The times., 1899-01-08
REAL CYRAN0 DE BERGERAC.

ttrOW the tflitt.)
The popularity of Mr.. Edmond Rcstands
brilliant play. at once the most lyrical and
the most scenic of modern dramas, has
given zest on both sides OF the Atlantic TO
the inquiry into the career and character of
the real Cyrano de Bergerac In fact,
few months ago, the FOrtnghtly brought
out an article by Mr.. Joseph Knight, bear
ing the very title under which l am writ
ing | believe. however. that | can give
an account from a somewhat different
point of view than that furnished the Brit
lsh monthly by this excellent writer.
Scholar wit, satirist, dramatist. duelist,
soldier. student under Gassendi. predeces-
sor of Moliere and of Swift and Voltaire
sole defender OF Mazarin against the pam
pheteers of the day, Cyrano de Bergerac
was a man OF mark in his time The age
of Louis Kills later days and OF Louis
XIVs minority had no brighter star until
that of MOliere climbed the skies, and Mo
Heres greatness was not evident during
the lifetime of his brilliant friend and
schoOlmate. Before Bergerac's retirement
from the army however. he was in char
, acter and conduct the very type from
which the elder Dumas drew his gasCOnad-
ing heroes. the immortal Mousquetaires.
The FOrtnightly writer denies that he WAS
. Gascon; but this contention is hardly
borne out by the facts. Although born in
/ Paris, he was certainly in blood, by rear
I ing, and in temperament genuine Gascon.
! Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac was born
I in Paris in the parish of Saint SauVeur
! early in the year 1913. His father wds
] Abel de Cvrano, Seigneur de Mauvieres;
his mother Esperence Bellanger. The lad
was brought up, however. in the country
near BergeraC in Perigord. where he at
tended the school OF the parish priest, one
/ KOstg ganger Il dominic as pedantic as the
schoolmasters in Shakespeare One of his
I schOelfelOws. Henri Lebret, became deep
" attached 10 him. and afterWard publish
/ ed his works and wrote that sketch OF his
career to which all subsequent biograPhers
have been mainly indebted.
Arstotelan logic WAS the chief study
taught by Father Kostgauger and the abb
surdities OF the old scholastic training
were among the first objects OF Cyrano
scorn and scathing ridicule. He rebelleC
also. even in his boyhOOd, against the siav-
4 ish attitude assumed by the students OF
that age toward the ideas of Greek anC
Roman writer's. Eager to attain knOwl-
edge he implored that he might be sen
to the college of Beauvais in Paris. His
father sent him up accordingly, trusting
him alone amid the dangers of the capital
The learning. however, which he foun'
there was thar of tte Principal Granger
y HON under a slight change of name h,
afterwards ridiculed in his comedy of 1t
Pedant JOue.
Not finding the intellectual life he ha,
so greatly desired, he plunged into the eX
elements cOngenial 10 a youth OF nine
teen boiling over with high spirits an,
already confident in his physical strengtl
and his speedily acquired skill in fence
/ His friend Lebret was already membe
OF NJ Carbon Castel- -jalouX's : company O
the Kings Body Guards, and he easily per
suaded Bcrgerac to Join the same corp
OF redouhtable Gascons. Young Cyrln
was soon honored by his comrades Wit
the sObriguct OF The Demon of Courage
Duels were the common amusement O
these young soldiers; and it was then tn
custom for the seconds to assist activel
in the combat of their principals. II va
natural therefore for every man who ha
au affair of honor on hand 10 look odt 70
| second of strength. activity and iutfepi
Valor Bergerac was lust such sWo: ds
, man and Bergerac was always ready
/ stand by a friend But II is the testmou
/ of his stanch friend Leb.et that thoue
/ he at one time had dueling appointment
1 for almost every day in he year, Berge a
never once engaged ih the 'luellO oil aC
count OF any quarrel OF his own. Thi
must have been due elthar to his bein
; so formidable an antagonist or hecaus
J., of his amiable disposition -pei haps
! | both.
Yet, in spite OF these bloody adventure
. Cyrano was not wholly remlss in h
= studies AS a fellow pupil o. Moliern. h
attended the classes OF Iaques ROhault,
scholar ot quite different type from Prin