Year: 1871

boys all sense OF moral obligation In those superb
romances of his powerful youth, there is nothing
held as lovely OF desirable but the qualification of
lawless impulse There is not even the pretense Of
a moral by which many writer's seek TO atone in
the last chapter for the license Of their book Mad
emoiselle de Maupin is as infinitely beautiful and
depraved az our Lady Of Cyprus hersef-and yet she
ia meant TO be adored by the readerand alas for hu
manitv. the majority do fall in love with her, and
must struggle long and stubborny 10 root her out OF
their memory. The younger Dumas was very diff
ferent style of guest. He was Wild SORT OF
lad in his youth, but Of late years mas De-
come very severe in his life ana CONVERSE
tion His books are bad enough nom All
Exeter Hall point OF view; but do not aouot he
imagines they are perfectly sound and even asceuc
in their morality. He paints vice to denonnce H.
while Gantier makes il as fascinating il is in the
dreams of monks and schoolboys before Enlio
Olivier became Minister he would often drop in for
qniet evening Of music and chat and one OF two
of the cIeverer diplomats came to unbend in the
congenial atmosphere of letters and art 1here
were not many painters that came; the majority OF
them denounced their successful brother as an
arstocrat and scorned to accept his cakes and ale
But no one ever overlooked one sculptor who was
always there. known in art as Marcello" and in
society as the Duchess Of COlonna-a magnihcent
blonde beauty, with hair like ripe wheat and gen.
erous shoulders.


Ifany one stayed late enough at these parties, they
would witness a curious transformation about mid
night. When the grave and reverend people who
are conscientious about their hour If beautysleep
had folded their robes and stolen away tho chairs
were huddled ont Of the way. One young musician
would seat himself at the piano. another would take
violin. third the tambOuTine for full arsenal
was always found there for the murder OF silence,
and the dancing began. The Dor6s, being Asa
tians. and therefore more German than French,
were passionate dancers, and the wazing there was
a serious matter. There was no tritling with the
round dances II yOu were given to fryOlty you had
an opportunity before the ball broke up to practice
every variety of wild fantasia upon the theme OF
the tame qnalrille of the salons l must close
this rambling letter before | grow indiscreet L
am longing to describe the great artist IN
the CAM -Can-to paint him executing pas seH' on
his hands with his soles ailronting the ceihng-lh-
Producing into an draatdsr the most brilliant NaI-
atons OF the AlmG-dance Of the Nile, and the gypsy
measures of fGranada-mutiplying his legs and arms
by the windmill oyolutions of the Closerie-the de-
light of the ladies, and tho envy OF singejointed
mon Bnt f3rbsar Private life has its rights, and
even the legitimate curiosity Of the public in regard
TO great artists has its limits. Perhaps too, the
Light comedy Of those DAYS has had tragic ending
Doubtless many Of these lively youths are lying
very quietly to-day in the CORY uniforms OF tho
Moblots. Those wives aud sweethearts may be IN
mourning nova long life of sorrow completing the
few free days Of joy Perhaps-for that house sacred
TO art and tho innocent rites of friendship lay Just III
the track of the Psussian shells-perhaps that hos
pitgble hearth is black and shattered now, ITS iires
gone out in desoaton and its kindly gods scattered
and forlorn in the dismal waste of war;