第1章

Contents：

PrefaceAlexandreDumasMr.Stevenson’sworksThomasHaynesBaylyTheodoredeBanvilleHomerandtheStudyofGreekTheLastFashionableNovelThackerayDickensAdventuresofBuccaneersTheSagasCharlesKingsleyCharlesLever：Hisbooks，adventuresandmisfortunesThepoemsofSirWalterScottJohnBunyanToaYoungJournalistMr.Kipling’sstoriesPREFACE

Ofthefollowingessays，fivearenew，andwerewrittenforthisvolume.TheyarethepaperonMr.R.L.Stevenson，the"LettertoaYoungJournalist，"thestudyofMr.Kipling，thenoteonHomer，and"TheLastFashionableNovel."Thearticleontheauthorof"Oh，no！

wenevermentionHer，"appearedintheNewYorkSun，andwassuggestedbyMr.Dana，theeditorofthatjournal.ThepapersonThackerayandDickenswerepublishedinGoodWords，thatonDumasappearedinScribner’sMagazine，thatonM.TheodoredeBanvilleinTheNewQuarterlyReview.Theotheressayswereoriginallywrittenforanewspaper"Syndicate."Theyhavebeenre—cast，augmented，and，toagreatextent，re—written.

A.L.

ALEXANDREDUMAS

AlexandreDumasisawriter，andhislifeisatopic，ofwhichhisdevoteesneverweary.Indeed，onelifetimeisnotlongenoughwhereintotireofthem.ThelongdaysandyearsofHilpaandShalum，inAddison——theantediluvianage，whenapicniclastedforhalfacenturyandacourtshipfortwohundredyears，mighthavesufficedforanexhaustivestudyofDumas.NosuchstudyhaveItooffer，inthebriefseasonsofourperishabledays.IownthatI

havenotread，anddonot，inthecircumstances，expecttoread，allofDumas，noreventhegreaterpartofhisthousandvolumes.Weonlydipacupinthatsparklingspring，anddrink，andgoon，——wecannothopetoexhaustthefountain，nortocarryawaywithusthewellitself.Itisbutawordofgratitudeanddelightthatwecansaytotheheroicandindomitablemaster，onlyanaveoffriendshipthatwecancallacrossthebournetotheshadeofthePorthosoffiction.Thathisworks（hisbestworks）shouldbeevenstillmorewidelycirculatedthantheyare;thattheyoungshouldreadthem，andlearnfrankness，kindness，generosity——shouldesteemthetenderheart，andthegay，invinciblewit;thattheoldshouldreadthemagain，andfindforgetfulnessoftrouble，andtastetheanodyneofdreams，thatiswhatwedesire.

Dumassaidofhimself（"Memoires，"v.13）thatwhenhewasyounghetriedseveraltimestoreadforbiddenbooks——booksthataresoldsouslemanteau.Buthenevergotfartherthanthetenthpage，inthe"scrofulousFrenchnovelOngraypaperwithblunttype;"

henevermadehiswaysofaras"thewofulsixteenthprint."

"Ihad，thankGod，anaturalsentimentofdelicacy;andthus，outofmysixhundredvolumes（in1852）therearenotfourwhichthemostscrupulousmothermaynotgivetoherdaughter."Muchlater，in1864，whentheCensurethreatenedoneofhisplays，hewrotetotheEmperor："Ofmytwelvehundredvolumesthereisnotonewhichagirlinourmostmodestquarter，theFaubourgSaint—Germain，maynotbeallowedtoread."ThemothersoftheFaubourg，andmothersingeneral，maynottakeDumasexactlyathisword.Thereisapassage，forexample，inthestoryofMiladi（"LesTroisMousquetaires"）whichaparentorguardianmaywellthinkundesirablereadingforyouth.Butcompareitwiththeoriginalpassageinthe"Memoires"ofD’Artagnan！Ithaspassedthroughamedium，asDumashimselfdeclared，ofnaturaldelicacyandgoodtaste.Hisenormouspopularity，thewidestintheworldofletters，owesabsolutelynothingtoprurienceorcuriosity.Theairwhichhebreathesisahealthyair，istheopenair;andthatbyhisownchoice，forhehadeverytemptationtoseekanotherkindofvogue，andeveryopportunity.

TwoanecdotesaretoldofDumas’books，onebyM.EdmondAbout，theotherbyhisownson，whichshow，inbriefspace，whythisnovelistissobeloved，andwhyhedeservesouraffectionandesteem.M.

