Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-06-20
THE INSPIRATION
OF JEAN VIGNOL
By FRANCOIS coPPEE


y
Vignol had been q writer of penn,
dreadful and blood-and- thunder fctio
Tor the family story papers. He dea
exclusively in conspiracies, murder
stolen wills, kidnapings and substitu
tions of babes in the cradle. His work
are not so bad, Of their kind. If 70
ever have to go through long, tediou
illness-which God grant you may no
You might do worse than while ava
the hours of convalescence by reading
his Mysteries of Menilmontant," Ii
two fat paper-covered volumes.
Yet his practice was not large, ant
sometimes he found it difficult to dis
pose of his copy" even at the mos
meager space rates
His debut in letters had been ambi
tious enough. To this day there repost
In the Oblivion of q dark corner of &
bottom bureau drawer two early and un
published works, composed by him at the
time when he had hair on his head
and real artistic aspirations in his
heart.
Unfortunately, these were not nego.
table in the literary market-and Jean
Vignol had to live. 1t was in the Belle
vile quarter of Paris, on the fifth floor
OF a sordid tenement, that he had
dr'olt alone with his aged mother,
who was martyr to rheumatism.
To earn little money-little enough,
verily!-the poet had turned hack
novelist, in the same logged spirit
that an art-school graduate who has
Tailed at painting, takes to photogra.
ply.
While old Mamma Vignol lived, Jean,
a model of filial piety, had plodded
along contentedly enough. But since
her death, two years ago, he was alone
In the world-wlthout parents or
friends, an habitual stay-at-home:
He was, at the time of which we
write, sturdy little man of AZ years,
beginning to grow pudgy, with heavy
black beard, a Socratic nose, a pair of
honest small eyes, and a few sparse
bristles on the top of his otherwise
denuded dome of thought
What bother!" he exclaimed to
himself on a Christmas eve, as he
mounted slowly to his fifth foor-for
he was slightly asthmatic. Here is
the editor complaining that my latest,
Behind the Bars, wants action-mean.
ing, of course, more bloodshed. Is
life worth living?"
Entering mis- forlorn apartment, he
found whole series of petty annoy
Rnces awaiting him. In the first place
his coke fire had gone out and he must
start it afresh. Then, as he was cast
Ing a regretful look upon the old pipes
be was forbidden to smoke, his writ,
Ing lamp fiickered out A new wick
vas required. And, come to look,
there were only two matches left in
The box.
Thunder and Mars!" growled Jean
Vignol, letting go his strongest oath.
Here am l in pretty fix. A merry
christmas eve, to be sure! Shall
~ down those FIVE flights again for
matches? No! rather than that, I'll
borrow Of my neighbor."
His neighbor was Mere Matthew, q
,ocr old widow whose daughter, vau-
Ieville actress abandoned by her hus-
and, had died in childbirth the sum.
ner before, leaving the infant to be
'Eought up on tho bottle by the afore-
aid Mere Matthew. She supported her.
slf by sewing for . department store.
Ne novelist had helped her out" with
! 9ew francs ON several occasions when
" need had been greater than his
'Wn. Now he raped at her door and
allied out:
"Mere Matthew! can you lend me a
sw matches"
He stopped short as the door opened
nd he looked in. There was the poor
roman kneenng on the floor, busily
ngaged In rolling and tying up the
Iair mattress which she had taken
rom her bed, leaving revealed limp
boxing tick half filled with straw.
Hose by, the BABY slept peacefully in
wicker cradle.
Why, what are you up to now, Mere
Eathieu? Going to move before rent
ay comes around%
"Oh, no, M. Vigncl. l am Just going
the pawn shop with this Mattress
is good for ten francs, at least: I
lust hurry, for they close at eight"
"What-and sleep on the straw"
Eyes; 1t won't bs for the first time.
'ou see, my younger sister, who is
Iidow like myself-the one who was
rardrobe mistress at the Varieties has
allen Ill again, and they won't take
or at the hospital because they say
be is incurable. So must help her
lfttle-she has always been SO good
, me. In week or so, when / get
" fortnightly wages from the store, n
IN have the mattress back again. All .
lat bothers me now is-what to do :
18th the baby while go out. Usually
le janitor's wife takes care Of 1t for
le; but tonight being Christmas eve
ley have company to dinner and are
Ding to celebrate the reyeillon. So /
on't know what to do with the young
na."
Jean Vignol showed signs OF agita-
on, not to say emotion.
'Don't do that, Mere Matthew" he
-