New-York tribune., 1907-09-21
Literary yNesOs and Criticism.

sisted him tooth and nail. he laid face down
on his knees, and scraped the seat of my trou-
sers with his spatula set me on my feet anu
returned perfectly content to his shop.
This touch of comedy is characteristic oA
practically all that follows in the first volume
Of the Memoirs" The family lived in strait
ened circumstances, and there were still soIhe
terrifying passages to be gone through IN l's
existence, as military events brushed the scehe'
waterloo was still to be fought, and Nine
Dumas, dreading the incursions of soldiers
dreaded even more the possibility of losing her
son when he reached the age of service But ne
went on with his desultory education, revelling
in the joys of bird hunter and poacher getting
huge fun out of practical jokes and the humors
of the people about him, and finally, in his ff-
teenth year, convincing himself that he is a
man grown. The revelation comes with his for
de Faublas" and with his first ball. and at this
point we are left to await the second volume in
the present translation Of the Memoirs
The wait requires patience, for Dumas is a
beSufling narrator. and You become as interested
in the development of his schooldays as though
II were framed on one Of his most ingeniously
invented plots. While the reader pauses in ex-
pectation of the second volume he may find
good cheer in Mr.. Lang's essay, which. within
the limits of a brief biographical sketch. gives
a delightful impression OF the great Alexandra
in the length and breadth of his astounding
career It is candid introduction. Mr.. Lang
has no illusions to the foibes of mis- hero.
But with his accustomed sympathy and justice
he goes to the heart of the matter. and pays
the beloved romancer tribute from which
must quote at least these words:
Dumas never writes to inha1ne the passions to
corrupt or To instruct a nrurient curiosity. 1ne
standard of his work is far higher tnan that OF his
model or of the age about which he writes. His
motto is cordG; he hast not a word to
courage pessimisTn. or taste for the squalid. He
ana his men face fortune boldly, bearing what
noTtals must endure. and bearing it well and
osltH and sound-hearted humanity. These qualih-
cations Increase and become more manifest this
great cycle rolls on to its heroic elimination in
the death Of d Artagnan the death of Porthos the
unwonted tears of Aramis.
have sneered at Dumas a scene painter. a
dauber, babe in psychological lore. and forth.
looks lovingly back on her Old ideals of a frank
and healthy life in the open ARA life Of gallant
Major Marchand. Of the Fashoda afrair. we may
recognize gentleman and a soldier of the school
OF Dumas. not OF Naupassant. or Flaubert, or
most cruel obstacles: to face every form OF peril
with gayety; TO accept disappointment with a
manly courtesy. winning the heartiest admiration
from his political opponents. these accomplish
ments after Dumass own heart: and this is
morality which the study of Dumas encourages.
and which our time requires.
Ine authors who relax. and discourage, and de-
prave ray be thought better artists IAN opinion
which do not sharel, but they are less of men
than the author Of The Three Musketeers." Who
reads il but wants 10 go reading the sequel.
and the sequel to that and. were it possible. yet
another sequel?
The Memoirs" as well as the ronances, in
spire reflections such these. and we sure.
therefore. that large public Will be grateful
for the translation of them now going forward.
The publishers we'll advised in their choice
of form. The volume before is Of a
venient size. light in hand. and clearly printed
on good paper; il is book to be read. The
frontispiece is a picture OF the great mans
birthplace. Succeeding volumes viii presumably
be adorned with portraits.