The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-06
GUY DE MAUPASSANT.

Guy De Maupassant the supreme
master Of the short story, was born on
the 9th of August, 1850. near Dieppe,
In the castle of Miromesnil, His con-
tr.eution to literature Is great and
lasting. In common with Edgar Allen
Poe, De Maupassants literary crea-
lions are inclined toward the morbid.
He was "A being without pity who
contemplated suffering" And he
saw with a clear insight. Having OBJ
served he was endowed with the gift
of sketchfng what he had seen in
such a manner that the reader at once
visualizes with greatd istinctness the
scene or person described. His style
OF prose Is simple and classical. He
IS absolutely impersonaI in his nara
ton He melts his own character
within that Of the person whom he
is describing and does not obtrude his
own personal opinion of the acts CT
his characters into his narratives at
all, In the presentat ton of his char
acters he assumes an authority not
even Balzac. ever eQualed.
Maupassant like Flaubert, was a
Norman. And he appears to have in
herited their ascctic discipline and
cold detachment.
His childhood was passed at
Etretat- 1t was there that he received
uneGaceahle Impressions which sub
tlely moulded his character. His early
education was supervised by his
mother, Later he became a student
at Rouen college, His literary talent
gained him the notice of Louis Bouil-
het and it was at thel alters house
that the school boy learned to write
poetry. During these early days he
developed a great love of nature and
-
woods and fields
In 1870 he lived in the country and
then, the family fortunes having
fallen, he came to Paris to live. There
for several years he was a clerk in the
Ministry OF Marine, BY this time he
had become convinced that his great
est talents lay in literature and for
seven years he submitted each story
he wrote to the great F'laubert. the
lifelong friend of his mother, During
this time his success remained uncer-
tain and then in a great flight of in
spiration he wrote ''Boule de Stuff"
His masters JOY was great when he
read the masterpiece Two months
later Flaubert died. 'Boule de Stuff
was published and created sensa-
ton in literary circles, From this
time on Maupassant's rise was mete-
ORIG At the solicitation of the entire
press he wrote story after story. In
each his individuality and talent had
full sway The acclaimation which
greeted his works was so universal
that no contemporary author during
his life ever experienced the same.
Riches and fame had come to him
but at the same time came a deadly
maJady which fastened relentless fin
gers upon the young genius and stole
from him most of the fruit of his eff
forts. Insomnia and severe headaches
began to prey Upon him and he suf
fered from intense nervous attacks.
Relief from those illnesses he could
only achieve by the use of norcotics
and anesthetics which he used freely.
Insideously the malady frightened its
grip upon the unfortunate writer.
Many of his stories reflect the terror
and dread with which his morbid suf-
ferings filed him. 1t was insanity
which was creeping upon Maupassant
and its approach was relentless. AL
though he made a desperate fight to
retain his sanity he was hopeless1y
vanquish ed and in a moment of mem
tai clearness, he attempted suicide. He
was prevented but his mind sunk into
a great darkness from which it never
emerged He was committed to a san
ftorium and there after is months OF
existence, he died.