New-York tribune., 1902-09-06
ALFRED DE NUSSEG'S DEATH.
cor~s ACCOUNT. AND THE DENIAL OF THE
POETS HoUsEKEEPER-
Paris, August "a.

POETS HOUSEKEEPER
Paris, August -.
,,,-o5 de >russet has become the topic Of the
day Newspapers TEEN with souvenirs ol
George Sands influence on the author OF the
..,crit 6.octobre" and the Confessions dun
E,4ar+ du Steele" Bookshop windows along
tba bo,,,evards and stalls ct the railroad sta
tfons owing to the popular demand are nlieo
with neat little satin paper editions OF Nh
6emoiseile Mimi Pinson. Les CapFlces ue
Marianne" lie Chandelier anc II ne iau'
iurer de rien.' The elegies and sonnets OF TIE
meet who more than any other coAoehseu 'e
ardor of the nineteenth century ana
presented its phases in verses from ""eN
eroanate something of the fragrance OF vlole's
are seen this summer at fashionable seaside
-asor+s snd watering places Publishers nave
baen taken by surprise by tnls fe'lEo' ot
,frsset Jules Claretie. Administrator OF Ihe
rra~,.s,a Francaise has seized the occasion 10
rapeat the description OF the death Of De MUS
se+ az told him by Got, the late dean OF the
actors Of the Theatre Francais who Claims u
have been an eyewitness TO the scene.
ar was indeed a treat" writes Claretie' 10
hear Got recount the incidents or his career.
II was in May, 1851. Reports circulated In the
green room of the theatre that Alfred de MUS
set was fatally Ill Cot wished 10 see ii'i oe
fore he died to express his frienashlP anu
votion The tragedian proceeded 10 the iiiou-
&C, LITTLE apartment in the Rue Thaoor' near
the TuIeries Gardens. He ran up the s'ahs
and rang the bell He found Mussel IN oeu'
with his face 10 the wall and his heao ourieu
in a large feather pillow. Got proHereo WINS
Of hope and sympathy But MS appear ai'ee
recalled 70 Musset's mind the days OF the bar
Cat
mart at the first performance OF II ne taut
turer de rien' Musset with a supreme elol'
drew himself up to sitting posture, ana win
b;s .ves bloodshot with fever. strangely con-
r,as,tng with the livid pallor Of his face eA-
clafnosd. SO at last you have come heIe' 10
see me die like an animal! Very well! LOOK
AT mel Isn't it beautiful sight? with theSe
words. according to Got, the poet ten hea''iy
on his bed, and shortly afterward passeo away
This dramatic account Of the death OF MuSSeI'
related to Jules Claretie by Cot mas h0"
aIicited a vigorous denial from Nine MAI 'eie'
u,bo Vas sor many years Alfred de Musset
bousekeeper and secretary, and VINO Is sim
alive and alert in spite Of her eighty-siA Seat'
When the venerable housekeeper read the nai
rative communicated by Got to jules LA e'ie
she became beside herself with anger anu
claimed; What, Did Got pretend to say that
assert that the poet, whose choice Of words ana
.,,rsee,ons was aIwavs SO delicate and re-
fined should have burst forth in language u
s,,ch vulgar brutality? Got never came 70 see
u,sset ard did not see him die" Nine mar
toilet forthwith wrote to Jules Clareue' WHO
courteously replied that at was diH1cuit 10 oehy
a recital that came from the lips OF "o'' o"'
that he would insert Nine. MarteieIs pio'9'I
alongside OF Cots narrative OF the occur eiiOe'
Nine Martenet wrote by return OF posi- hei
own story of the death Of Musset. which III su"-
stance is as follows:
ALFRED de Musset during the latter years OF
his life became deaf. Instead OF speaking u
him, used to write slate What We "aii'-
ed to say. He insisted that he heard Hios' ue
nghtful music. He used TO say 10 MS oiolnei
Paul, You never heard such music II Is CIV 'iiie.
He seemed amazed that neither Faul H'i :
could hear these celestial symphonies as nc
called them. On Nav ] Paul de Musset and l
were in Alfred de Musser's bedroom Seeing
Paul take his hat to go out, Alfred salo' II
is absolutely necessary that he remain WIN
me" Paul at once returned and sat besioe MS
brothers red I was about to go away, sup
posing that the Two brothers had something
confidential to say to one another. But Alfred
exclaimed You must remain. too came
back Alfred was seized with a long aho pam
full syncope- He then slept until lo;oo CLOCK
in the evening. when Paul went away say
ing, Z think he will pass comfortable nlshI-
Il sat at Alfred's bedside with my sister,
Nine Chardot. who took turns with me IN
watching Alfred awoke several tunes during
the night and pressed my hand, which ne had
never done before. He then took ooth my
hands In his and smiled. My sister salo' he
wants TO talk with you I answered lie is
thinking of some one very dear to him. we
thought that he getting better had been
up with him for twenty nights. ana was over
come With sleep. My sister suddenly awoke me,
saying that Alfred's breathing was short and
painful bent over him. / held a few drops
Of ether and ammonia before his face, TO as
sist his breathing. He fell dead in my arms.
All was Overt"
Alfred de Musset's sister, who is still alive,
also expresses vigorous indignation at the mar
rative related by Got to Jules Claretie, and has
written to Nine Martellet stating that Cots
narrative was a pure invention. and desiring
her TO deny ii, as she is the only person living
enabled TO do so, now that my poor Paul is
no longer here" Such is the evidence which
for the first time makes known how Alfred de
Musset died GLIB