Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-08
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEY ELL.

There has been some tendency. over
the years, to sneer at the genius of
Dumas the elder, but there can be
little doubt Of his place among the
foremost opponents of the narrative
art.
We can recall the enthusiasm with
which a retired professor of the Eng
lish department OF great college once
lOa ned us his copy of Louise de La
VALERIE" He had no restraint about
him in the matter. 1t was a great
story. and he wanted others to enjoy
il, too.
Yet. to get the fun effect OF this par
ticuiar story, il must be read in its
place in the series, which secures its
name from that of the chief hero, the
Gascon. D'Artagnan, captain of the
musketeers.
While these stories may he read in
any order, il Is true. the reader thus
loses the continuity. the growth of
characters, the sweep OF events. 1t
must he remembered that Dumas
worked on large canvas.
He was not a short story writer.
He required plenty of room. His plots
were so complicated. stretching over
he wears, requiring so many different
characters. that the reader does
Dumas land himself injustice in read.
ing in any other sequence than that
in which he wrote.
The incOmpa rable nara tive art dis
play we'd will keep any reader sitting up
nights 10 see what comes next" The
crOss-play OF purposes is more glitter
ing than the fash OF D'Artagnan 3
sword.
The ability to interest is, after all,
the back bone Of all writing. Dumas
possessed this invaluable gift To the
highest degree. 1t is true that his
character drawing is somewhat
sketchy, but he more than makes up
for IT by a wealth of incident and con-
versa ton so that the total effect IL
as good as if he had metlculously
drawn his characters.
They act, they speak-and these two
largely constitute the life of man,
which. in the la st analysis, is simply
what Dumas sets forth.
They do, they say-and what do
| ings, what ayings. 1t is as If one
were privileged to suddenly ira nsport
himself backward through the ages,
| and place himself as a gigantic spy
upon the inner secrets OF royalty.
1t makes no difference If the history
told IL true or Mott is of tremen-
dOus proportions, 9littering with ro
ma nee, bra very, absurd honor. many
of the old qualities which seem to he
almost lost in our efficient but some
times too careful age.
Here in Dumas. we pass in review a
ga lazy OF men and women. all acting
and spea king. all doing and saying.
| There is plotting here. gentlemen, and
loving ladies', and all the shades in
between. The emotions are hearty,
and the sinewS thick. There is sad
ness and sorrow brave gallantry and
sneaking trickery.
There is a little of everything that
! life sets forth in these long. long
stories that roll on page after page,
as if the author, as the reader. enjoys
every word. Some one is always set
| ting out. and some other one is always
determined he shall not reach the end
Of his journey.
! Some one plots one thing. and some
other makes a counterpart. The da sh-
| ing D'Artagnan, the subtle Aramis
the gigantic Porthos Uhe loVable
numskulD. the courtly AthOs, the lit
! tie La Valliere, who loves her king
these are our acquaintanceS
! The shadow Of death rests on these
pages This interesting. intermina bic
! story ends at last as all things must,
100. We have expected it for hun
dreds of pages. and cannot say nay,
but are sorry. nevertheless.
And this is Life is it not?