Villaud，arailwayengineerwhohadlivedmuchinItaly，Russia，andSpain，wasthepersonwhoseenthusiasmfinallysecuredastatueforDumas.Hefeltsomuchgratitudetotheunknownfriendoflonelynightsinlongexiles，thathecouldnotbehappytillhisgratitudefoundapermanentexpression.OnreturningtoFrancehewenttoconsultM.VictorBorie，whotoldhimthistaleaboutGeorgeSand.

M.Boriechancedtovisitthefamousnovelistjustbeforeherdeath，andfoundDumas’novel，"LesQuaranteCinq"（oneofthecycleabouttheValoiskings）lyingonhertable.Heexpressedhiswonderthatshewasreadingitforthefirsttime.

"Forthefirsttime！——why，thisisthefifthorsixthtimeIhaveread’LesQuaranteCinq，’andtheothers.WhenIamill，anxious，melancholy，tired，discouraged，nothinghelpsmeagainstmoralorphysicaltroubleslikeabookofDumas."Again，M.AboutsaysthatM.SarceywasinthesameclassatschoolwithalittleSpanishboy.

Thechildwashomesick;hecouldnoteat，hecouldnotsleep;hewasalmostinadecline.

"Youwanttoseeyourmother？"saidyoungSarcey.

"No：sheisdead."

"Yourfather，then？"

"No：heusedtobeatme."

"Yourbrothersandsisters？"

"Ihavenone."

"ThenwhyareyousoeagertobebackinSpain？"

"TofinishabookIbeganintheholidays."

"Andwhatwasitsname？"

"’LosTresMosqueteros’！"

Hewashomesickfor"TheThreeMusketeers，"andtheycuredhimeasily.

ThatiswhatDumasdoes.Hegivescourageandlifetooldage，hecharmsawaythehalf—consciousnostalgie，theHeimweh，ofchildhood.

Weareallhomesick，inthedarkdaysandblacktowns，forthelandofblueskiesandbraveadventuresinforests，andinlonelyinns，onthebattle—field，intheprison，onthedesertisle.AndthenDumascomes，and，likeArgiveHelen，inHomer，hecastsadrugintothewine，thedrugnepenthe，"thatputsalleviloutofmind."DoesanyonesupposethatwhenGeorgeSandwasoldandtired，andnearherdeath，shewouldhavefoundthisanodyne，andthisstimulant，inthenovelsofM.Tolstoi，M.Dostoiefsky，M.Zola，oranyofthe"scientific"observerswhomweareactuallyrequestedtohailasthemastersofanewart，theartofthefuture？Wouldtheymakeherlaugh，asChicotdoes？makeherforget，asPorthos，Athos，andAramisdo？takeherawayfromtheheavy，familiartime，astheenchanterDumastakesus？No;letitbeenoughforthesenewauthorstobeindustrious，keen，accurate，precieux，pitiful，charitable，veracious;butgiveushighspiritsnowandthen，alightheart，asharpsword，afairwench，agoodhorse，oreventhatoldGasconrouncyofD’Artagnan’s.LikethegoodLordJamesDouglas，wehadlieferhearthelarksingovermooranddown，withChicot，thanlistentothestarved—mousesqueakinthebougeofThereseRaquin，withM.Zola.Notthatthereisnotaplaceandanhourforhim，andotherslikehim;buttheyarenot，ifyouplease，tohavethewholeworldtothemselves，andallthetime，andallthepraise;theyarenottoturntheworldintoadissecting—room，timeintotedium，andthelaurelsofScottandDumasintocrownsofnettles.

ThereisnocompletelifeofAlexandreDumas.Theagehasnotproducedtheintellectualathletewhocangirdhimselfupforthatlabour.Oneoftheworstbooksthateverwaswritten，ifitcanbesaidtobewritten，is，Ithink，theEnglishattemptatabiographyofDumas.Style，grammar，taste，feeling，areallbad.Theauthordoesnotsomuchwritealifeasdrawupanindictment.Thespiritofhisworkisgrudging，sneering，contemptuous，andpitifullypeddling.ThegreatchargeisthatDumaswasahumbug，thathewasnottheauthorofhisownbooks，thathisbookswerewrittenby"collaborators"——aboveall，byM.Maquet.ThereisnodoubtthatDumashadaregularsystemofcollaboration，whichheneverconcealed.ButwhereasDumascouldturnoutbooksthatlive，whoeverhisassistantswere，couldanyofhisassistantswritebooksthatlive，withoutDumas？Onemightaswellcallanybarristeringoodpracticeathiefandanimpostorbecausehehasjuniorsto"devil"forhim，asmakechargesofthiskindagainstDumas.Heonceaskedhissontohelphim;theyoungerAlexandredeclined."Itisworthathousandayear，andyouhaveonlytomakeobjections，"

