New-York tribune., 1909-02-09
CAREER OF CATULLE MENDEs.

Cstulle Abraham Mendes was one Of the most
active figures and prolific writers in the history of
French literature At fifteen he vas editor and
sFner Of q theatrical paper. He became at an
early age leader Of the -Parnassian" school of
poetry He was Of the first supporters OF
Wagner in France. As i poet, essayist, novelist
and drSTratist u. Mendes won distinction His
period Of literature has been long superseded how
ever and it may be said that the significance OF
his work ended many years before his death.
a. Nendes born in 1s4I in Bordeaux but left
France with his family a. the time OF the Revou-
ron, In 1S4s, To his boyhood gaaderings in Ger
many and Italy due his later devotion to wag-
nerisn music. He was brought back TO France
when twelve years old. and was educated under a
tutor Toulouse He wrote q vaudeville at four
.een entitled The Bailiffs Carriers" which was
played several tines He started his theatrical
paper the next year, and the year following went
to Paris and began the publication of his verses
In 1850 The new "Revue Fantaisiste'' appeared
with N. Mendes as its eighteen-year-old editor
Theophile Gautier. Richard Wagner, Baudelaire and
The two Daudets were among its contributors. He
was out Of favor with the authorities however and
an indiscreet poem gave the police d hold on him
he was fined so francs and imprisoned for a
month That killed the magazine. and mis- father
would contribute nothing more TO his support. So
ostule Nend4s began writing fiction Cor a living
Later, however. the father relented, and sent his
E0n on long sojourn in Germany.
In the mean time -'Philomea' appeared and the
new school Of poetry WIS launched. The following
year Il Mendes married Judith, daughter Of
Iheophile Gautier. but they soon separated and
!2ier The young writer married Mile Augusta
Holmes. Both women were writers Of some dis
finction
Lsf5he Mendes almost Immediately assumed
leadership Of the new school Of poetry. adopting
ne name ''Parnassian." which Barley d'Aureville
nae bestowed in derison. He began a review
otAeo le Parnasse Contemporaries" and persuaded
-enefle to take II up. This poetic form. with its
PARKING hrnpid 7erse Of fnlpeccable correctness
%endes retained 10 the last
she Princess Mathilde came 10 the rescue Of
1eno4s about this time. and made him an annual
t.0"anoe Of 400 francs. He then published the
t1~1ge mystic poem ''Hesperus.' Then came the
- ane tie breaking Of German ties and NJ.
Aehoes or5fted into prose with "Seventy-three
osFs Of the Commune
q followed editorial work on and of during
~ 4laoie life When Zola's .L'Assommoir'' was
-'ppeo oy Z cautious magazine N. Mendes took #
e ~ ~ ms own review The novel had as a conse-
s5stile en- en,rnoas sale.
h.s ne ne pisEs of NJ Mend1s It may be said they
AAo mgr literary merit. La File de Tabarfn''
g. - helne rldmmetts'' among the most
- Fo3es AmoUreuses'' - "a Vi. et Ia Mort T'lm
BEL Le RoI Verge lie Crime du Vieux
-. Monstres Parisiens." "Jeunes Files
.lskL-L., lourte. Tous les Bsisers.' 'Lesbia."
-saepflsiopheis. -. Hornme tout NU.' La Pre-
- Mslresse' and Ia GTaade Maguet.'' His
-. AnoSH plays also include la Captaine Fra
--Tle1les - L. Chatiment-' and '-CiTendoline''
nay ct 1855 NJ MendeS nearly lost his life in
5isersllsh a. Elsh NJ Nanar- The quarrel grew out Of
-.ssslen over whether Hamlet should be por-
,,1Ssc as Fat or Thin. II was ". Mendes four
ehfn duel by-the-bye. but he seemed never to
"sFs mastered the art Of fencing.