-
nished in white and blue. She is very |
fond of blue. She knows it suits her |
eyes. the coquette.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CHATEAU.
The chateau OF Champ Feury is very
prettily situated on rising ground, and /
the whole enclosed in high stone walls.
There are all sorts of pretty winding
paths about the garden, and in the front
a large plaster cast of Dumas pere rep
resented in a sitting posture. 1t was get
ting green with exposure when 1 was
there. but Madame was about TO have
It done up. and an honored place In
some public institution had been found
for IT,
The chateau itself Is part of an old
house built in the time OF Louis XIV.
1t was partly destroyed at the great
Revolution. and has since been partly
rebuilt. Past the dining, morning, and
runs veranda. covered
IN with glass. and seats. busts. &C, are
placed along 1t, one statue OF Loie
Fuller. given by her TO Dumas fills, who
much admired her wonderful talent.
The staircase and upper landing are
hung with tapestry. and then, as you
near the dressng-room. the walls are
lined with books.
The drawing-room is hung and finished
n blue. deity blended by the artistic
Eye OF Madame. At one side is a beaut-
'ul toned grand piano to which Madame