thesireurged;butthesonwasnottobetempted.Someexcellentnovelistsofto—daywouldbemuchbetteriftheyemployedafriendtomakeobjections.But，asarule，thecollaboratordidmuchmore.

Dumas’method，apparently，wasfirsttotalkthesubjectoverwithhisaide—de—camp.Thisisanexcellentpractice，asideasareknockedout，likesparks（anelderlyillustration！），bythecontactofminds.Thentheyoungmanprobablymaderesearches，putaroughsketchonpaper，andsuppliedDumas，asitwere，withhis"brief."

ThenDumastookthe"brief"andwrotethenovel.Hegaveitlife，hegaveitthespark（l’etincelle）;andthestorylivedandmoved.

Itistruethathe"tookhisownwherehefoundit，"likeMolereandthathetookagooddeal.Inthegalleryofanoldcountry—house，onawetday，Icameonceonthe"Memoires"ofD’Artagnan，wheretheyhadlainsincethefamilyboughttheminQueenAnne’stime.

TherewereouroldfriendstheMusketeers，andthereweremanyoftheiradventures，toldatgreatlengthandbreadth.ButhowmuchmorevivacioustheyareinDumas！M.AboutrepeatsastoryofDumasandhiswaysofwork.HemetthegreatmanatMarseilles，where，indeed，Alexandrechancedtobe"onwiththenewlove"beforebeingcompletely"offwiththeold."DumaspickedupM.About，literallyliftedhiminhisembrace，andcarriedhimofftoseeaplaywhichhehadwritteninthreedays.Theplaywasasuccess;

thesupperwasprolongedtillthreeinthemorning;M.Aboutwasalmostasleepashewalkedhome，butDumaswasasfreshasifhehadjustgotoutofbed."Gotosleep，oldman，"hesaid："I，whoamonlyfifty—five，havethreefeuilletonstowrite，whichmustbepostedto—morrow.IfIhavetimeIshallknockupalittlepieceforMontigny——theideaisrunninginmyhead."SonextmorningM.

Aboutsawthethreefeuilletonsmadeupforthepost，andanotherpacketaddressedtoM.Montigny：itwastheplayL’InvitationelaValse，achef—d’oeuvre！Well，thematerialhadbeenpreparedforDumas.M.AboutsawoneofhisnovelsatMarseillesinthechrysalis.Itwasastoutcopy—bookfullofpaper，composedbyapractisedhand，onthemaster’sdesign.Dumascopiedouteachlittleleafonabigleafofpaper，enysemantl’espritepleinesmains.Thiswashismethod.Asarule，incollaboration，onemandoestheworkwhiletheotherlookson.IsitlikelythatDumaslookedon？ThatwasnotthemannerofDumas."Mirecourtandothers，"M.Aboutsays，"haveweptcrocodiletearsforthecollaborators，thevictimsofhisgloryandhistalent.Butitisdifficulttolamentoverthesurvivors（1884）.Themasterneithertooktheirmoney——fortheyarerich，northeirfame——fortheyarecelebrated，northeirmerit——fortheyhadandstillhaveplenty.

Andtheyneverbewailedtheirfate：thereverse！Theproudestcongratulatethemselvesonhavingbeenatsogoodaschool;andM.

AugusteMaquet，thechiefofthem，speakswithrealreverenceandaffectionofhisgreatfriend."AndM.Aboutwrites"asonewhohadtakenthemasterred—handed，andintheactofcollaboration."

Dumashasacuriousnoteoncollaborationinhis"SouvenirsDramatiques."Ofthetwomenatworktogether，"oneisalwaysthedupe，andHEisthemanoftalent."

