The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-22
Fighting Over an Nncestor
A DUEL AND A LAWSUIT OVER A QUESTION
OF PEDIGREE

Not many months ago, as some of
our readers may remember, we printed
curious traslation from the French,
entitled "The Rabbi Abarbanel." It's
author was the late Villiers de PIsle
Adam, a brilliant but most eccentric
man of letters. Many good stories are
told OF him along the Paris boulevards.
Not the least amusing is that wherein
some graceless Bohemians convinced
him that, by reason of his ancient fam
lly, the great powers had chosen him
to occupy the then vacant throne of
greece. DE Flsle Adam took the mat
ter with the utmost seriousness, and
was only undeceived when his hopes
were blasted by the selection of the
present King George.
Another story which is told of him
relates that one evening, strolling along
the street, he saw at the door Of the
Porte st. Martin theater a billboard
announcing play called "Perrinet
Leclerc," by Lockroy and Bourgeois;
IN large type at the head was displayed
as one of the characters his famous
ancestor, Marshal Jean de PIsle Adam.
He at once applied for admission. The
Porte St Martin theater was at that
time under the management of a very
worthy fellow, named Paul Cleves, who
had been, in his time, good actor. and
who, though not literary himself, was
full of respectful admiration for the
literary merits of others. He had a
reverence not unnnixed with awe for
the eccentric genius of Villiers, and he
hurried with outstretched hands to
meet him and place him in the man
agerial box, so that he might not lose
a word nor gesture of the actor per-
sonifying that famous warrior whose
descendant the poet was.
But, after the second act, Villiers re-
appeared in the unfortunate Cleves'
private room, pale, trembling and
br1stling with fury. Sir" he cried.
with tragic gesture, two ignorant
and conceited clowns, Lockroy and
Bourgeois, have endeavored to degrade
one of the most illustrious warriors of
the fourteenth century, whose name it
is my glory to bear, and whose reputa-
ton it is my duty to defend You have
allowed this infamy to be committed.
and | call upon you, sir, to withdraw
the play tomorrow
but, my dear Villiers, it is impos-
sible!" cried Cloves, when he had re-
covered from his profound astonish-
ment. Consider! It would be my
ruin. 1t would be certain bankruptcy
My engagements
Ruin, bankruptcy, engagements!
These are nothing to me. You should
have warned me before you accepted
this nonsensical stuff"
II never accepted it. 1t has been in
the repertoire since 1S34in
Enough, said. l understand you to
| refuse? Very good, shall apply to
the authors-the authors, say Where
are the authors?"
"They are dead!"
well for theml But they have left
children, heirs, representatives. shall
look for them. For the last time.
Cleves, do you refuse to withdraw the
play?"
The unlucky manager had become
speeches., but he made sign with his
head which seemed to signify that it
was impossible to grant such a re-
quest.
Very well, them" said the poet, ''you
and your accomplices shall hear from
mel" And he went out in fury
.Villiers de PIsle Adam had an idol
atrous worship for the memory of his
ancestors, and this unlucky so-called
historical drama by Messrs. Lockroy
and Bourgeois represented the Marshal
de PIsle Adam as a disloyal nobleman
and an abominable traitor to his own
country, to his poor, mad king, deliv-
ering both over to the English power.
and aiding Henry ". to place upon his
own head the crown torn from that Of
the rightful sovereign. All this was
absolutely contrary to the truth. Jean
de pIsle Adam refused the splendid Of
fers Of Henry v, who cast him into
the bastille, whence he emerged only
after that princes death. Thencefor-
ward he warred ceaselessly against the
British. Such are the historical facts
of the case. But the authors Of per
rinet Leclerc" cared little for that. To
those makers of melodramas, history
was but mine to supply their own
lack of imagination. and Its personages
merely obliging dummies, to be dress
ed up in glory or infamy, according to
the needs Of their case, They wanted
safS