The New York herald., 1921-01-16
ABOUT AUTHORS
Fifty Years After Elder Dumas Death
Paris Reads of His Quarrel With Hugo

principle carries with it such a content
of humanity that wherever 1t goes 1t pro-
duces progress.
II have not seen him since 1857; ne
came to sit at the freside Of my exile, az
Guernsey, and we made plans to meet In
the future, in our own land. VIII
go alone to the spot where he rests and
return the visit he made in my exile at his
tomb"
The touching account of the fathers last
days written by his son has been often re-
called, naturally. 1t is worth quoting:
HE passed his days watching in silence
the ocean which the faint rays of winter
sun blended with gray and misty sky.
"One day, the fourth of December, he
fixed upon me his great eyes so tender. and
in the tone of child beseeching his mother,
he said:
Don't make me get up, I beg of you;
am so comfortable here I did not urge
him any more. but sat down on his bed
Presently he grew pensive and his face
assumed a look of great concentration and
of a deep sadness. Then-I saw his eyes
that had been so full Of affection moment
before shining with tears. I asked him what
was making him so unhappy. He took one
of my hands, looked me straight In the
face and said in firm voice:
"I will tell you if you promise me to
answer my question not with the partiality
of a son, or the forbearance Of a friend, but
with the frankness Of brave comrade in
arms and with the authority Of good
judge
"T promise
"'Swear It,
"I swear
HE hesitated yet moment; then making
" Well. do you believe he said to me,
that something of me will endurer And
his eyes never left mine.
"'If you have no other anxiety but that
/ said cheerfully, returning his intent look.
you may rest content. Much of you will
endure
"Truly?'
"Truly,
"'On your honorr
"'On my honor
"And as smiled even more brightly to
hide my emotion, he was convinced. With
the hand which held mine he drew me to-
ward him and we embraced. He spoke no
other word. as If nothing here below held
his interest any more"
I myself remember an anecdote which
Frederic Febvre, now gone told us at an
actors dinner. He was the Incompatible
Interpreter at the Comedie- Franchise of
Dumas the younger. But this story Is of
the father:
Alexander Dumas was present with Sou
met at a play by the latter given In the
Theatre Francais. He noticed man Sleep
ing through the performance.
Look said Dumas, at your friend
there. You see the effect your plays pro-
duce'
"The next night they played in the same
theatre a comedy by Dumas. And Sonnet
in his turn, triumphantly pointed to the
sleeping occupant of an orchestra seat
"'You see, my dear Dumas my plays
aren't the only ones where they go to
sleep!'
"Oh, that flashed back Dumas, that Is
the gentleman we saw yesterday-he hasn't
walked up yeti"
1t was not easy In those days to catch
Dumas asleep. Yet this amazing man, at
the end of his life, as his son has told us
after spending so many nights in writing
for the rest of the world. desired only that
he be permitted to rest in bed for his last
days. No. there was one thing more that
he desired-that something of him should
remain. His son assured him then, and II he
could return to his beloved Paris after fifty
years he would have more fears Of OBJ
livion