ThereisnobiographyofDumas，butthesmallchangeofabiographyexistsinabundance.Therearethemanyvolumesofhis"Memoires，"

thereareallthetomeshewroteonhistravelsandadventuresinAfrica，Spain，Italy，Russia;thebookhewroteonhisbeasts;theromanceofAngePitou，partlyautobiographical;andthereareplentyoflittlestudiesbypeoplewhoknewhim.Astohis"Memoires，"astoallhewroteabouthimself，ofcoursehisimaginationenteredintothenarrative.LikeScott，whenhehadagoodstoryhelikedtodressitupwithacockedhatandasword.Didheperformallthoseastonishingandinnumerablefeatsofstrength，skill，courage，address，inrevolutions，invoyages，inlove，inwar，incookery？

Thenarrativeneednotbetaken"atthefootoftheletter";greataswashisforceandhiscourage，hisfancywasgreaterstill.

Thereisnoroomforabiographyofhimhere.Hisdescentwasnobleononeside，withorwithoutthebendsinister，whichhesaidhewouldneverhavedisclaimed，haditbeenhis，butwhichhedidnothappentoinherit.OntheothersideheMAYhavedescendedfromkings;but，asinthecaseof"TheFairCuban，"hemusthaveadded，"African，unfortunately."Didhisfatherperformthesemythicalfeatsofstrength？didheliftupahorsebetweenhislegswhileclutchingarafterwithhishands？didhethrowhisregimentbeforehimoverawall，asGuyHeavistonethrewthemarewhichrefusedtheleap（"Memoires，"i.122）？NodoubtDumasbelievedwhatheheardaboutthisancestor——inwhom，perhaps，onemayseeahintofthegiantPorthos.IntheRevolutionandinthewarshisfatherwonthenameofMonsieurdel’Humanite，becausehemadeabonfireofaguillotine;andofHoratiusCocles，becauseheheldapassasbravelyastheRoman"inthebravedaysofold."

Thiswasafathertobeproudof;andpluck，tenderness，generosity，strength，remainedthefavouritevirtuesofDumas.Thesehepreachedandpractised.Theysayhewasgenerousbeforehewasjust;itistobefearedthiswastrue，buthegaveevenmorefreelythanhereceived.Aregimentofseedypeoplespongedonhimalways;

hecouldnotlistentoataleofmiserybuthegavewhathehad，andsometimeslefthimselfshortofadinner.Hecouldnoteventurnadogoutofdoors.AthisAbbotsford，"MonteCristo，"thegateswereopentoeverybodybutbailiffs.Hisdogaskedotherdogstocomeandstay：twelvecame，makingthirteeninall.Theoldbutlerwantedtoturnthemadrift，andDumasconsented，andrepented.

"Michel，"hesaid，"therearesomeexpenseswhichaman’ssocialpositionandthecharacterwhichhehashadtheill—lucktoreceivefromheavenforceuponhim.Idon’tbelievethesedogsruinme.

Letthembide！But，intheinterestsoftheirowngoodluck，seetheyarenotthirteen，anunfortunatenumber！"

"Monsieur，I’lldriveoneofthemaway."

"No，no，Michel;letafourteenthcome.Thesedogscostmesomethreepoundsamonth，"saidDumas."Adinnertofiveorsixfriendswouldcostthriceasmuch，and，whentheywenthome，theywouldsaymywinewasgood，butcertainlythatmybookswerebad."InthisfashionDumasfaredroyally"tothedogs，"andhisAbbotsfordruinedhimascertainlyasthatotherunhappypalaceruinedSirWalter.

He，too，hadhismiscellaneouskennel;he，too，gavewhilehehadanythingtogive，and，whenhehadnothingelse，gavetheworkofhispen.Dumastellshowhisbigdog，Moutononceflewathimandbitoneofhishands，whiletheotherheldthethroatofthebrute.

"Luckilymyhand，thoughsmall，ispowerful;whatitonceholdsitholdslong——moneyexcepted."Hecouldnot"haudaguidgripo’thegear."NeitherScottnorDumascouldshuthisearstoaprayerorhispocketstoabeggar，orhisdoorsonwhoeverknockedatthem.

"Imightatleasthaveaskedhimtodinner，"Scottwasheardmurmuring，whensomeinsufferableboreatlastleftAbbotsford，afterwastinghistimeandnearlywearingouthispatience.NeithermanPREACHEDsocialism;bothpractiseditontheAristotelianprinciple：thegoodsoffriendsarecommon，andmenareourfriends.

