Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ALEXANDRA
DUMAS; By Harry A. Spur Ne sS,, a8rR
Breutano's.
One Of the most entertaining books OF the
season is this story of the life of Father
Dumas The author has undertaken to tell
the reader who Dumas was. what he did
which books he wrote and which he did not
and what his associates and the critics nave
said of his work. The centenary OF the
birth of Dumas, this is an appropriate year
for the publication and perusal of the record
of his wonderful literary achievements. Mr.
Spur adopts Mr.. Henley's summary OF Du-
mas character an epitome which the au-
thor says he has not bettered in all his
reading L; follows:
In life he was very much of a scape-
grace and madcap and even more OF prod
igal. His morals were loose. he was van IS
only man of color can be- his literary con-
scierCe was (to say the LEAST imptifeci,
his veracity was that of the romantlquss III
general he could-and dd-commit astonlsh-
ing offenses in taste; but his humanity was
boundless in degree and incorruptble In
quality, he was generous to fauit' ne Is
not known to have dealt single bioW-lhe
fact is that he was prodigy OF ga!ety'
kindlinesS and charm, and prodigy OF tenn
perament and power, and capacity or NE
and invention and achievement. He talked
still better than he wrote. and he wrote
without any affectations of style and with
an ease a gusto, a sincerity OF mind, com
bitterness of method that are irresistible.
And the lesson of his greater books Is one
by which the world may well have prohted.
Love honor friendship, loyalty. Vaior,
the old ChivalriC virtues-these were MS
darling themes and he treated them with a
combination of energy and insight, OF gooo
sense and good feeling, of manliness OF
mind and beauty of heart that has ranked
him with the greatest benefactors OF the
age
The most serious charge brought against
Dumas as an author Is that he wrote Tor
MONEY!" Mr.. Spur denies that money was
the prime object of Dumas labors. he
says: Before and after the writing of
story the man of business was keenly alive
in Dumas. as in all shrewd authors; once
plunged into the story the man became the
artist: he had no thought but Tor the STORY
and the best way of telling IT.
In this day of a multitude OF historical
novels it is interesting to read Dumas de-
scription of his early ideal of the historical
romance. He wrote:
THE great difficulty Gt seems to us) is
TO avoid two errors-not to alternate the
past as history has done; not to disfgure
1t, as the romance does. The only way 10
steer clear of both these mistakes VIII De
then Immediately one has chosen one
historical epoch to study thoroughly the
interests which moved the three classes OF
society-the people, the nobility ana roy
alty-at that time: to choose from among
the principal perSonages of those classes
such as took an active part In the events
to be comprised in the narrative; and to IN
quire minutely concerning their appear
ance. character and temperament, so that
whilst making them live, speak and act in
this triple unity, one may show the deVel-
opment in these historical types OF the
passions which brought these catastrophes
which are recorded in the pages or the
century by dates and facts, and in which
f,ta 20 nIlhl show
ing them the actual living manner In
which the same deeds were added to his
tory
The book is full of anecdotes showing
various sides Of Dumas character. A good
illustration OF his facility, which also shows
him in one of his open air moods. is quoted
in this book from Blaze de Bury
One day Dumas had been out shooting
since 6 in the morning, and had killed TWEEN
ty-nine birds.
'I'l just make It thirty" he said; then
I'll go away and have good sleep. I'm
tired; I've done enough"
He brought down his thirtieth partridge,
and We saw him making his way toward
the farm. When we returned at O'Clock
he was sitting before the fire in the kitchen,
gazing at the flames and twirling his
thumbs.
Whatever are you doing there?" asked
his son.
LAS you see. I am resting"
Have you had any sleep?"
mo impossible! There is such an abomi-
nable uproar in this farm-sheep, cows la
borers-its impossible to close ones eyes"
"Then all this time you've been twirling
your thumbs?'
NO, have written a play in one act"
As a matter of fact. he has just written
"Romulus." which he amused himself by
getting Regnier to read at the Coincide
Franchise az being by "a young unknown
writer" 1t was accepted with unanimity.
ROGER WoLCoTT. BY William Lawrence. Bos-
Houghton, Mfiin Co. Washington:
BrentanO's
Roger Wolcott died just two years ago,
and the time which has elapsed is too short
to enable biography of the appropriate
perspective to be prepared. But while his
memory is freshest in mind 1t is well that
a sympathetic pen has sketched the career
which won so much admiration from the
people not only of Massa chusetts. but of
other commonwealth as well. The late
Governor Wolcott was a man to win esteem
and respect in any relationship and his ad-
nlirers believed that the political field was
widely open to him. He was only fifty
three when ne died, and life held MANY nos
sibiities. He had just declined position
on the Philippines commission, and imme-
diately preceding his death he had de-
clined also the appointment as ambassador
10 Italy. His desire was retirement but
TO come to Washington TO fill an enga ge-
ment as one of the chief speakers at the
ceremonies concentrating the first CEN
tennial of the removal OF the capital to the
District. The story Of his life is simply
told, with deep feeling. and Is Illustrated by
portraits of Roger Wolcott at different
ages. A suggestive picture is added. show
ing him, as governor. presenting to the off,
GERS or the 9th Massachusetts Regiment of
Volunteers their commissions to serve in
the war with Spain. Throughout that
struggle he displayed the highest spirit of
Americanlsm and subsequently stood with
the President In the execution of the new
policies 10 which the war gave birth.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA
CLAUS. BY l.. Frank Baum. With many
pictures by Mary Cowles Clark. Indianapolis
The Bowen Merrill Company.
Mr.. Baums ventures into juvenile fiction
have all been happy. His Father Goose.
book issued a few seasons ago was most
welcome and now his story of Santa Claus
lends an added charm TO that ever new con-
tribution 10 the happiness of childhood He
has conceived the early life OF Claus, show
ing him in his youth and then In his strong
manhood and in the days when he was be-
slowing bounties upon the little ones while
yet a mortal. Then the tale shows how
Claus obtained Immortality and was per-
United to remain within reach Of his be-
loved children that he might continue for
ever to carry brightness and Joy to them
at Christmas. The tenderest spirit per-
vades the story, which is instructive as