New-York tribune., 1909-06-20


q milan Company.
This concluding volume in the excellent trans
lation OF the Memoirs Of Dumas leaves the
reader in q mood Of wistful regret II carries
the record down 10 1888. when he was getting
under WY as a romancer and when n" still
had nearly forty years more 10 live. What
would We not give for the continuation of his
s:cry written by himself No formal biography
from another hand, no matter how friendly,
could take the place Of his own Souvenirs
IIe wrote history as he wrote fiction. with an
Incompatible glsto. and if he used imagination
IN The one literary form as in the other il was
only to illuminate his page and heighten its
charm Moreover, while he might introduce a
detail IL order TO strengthen an effect he was
true IN his Memoirs" 10 the broad aspects of
his character and career. As you get into the
hook you find yourself meeting him halfway,
as II were. making due allowance for his pro
dislous temperament and savoring all the time
the genius in him which you feel is explana-
lion and justification enough of all his fam
Eoyancies- In other words. the Memoirs like
the romances, give You a lasting affection for
their author
Incidentally, they offer some Of the best pict-
iTes Of his time that are anywhere 10 be found.
The Paris OF 1880 lives again in his descriptions
of his affairs, for he breasted the full cur
rent OF Partisan life, and most Of the celebrated
figures Of that period were his friends. The
present volume opens with account Of the
fancy dress ball which he resolved to give to
some three or four hundred persons. He wanted
if in his OWN home hut the four rooms he pos
sessed would hardly answer for the purpose.
What OF i? Were there not four more rooms
the same landing that happened To Ice empty?
The landlord lniably agreed to lend them, and
Dumas had 10 difficulty in finding among his
intimatos artists 10 provide the decorations,
artists ike Delaaroix, Tony Johannot. Decamp>.
and Barye- DelacroIx was slow in taking up his
task, coming 70 the house only after his com
rsdes had got well started on their work. What
ne cid then Is thus related:
lie went round ali the four rooms. stopping be
fore each panel and finding something pleasant 70
say each q his confreres thanks TO the charm
v zgi5re saT o 10 5reak5f he STekfa5sed too
well he asked, when breakfast done,
wen. Illere II fs!-' said IT is the panel for
the Crossing Of the Red Sea: the las gone
hack, the IsraeIites have crossed the Egyptians
have not YET arrived" J.,
something else What would YOU ike me to stick
--oh. you know. q King Rodrigo after q battle:
m sqF geBs lss s 5Ises o6aa 5qeEnsTagsG 9snHish,es
lie Toi sans TUyauTne allaIt-
Protestant dams mains sstlEEantes,
Les grains dor dun chapeet
-sh that IS what you WANT"
half done
not
gees ilen. for King Rodrigo
And without taking of his little black coat which
1iuug closely TO his body, without turning up Ms
,1l.eges OF taking of his cuffs putting on a
blouse or cotton jacket, DelacroIx began 10y taxing
ms charcoal and, in three or four strokes. ne natd
horse, IN I'VE or SIX tlt cztNtlief, IA
rtlgitives included then. making sufficient out OF
tins rough sketch be intellIGibe TO himself, he
took up brushes and began TO paint And IN q
fash. had unveiled canvas one saw
appear under his hand, first a cavalier, bleeding
Injured and wounded, half dragged by his morse
u na was hurt himself, holding on 10y te
mere support of MS stIrrups, and leaning on ms
lance. round him. in front and behind lAfl,
t-y.ul, to put their lips the water, and leaving
% blood behind them aS Tar az the eye
could toward the horizon stretched tLe
fartIefleli. ruthless and terrible above IL s IN
was setting like d red buckler in a forge; then
finally. q blue rlz- which. as II Inelted away Hto
Tie distance became indehnable shade OF green
..fE rosy clouds ] ike The down ct an lplS.
TIE whole thing was WondeTf9I 10 Sc. d li .,o
uttered round the master and each one cf the
artists left task 10 come ana clap ms hdllls
without jealousy envy al the ne" ftubeii9, ~
ir,trroy5s.d both compoSitiOn and execution as ne
reut GA. Il finished in two or three hours
me.
Tuckv Dumas, And this kind Of thing was
always occurring in his experience While MS
lleb lasted which is 10 say for the greater part
q 4 long life his cup was filed 20 the brlIh-
y.-7-b his IozatIe nature It could hardly have
1,.or Otherwise 1t is n strange thing, ne
e..z-s that J have never been able TO nate Oh
.,..o-,nt of any personal wrong or injury lie
Fair ogtb