ThedeathofDumas’father，whilethesonwasachild，leftMadameDumasingreatpovertyatVillersCotterets.Dumas’educationwassadlytoseek.Likemostchildrendestinedtobebookish，hetaughthimselftoreadveryyoung：inBuffon，theBible，andbooksofmythology.HeknewallaboutJupiter——likeDavidCopperfield’sTomJones，"achild’sJupiter，aninnocentcreature"——allabouteverygod，goddess，fawn，dryad，nymph——andheneverforgotthisusefulinformation.DearLempriere，thouartsuperseded;buthowmuchmoredelightfulthouartthanthefastidiousSmithorthelearnedPreller！Dumashadonevolumeofthe"ArabianNights，"withAladdin’slamptherein，thesacredlampwhichhewastokeepburningwithaflamesobrilliantandsosteady.Itispleasanttoknowthat，inhisboyhood，thisgreatromancerlovedVirgil."LittleasismyLatin，IhaveeveradoredVirgil：histendernessforexiles，hismelancholyvisionofdeath，hisforebodingofanunknownGod，havealwaysmovedme;themelodyofhisversescharmedmemost，andtheylullmestillbetweenasleepandawake."Schooldaysdidnotlastlong：MadameDumasgotalittlepost——alicencetoselltobacco——andatfifteenDumasenteredanotary’soffice，likehisgreatScotchforerunner.Hewasignorantofhisvocationforthestage——RacineandCorneillefatiguedhimprodigiously——tillhesawHamlet：HamletdilutedbyDucis.HehadneverheardofShakespeare，butherewassomethinghecouldappreciate.Herewas"aprofoundimpression，fullofinexplicableemotion，vaguedesires，fleetinglights，that，sofar，lituponlyachaos."

Oddlyenough，hisearliestliteraryessaywasthetranslationofBurger’s"Lenore."Here，again，heencountersScott;butScotttranslatedtheballad，andDumasfailed.Lesmortesvontvite！thesamerefrainwokepoetryinboththeFrenchmanandtheScotchman.

"Ha！ha！theDeadcanridewithspeed：

Dostfeartoridewithme？"

SoDumas’literarycareerbeganwithadefeat，butitwasalwaysabeginning.Hehadjustfailedwith"Lenore，"whenLeuvenaskedhimtocollaborateinaplay.Hewasutterlyignorant，hesays;hehadnotsucceededingallanteffortstoreadthrough"GilBlas"and"DonQuixote.""Tomyshame，"hewrites，"themanhasnotbeenmorefortunatewiththosemasterpiecesthantheboy."HehadnotyetheardofScott，Cooper，Goethe;hehadheardofShakespeareonlyasabarbarian.Otherplaystheboywrote——failures，ofcourse——andthenDumaspoachedhiswaytoParis，shootingpartridgesontheroad，andpayingthehotelexpensesbyhissuccessinthechase.HewasintroducedtothegreatTalma：whatamomentforTalma，hadheknownit！Hesawthetheatres.Hewenthome，butreturnedtoParis，drewasmallprizeinalottery，andsatnextagentlemanattheplay，agentlemanwhoreadtherarestofElzevirs，"LePastissierFrancais，"andgavehimalittlelectureonElzevirsingeneral.Soonthisgentlemanbegantohissthepiece，andwasturnedout.HewasCharlesNodier，andoneoftheanonymousauthorsoftheplayhewashissing！Iownthatthisamusingchapterlacksverisimilitude.ItreadsasifDumashadchancedto"getup"thesubjectofElzevirs，andhadfashionedhisnewknowledgeintoalittlestory.Hecouldmakeastoryoutofanything——he"turnedalltofavourandtoprettiness."CouldItranslatethewholepassage，andprintithere，itwouldbelongerthanthisarticle;but，ah，howmuchmoreentertaining！ForwhateverDumasdidhedidwithsuchlife，spirit，wit，hetolditwithsuchvivacity，thathiswholecareerisonelongromanceofthehighestquality.Lassagnetoldhimhemustread——mustreadGoethe，Scott，Cooper，Froissart，Joinville，Brantome.Hereadthemtosomepurpose.HeenteredtheserviceoftheDucd’Orleansasaclerk，forhewroteaclearhand，and，happily，wroteatastonishingspeed.Heissaidtohavewrittenashortplayinacottagewherehewenttorestforanhourortwoaftershootingallthemorning.Thepracticeinanotary’sofficestoodhim，asitstoodScott，ingoodstead.Whenadogbithishandhemanagedtowriteavolumewithoutusinghisthumb.I

havetriedit，butforbear——inmercytotheprinters.HeperformedwildfeatsofrapidcaligraphywhenaclerkundertheDucd’Orleans，andhewrotehisplaysinone"hand，"hisnovelsinanother.The"hand"usedinhisdramasheacquiredwhen，indaysofpoverty，heusedtowriteinbed.Tothishabithealsoattributedthebrutaliteofhisearlierpieces，butthereseemstobenogoodreasonwhyamanshouldwritelikeabrutebecauseitisinbedthathewrites.

