The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-04-20
THE INSPIRATION
OF JEAN VIGNOL
BY FRANCOIS COPpEE.


exclusively In consplracles murders,
stolen wills, kidnapings and substitu-
tons of babes in the cradle. His works
are not so bad, of their kind. If you
ever have to so through long tedious
illness-which God grant YOU may not
you might do worse than while away
the hours Of convalescence by reading
his Mysteries Of Meniimontant," in
two fat paper-covcrcd volumes.
Yet his practice was not large, and
sometimes he found 1t difficult to dis
pose of his copy" even at the most
meager space rates
His debut in letters had been ambi-
tious enough. To this day there repose
IN the oblivion Of dark corner of a
bottom bureau drawer two early and I'M
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 10 live. 1t was In the Belle
vile quarter of Paris, on the fifth floor
OF sordid tenement, that he had
dwet alone with hts aged mother.
who was a martyr TO rheumatism.
To earn little money-little enough,
verily!-the poet had turned hack
novelist. in the same logged spirit
that an artschool graduate who has
failed at painting, takes to photogra.
ply.
While old Mamma Vignol lived, Jean,
a model OF fiial piety, had plolded
along contentedly enough, But since
her death, two years ago, he was alone
In the worId--without parents or
friends, an habiNal stay-at-home;
lie was, at the time OF which we
write, q sturdy little man OF AZ years
beginning to grow pudgy, with heavy
black beard, u SoCratic nose, pair OF
honest small eyes, and a few sparse
brlstles on the top Of his otherwise
denuded dome OF thought.
What a bother!" he exclaimed to
himself on a Christmas eve as he
mounted slowly to his fifth tloor-for
he was slightly asthmatic. Here is
he editor complaining that my latest,
Behind the Bars, wants actlon-mean-
ing, of course, more bloodshed. Is
life worth living?"
Entering mis- forlorn apartment, he
found a whole series of petty annoy
ances awaiting him. In the first place
his coke fire had gone out and he must
start 1t afresh. Then, as he was cast
Ing regretful look upon the old pipes
he was forbidden to smoke, his writ
Ing lamp fiickered out. A new wick
was required. And, come to look,
the box.
Thunder and Mars!" growled Jean
Vignol, letting go his strongest oath.
Here am In pretty fix. A merry
Christmas eve, to be sure! Shall
go down those FIVE flights again for
matches? No! rather than that, I'll
borrow of my neighbor."
His neighbor was Mere Mathieu, a
poor old widow whose daughter, vau-
ieville actress abandoned by her hus-
band, had died in childbirth the sum-
mer before, leaving the infant 10 be
brought up on the bottle by the afore-
said Mere Matthew. She supported her
self by sewing for department store.
The novelist had helped her out" with
few francs on several occasions when
her need had been greater than mis-
own. Now he raped at her door and
called out:
Mere Matthew! can you lend me q
few matches"
He stopped short as the door opened
and he looked in. There was the poor
woman knee.ing on the floor, buslly
engaged In rolling and tying up the
hair mattress which she had taken
from her bed, leaving revealed limp
looking TICK half filled with straw.
Close by. the baby slept peacefully in
wicker cradle.
why what are you up to now Mere
Matthew? Going to move before rent
day comes around?"
"Oh, no, NJ Vignol. | am Just going
to the pawn shop with this Mattress
1t Is good for ten francs, at least; |
must hurry, for they close at eight"
"What-and sleep on the straw"
Yes; 1t won't be for the first time.
You see, my younger sister, who is a
widow like myself-the one who was
wardrobe mistress at the Varietes-has
fallen Ill again, and they won't take
her at the hospital because they say
she is incurable. So | must help her
little-she has always been 30 good
TO me. In week or so, when ! get
my fortnightly wages from the store,
can have the mattress back again. All
that bothers me now is-what TO do
with the baby while go out. Usually
the, janitor's wife takes care Of 1t for
me: but tonight being Christmas eve
they have company to dinner and are
going to celebrate the reveilion. So
don't know what to do with the young
one"
Jean Vignol showed sigma of agita-
ton. not TO say emotion.
Don't do that, Mere Matthew" he
commanded. Don't go to the pawn