The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06
A. WAIE OF THE REYOLuIlOM

The Adventures of Francois" the new story by Dr. s. Weir Mitchell, au- thor of Hugh Wynne," is running as a serial in The Century. The author, in the subtitle, describes his hero as Founding, Thief, Juggler and Fenc- ing Master During the French Revolu- tion." In the February number of the magazine there is the following ac- count of one of the tricks of Francois and his pet dog Toto:
 Francois. as he used to relate, hav- ing risen in his profession, found a certain pleasure in good clothes, and being of dramatic turn, could put on an air of bourgeois sobriety, or. with a sword at his side and a bit of lace here and there. swagger as a lesser gentle man. If things were very bad, he sold Toto and all his fine tricks for round sum, and in a day or two was sure to find the dog overjoyed and back again at the garret door. The pair were full of devices. There was Toto a plated snuff box in his mouth, capering be- fore some old gentle or some slow pac- ing merchant; appears Francois, re- sistlessy smiling.
 Has monsieur lost a snuff box?"
 My dog? Yes, monsieur; but he Is honest and clever, tOO.
 Monsieur, hastily searching, produces his own snuff box-the indispensable snuff box of the day.
 NO; thanks" And it is noted that the box he shows is of gold, and into what pocket 1t falls. In the next crowd Toto knows how to make disturbance with some fat lap dog, and in the con- fusion thus created the snuff box changes owners.
 If the man be sorry I at least am made happy" says Francois; and he hath been the better for a lesson in caution. I got what I needed, and he what he required Things are very even in this world" Francois had learned philosophy among the cures and priests of the choir house. AS he avoided great risks, and, as 1 have said, was averse to violence, he kept clear of detection, and could deceive the police of the King if by rare chance he was in peril of arrest. When the missing property was some minor arti- cle, such as a handkerchief, it was in- stantly hid in Toto's mouth. The dog skipped away, the outraged master was searched; the bewildered owner apologized, and the officers were shock ed at such a needless charge. Francois talked about his offended honor, and as he looked at 20 to be a strong man of
 
 further.
 Half the cleverness and thought thus devoted to an ignoble pursuit would have given him success in more honest ways. But for long time no angel chance tempted him, and it must be admitted that he enjoyed the game he pursued and was easily contented, not agerly caring to find a less precarious and less risky mode of life.
 Temperament is merely a permanent mood. Francois was like the month of June in his dear Paris. There might be storms and changes, but his mental weather had the pleasant insurance of what was in the order of his despotic nature. To be the owner of the con- tinual sunshine of cheerfulness has it's drawbacks. It deprives man of some of the wholesome lures of life. It dulls the spurs which goad us to resolve. It may make calamity too easy of en- durance. To be consistently cheer full may be in itself a misfortune. It had for this vagrant all the values and some of it's defects. His simple, gay existence and his flow of effervescent merriment kept him happy and thoughtless. Most persons of this rare type like company, but Francois was an exception. He was better pleased to be alone with his dog and usually desired no other company. AS the pOouie COuiu HOt ttlh ilo iidotei was given to making answers for him. and finding no one to his taste among the Crabs villainous lodgers, kept to him. self and was satisfied. Nor did he ever appear to have imagined what the larger world he knew not held of human society which would have com forted that void in his heart which he acknowledged at times. but had no way to fill. When fortune played him some sorry trick he laughed and un- | consciously quoted La Rochefoucauld. Toto, ah, my Toto, one can never be as cunning as everybody" This was apropos of an incident which greatly amused him.