The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-08-02
LITERARY LOG ROLLING.
How Some Famous Authors Sought to
Advertise Themselves

The examples cited by Francis Crib
; Die In his article on "The Comedy OF
Literary Log Rolling" I'm the Strand
Magazine arouse some suspicion as 10
their absolute authenticity. but are
amusing enough whether true or not
Sainte-Beuve increased the circulation
OF his books by insisting upon fighting
duel in the rain with an umbrella
over his head. Gerard de Nerval used
TO be seen In the streets OF Paris lead
Ing a lobster by string. Mime. Kru-
dener, the author Of "Valerie" and the
friend or Alexander !. Of Russia, made
the fortune Of her novel by calling at
all the Paris shops and asking for va
rious articles Of dress "a la Valerie"
OF Victor Hugo and Of Alexandra Du-
mas the elder the following stories are
told:
Nor was the great poet ashamed TO
roll his log even al a funeral He seized
the opportunity at the obseques OF
one or his own sons. II happened that
on the way to the cemetery the pro-
cession passed a travelling menagerie,
and the lions, for whatever reason,
stopped roaring just as Victor Hugo
was In front Of their cage. His com |
panion, minor poet named Pelleport, |
drew his attention to the fact. "Mas- |
ter" he whispered, "the lions recognize
you and hush their voices. The king
OF beasts is silent in the presence Of the
king of men," Victor Hugo bowed and
turned the matter over i'm his mind.
Then, after meditation, he said: "Pelle-
port, that was a happy thought OF
yours. Couldn't you write something
about iti" And Pelleport wrote SON
ter stood on a higher pinnacle than
ever.
And finally there was the case OF Du-
mas, OF whom it may almost be said
that his whole life was an advertise
ment. Some one once said OF him that
his vanity was such that he was capa-
bic Of getting up behind his own car
riage i'm order to demonstrate that he
had a negro footman in his service.
as absurd as that I'm his restless pur- a
suit Of reclamc. One OF his delights y
was to clothe his noble proportions i'm 7
q uniform and to embellsh the uni ~
form with decorations to which he was ID
not entitled. He even went so far as o.
himself to design the uniform in which n
10 fought-or rather, did not fight, for 81
ic arrived after the fighting was all
Garibaldfs army, and he =
lcheved a tremendous advertisement
~ conducting well known actress to
court ball to which she had not been
invited. He got another advertise Of
nent by allowing himself to be sued p'
or nondelivery OF feuilleton. Tie 61
vas utterly in the wrong, and he lost
is case, but he kept the court In roars W W
4 laughter while he explained his lit FRI
rary methods and the nature OF the "'
istractions which had interfered with -
he fulfllment Of his contract. But A
he best Of all his advertisement was
ttained when the announcement ap-
cared that M. Alexandra Dumas tn r
'ould write the last chapter OF forth no
)ming romance sitting I'm n shop win Ge a.,
ow, for all the world to see how ii A
as done. One can understand that PEI
lat sort Of advertisement would suit o;c
le authors who are also Interested in TIL
10 sale OF hair rcstorcrs. They al
ost owe it to the public 10 exhibit u
lemselvcs In this way. killing two p,.
rds with single stone. But for the
lthor Of Monte Cristo" to do it was
rely the ne plus ultra OF the comedy I.
log rolling. tat,
sto