New-York tribune., 1907-09-21

,,,-b,- He was well Qualihed 10 De MS
~, Roswell. and if he had left us the 1uIl rec
ord which we may be sure he Woulo nave en-
.o,,ed writing we may he equally sure lla' tie
,,,orld vrould never have tired Of readlhg IT. Inc
Memoirs" as they stand. bringing tiie hai I'd
five 70 close before the best part OF his career
:. cached are in their way, Incompatible
..-Thev display says Mr. Lang an 'ile hu4iioi
-. ,-oo5nass of heart the overf1owing joy in
,,,- ,o.,a the charm of the novels" In
them he told on the whole. story OF YOUTH and
80 - with tbe true spirit His pages fairly
,,,a ,rs+t, vitality Even in this first volume
< A. walters excellent new translation, a vol
,rne in which many painful matters have to be
toucbed upon. the writer's natural gayety tri-
,ronhs over the gloom Of his subject After ali.
9, U7ss a romantic period that he had to deal
with in traversing this stage Of his history and
he handled it with the touch of the born ro-
rnanoer. No doubt he would have done this in
any case II was not in Dumas to be solemn
about anything
He was forty-five when he sat down TO write
his memoirs, but he was still boy at heart
and addressed himself TO the task in the airest
possible mood Unkind commentators had ques-
toned his right to bear if he chose the name OF
Davy de Ia Pailleterie, and had talked cynical
ly about the bar sinister that they belived might
be found in his family record. Nothing could
be more good humored than his discussion OF
the whole business. Did not the subject give
him the best possible copy for his book? Con-
futing his enemies with some documentary evil
dence and more of certain grandeur Of manner.
be goes on TO celebrate the personality and
career Of his father. a Hercules who as an Of
foer in the French army had many a stirring
adventure The son loves tS tell stories Of his
fathers Physical prowess. Here is one Of the
first that he sets forth:
Ny father was one night at the theatre Of la
fui Creole who was the rage at the time Whether
because OF his imperfect toilet he kept at the back
Of the box
a musketeer. who had recognized the lady from
The orchestra, opened the box door and without in
eny way asking leave seated himself beside her
and began to enter into conversation.
Pardon me. monsieur" said the lady; interrupt
slone."
Why that gentleman. Of course" replied the
''Ohi pardon me- said the young man; L took
monsieur for your lackey"
This pieSe Of irapertineaCe was no sooner uttered
from catapult into the middle of the pit
This unexpected descent produced great sensa-
tion.
1t was matter of interest both TO the falling
body and 10 the people on whom ne fell
This expeditions and potential warrior was a
perfect type Of the Revolutionary period, frank,
honorable part in the Of his time. and
more than once attracted the favorable atten-
tion Of Napoleon. with whom. indeed. he was
even, aI certain times, terms OF something
like friendship There is q story of Bonaparte's
welcoming him after enc of his exploits as a
new HoratiUs Coolies. and clasping him in a
fraternal embrace; but the time was to come
when General Dumas was to exclain .'OhI
only to think held him in my arms and had
outburst Of regret came when Napoleon had
proclaimed himself Emperor That. in his old
comrades eyes. meant the consolidation of a
selfish personal ambition which was hateful to
him. With all his feeling for dramatic effect
the writer Of the Memoirs paints the episode
tn the Egyptian campaign in which his father
was constrained to let his commander know
how he distinguished between a patriot and an
egotist Napoleon had heard things which made
him suspect Dumas's loyalty to himself and
taking him, TO task pointed out that If occasion
warranted he would shoot general as soon as
q drummer boy. The suspected officer made no
bones Of explaining his position. His son thus
records the conversation:
Bonaparte looked at my father for q moment
then, almost afectionately, he said:
"S-d 50. Dumas. You make a division in your
9i1er ej,5 You think l separate her interests and
I think that the interests of France ought TO
come before those of an individual. matter how
that the fortunes Of any nation should be subQrdi-
mated se to, 70 those a Of an individual g. = o.
9es so soon as am convinced that you are
You are mistaken, Dumas" BonapaTte replied
quite possibly replied my father: but dis
approve Of relationships those Of sulla
And you request''-
Leave 70 return to France. the first opportunity
Very good l promise that will raise no diff
eo!qes in the way of your departure -
Of you: and. bowling. my father walked to the
AS he withdrew, he thought he overheard Bona
paJte nuttering these words:
Blind fool! not TO believe in my fortunes
This incident. so vividly illustrative of the
charge IevelIed at Napoleon while he lived and
since sternly elaborated by many a historian,
Is poignantly interesting because Of its bearing
upon the course of the noveist's life. General
Dumas never regained the confidence Of the
master Of France. When. broken by irnprison-
Inent in Southern Italy, he returned to his coun-
try. his appeals TO the government for financial
aid were ignored. and in enforced retirement
at Villers-Cotterets where Alexandra born.
ne waited for death There is something fine
about his sons manly treatment Of the events
OF this period They pathetic enough. In
his childhood he taken by General Dumas
up 10 Paris, where the falling man wished to
consult Corbsart about his health. and, at the
same time, to see if he could gain interest
somewhere for the family soon to be left alone
An interview with the Emperor was sought in
vain. and neither Bruno nor Murat. old friends
Of the soldier, could make very definite prom
ises as to what they might do in the future
The bitterness of the experience is veiled in the
Memoirs" by picturesque notes people and
things seen. The two travellers saw on their
way home. at the Chateau of Montgobert the