New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-30

,,aors ard won MANY prizes In that time he
wrote a historical novel about the Crusades when
never was published: poetry. short stories ana
three play.
When he was eighteen money affairs became so
had that he was forced to interrupt his studies,
and with his grandfather. travelled to Paris
There however. funds were found to provide Tor
his further education and he spent two years at
the I.ycae Louis LIE Grand. devoting himself prlh-
c,naIIv to the study of French literature. At
twenty he found himself without degree neces-
sary for employment in a calling for whlch ne
was best fitted with two persons to support
He got a cerkshp in the Rue de Ia Douane. for
which he received 60 francs a month The work
was drudgery and. nreferrng starvation rather
than continue a task which he despised and hated,
he resigned He then went through eighteen
months of miserable bOhemianism, starving most
of the time and reduced to the most dreadful ex-
pedients to obtain even bread and cheese During
all this time however continued to write poetry.
He had no fire in these long and dreary months
in his living place Gt was no more). on the top of
q house in the Rue St Etienne du Mont, and it
was a great Joy him to have a candle. Bread
practically formed his sole food 1t was in this
life that he gained the knowledge shown in his
novels of the low life of Paris
He had shown a strong dislike for the classics
in his school days, and a great admrer of
victor Hugo and Alfred de Musset. He spent all
his leisure hours of doors, having a passion
for nature. TO this latter influence attributed
his many poems In these terrible years of his
early life in Paris he exhibited unblanching
spirit and courage. never hopeless. always perse
vering and confident of the outcome
In 1862 he obtained a situation book packer
at So a week In the publishing house of Hachette.
and two years later made his literary debut with
'Contes a Ninon." In the following year. besides
numerous articles and novelties contributed
Paris journals he began series of critical studies
for the 'Salut Public of Lyons afterward col
lectcd in the volume. Mes Haines." In 1866 he
resigned from Hachette's to appear in "LEvene-
ment" as critic and subsequently feuetoniste.
He caused much offence in artistic circles by his
Mon Salon." 1t was not until 1871 that La For
tune des Kougon,' the first of his long meditated
series of novels. Les Rougon-M aCquart. was pub
lished. One by the others appeared. but only
with moderate success, until bhe publication OF
'.L'Assommor," the immense and immediate sue
cess of which created a stronger demand for the
on his position among the prominent living authors
TaS prncpaiiv With the life and Vices Of the lower
CLASSES, received much adverse comment from
luHUriousiy and costly furnished dwelling fei
had country house. at Medan inciosing a park
and chalet. and in front OF which is an island
In 1898 zola championed the cause OF Captain
Alfred Dreyfus when that officer. convicted OF
zoia and NJ. Perreux. publisher Of the 'Aurore.
naly nbelled the oftcers of the EsteThazy court
t cour I'm martia The former acquitted Major Count
Esterhazy of the charge of having written the
famous note which brought about the COndemna
ton Of Dreyfus. NJ. Zola sentenced to
years Imprisonment and a fire of 5000 francs He
verdict the ground that the trial had been irreg
ular as General Billot, the Minister for War had
brought the Indictment. whereas II should have
been brought by the officers NJ. Zola had impeached
The officers comprising the Esterhazy court
tla April and decided to begin civil action
being the publisher of the paper in which the ia
authors charges printed. The second
trial postponed until after the elections tGst
held in order to relieve the government Of the
harrassment OF the arair becoming political issue
The second trial or the Indictment which led to
paragraphs OF NJ. Zolas famous letter, "J'accuse.'
which published in the "Aurore' of January
-. 1885
7 accuse the first court martial fthe one which
tried Alfred DreyfusN OF having violated the Law
in condemning defendant piece Of secret
evidence. and
i accuse the second court martial Of having
cloaked this Illegally. by order. in committing in
its turn. the judicial crime Of knowingly acquittng
the guilty party.'
Just before the verdict this trial a years i'm
pr!sonment ard fine OF 5000 francs was an
noUnced. Zoia fled to Switzerland and thence TO
London. He returned later to Paris and furniture
fused TO pay. A suit for libel on his part against
the editor OF one OF the Paris journals, in which
an article alleged that Zola's father had been
guilty or frauds In his army career, followed. the
novelist winning H.
Among his works in the les Rougon- Macquart''
sommoir. La Conquste des Plassans." LIE Doc
teur Pascal" 'Le pebacle La Faute de Fable
Fortune des Rougon.''