New-York tribune., 1908-04-01
S0gTerirS OF Dumas as a Young
Han an Paris.

AZ MEMOIRS Q 2Ss-y By Aszsndre Dumas Translated
r. Z u Waller. With Introduction by An
S-ev Lang In six Volumes To1 III 1S7s-1S9A
emo Dp- XIII. 54S. The Macmillan Company
Dumas took his time when ne sat down 10
write his memoirs. In this third volume Of Mr.
walters excellent new translation the romancer
is still n his twenties with al his fame before
him But he never had any barren years Even.
n his youth he packed life with experience and
ir writing his autobiography. II his own affairs
fs short Of supplying Kim with<all the material
for copy that he needed he was perfectly
Wiling 10 tell stories about his contemporaries
Ee Is EghthearteG and discursive in My
Memoirs following UP every idea that comes
frtc hrs head, and in shor-. making the book
one Of 5re most amusing collections Of gossip
t-ar C-ssipy France has ever produced The
present volume. which covers the period from
lS2C 20 $3.50. opens IN delightful fashion He
tell how he frs read Scott. Cooper and
Fyra1. making Us realize into what a ferment
cf emotion ne vas thrown by their revelations
Considering his obvious Indebtedness as \ novel
Isl n Scott Il Is particularly Interesting 10 note
The record of his early impressions Of the mas
ter. 'Iva-hoe was the hook that introduced
him 20 The northern genius. 1T took me- some
time" he said TO get used 10 the rude. un-
57urh ways Of Gllrrh the swinehe-d and 70 the
faCe-t1us Jokes of Wamba Cedric-s lester"
Ft. IS he Eor further into The story. its glamour
@urE spell up}n him one incident after an
other stirred his soul. and he adds when The
tourney - AsHav had gwen ne fo~erasce of
r-- powerful sword shakes and lance rh~usrs
-ra- should again come across IN FroIssart oh,
-H=-. lr-la hv little. the clouds that had yelled
nv sight began 70 lift. I saw open 5,r before me
more extended horizons han any that had ap-
uea-e6 20 me- when AdoIphe de Leuven worked
those changes II my provincial imagination that
have already mentioned The sleeping fires
f- him were blown into fame and more than
eTe- he was resolved upon a literary career.
HIS sympathy for Byron comes out III the two
charters which re devc-es TO a rapid sketch of
-7- poets career The death Of his hero flied
him with anguish. and there IS genuine feeling !
,- This part of the Memoirs Dumas was in !
deed. always quick 70 he touched by any great
Personality ~ event That Is one EXPLANATION /
- TIA vitality Of his recoLlecti0us But chiefly
these pages owe their charm To- The exr-aordi- /
1z-- FiGH with which he carried himself The
eaEe~ess and gUsro with which he threw him /
s=r upon the delight Of living IN Parte Il is in
This volume that he has n tell Of his first
ventures as playwright. Of his difficulties over
-1e disposition Of Christine and Of his sue
cess with Henri III" Apropos Of the latter
drama he has This characteristic norae
u connection VitE Henri III II Is easy 70 see
-77- ne dramatic go Is born win certain people
vas 7ve1-E-rlv@ Eears ef age --FienEi III
--v second serious piece ~ work. any con-
h.@E7e Up The style bur nothing in She plot I
nor c-e Of -zeu s more cleverIy constructed
HIS relations with the stage grew closer and
closer. and the Memoirs contain much about
Talua and other theatrical figures of the time /
He speaks very warmly Of Nile Mars and tells (
several anecdotes of that brilliant woman. !
once. when she was going on the stage, she /
had { sort Of aPouLectic IT instead os inter !
r z---- g- her 3
have done. she sent for Ieeches. and between /
the first and third acts she took advantage Of /
Jne second act, il which she did not have 70 /
appear 10 apply them 70 her chest. When |
entered her dressing room after the play she /
was covered with blood down 70 her slippers" /
Dumas has other stories about her. one Of |
which. describing an encounter between her and /
Victor Hugo II which the actress vas worsted, /
IS especially amusing. but for the student Of /
stage history the best passage Of all IS that /
which thus contributes 10 her portrait.
Nile Mars al the theatre and Arle. Mars IN he-
p--vars home were TWO gC--e different beings on |
song. and her looks were endea-trg. and soft fun /
q h@TftcnlrE charm 4 home. her voice vas /
v-e-e r--scue and impatient. Her theatrical voice
vas acquired instrument which she had /
been taught DIaE. and which she played mar
vs-ous-y well bur she rightly -l-st-usted Il when
give effect 70 great heights Of poesy she was afraid
then ~ s-rainl1E her genie notes and s7e almost
V-i-- enabled he- utter preo1ls cries that went /
s--z5E-- the heart 7 never knew any one who /
g,ss more modest about her talents than vas Nile
Mars sEe spoke ~ herself her --l--1pES- OF
-er creations she admired he- father Mouvel. pro
-cL-c-E- she was his pupil. and II gave her evident
pleasure 70 talk ~ him S1e was also great ad-
---er q Nile CoC-ar- z-C = odd 70 hear her
he- i-Cerlo-t-v --s actress. n
regard q certain points ~ arr
We g=t d-oI glimpse # a drararis7's lie
n Paris. seventy-fve years ago. n some pages
O. Baron Taylor Dumas Went 10 see him one
Czv- with manuscript of his I found
Taylor caught in his ba1hcub." he saws. like =
ger II MS den. 2 gentleman near him reading
z tragedy called "Hecube." L was IN vain that
70 bored Baron protested. Monsieur" de-
Cz-ed the tragic poet. the Government ap- /