Inthosedaysofsmallthingshefoughthisfirstduel，andmadeastudyofFearandCourage.Hisearliestimpulsewastorushatdanger;ifhehadtowait，hefelthiscourageoozingoutatthetipsofhisfingers，likeBobAcres，butinthemomentofperilhewashimselfagain.Indreamshewasacoward，because，asheargues，thenaturalmanISapoltroon，andconscience，honour，allthespiritualandcommandingpartofournature，goestosleepindreams.Theanimalterrorassertsitselfunchecked.Itisatheorynotwithoutexceptions.Indreamsonehasplentyofconscience（atleastthatismyexperience），thoughitusuallytakestheformofremorse.Andindreamsoneoftenaffrontsdangerswhich，inwakinghours，onemightprobablyavoidifonecould.

Dumas’firstplay，anunimportantvaudeville，wasactedin1825.

Hisfirstnovelswerealsopublishedthen;hetookpartoftherisk，andonlyfourcopiesweresold.Heafterwardusedtheideasinmorematureworks，asMr.SheridanLeFanuemployedthreeorfourtimes（withperfectcandourandfairness）themostcuriousincidentin"UncleSilas."LikeMr.ArthurPendennis，Dumasatthistimewrotepoetry"upto"picturesandillustrations.Itiseasy，butseldomlucrativework.HetranslatedaplayofSchiller’sintoFrenchverse，chieflytogaincommandofthatvehicle，forhisheartwasfixedondramaticsuccess.ThencamethevisitofKeanandotherEnglishactorstoParis.HesawthetrueHamlet，and，forthefirsttimeonanystage，"theplayofrealpassions."Emulationwokeinhim：acasualworkofartledhimtothestoryofChristinaofSweden，hewrotehisplayChristine（afterwardreconstructed）;hereadittoBaronTaylor，whoapplauded;theComedieFrancaiseacceptedit，butaseriesofintriguesdisappointedhim，afterall.

Hisenergyatthismomentwasextraordinary，forhewasverypoor，hismotherhadastrokeofparalysis，hisbureauwasalwaysbullyingandinterferingwithhim.Butnothingcouldsnubthis"forceofnature，"andheimmediatelyproducedhisHenriTrois，thefirstromanticdramaofFrance.Thishadaninstantandnoisysuccess，andthefirstnightoftheplayhespentatthetheatre，andatthebedsideofhisunconsciousmother.Thepoorladycouldnotevenunderstandwhencetheflowerscamethathelaidonhercouch，theflowersthrowntotheyoungman——yesterdayunknown，andto—daythemostfamousofcontemporarynames.Allthistaleoftriumph，checkeredbyenmitiesanddiversifiedbyduels，Dumastellswiththevigourandwitofhisnovels.Heishisownhero，andlosesnothingintheprocess;buttheothercharacters——Taylor，Nodier，theDucd’Orleans，thespitefulpress—men，thecrabbedoldofficials——alllivelikethebestofthepersonsinhistales.TheycallDumasvain：hehadreasontobevain，andnocandidorgenerousreaderwillbeshockedbyhispleasant，frank，andartlessenjoymentofhimselfandofhisadventures.Oddlyenough，theyaresmall—mindedandsmall—heartedpeoplewhoaremostshockedbywhattheycall"vanity"inthegreat.Dumas’delightinhimselfandhisdoingsisonlytheflowerofhisvigorousexistence，andinhis"Memoires，"atleast，itisashappyandencouragingashislaugh，orthelaughofPorthos;itisakindofradiance，inwhichothers，too，maybaskandenjoythemselves.Andyetitisresentedbytinyscribblers，frozenintheirownchillself—conceit.

Thereisnothingincredible（ifmodernresearchesareaccurate）inthestorieshetellsofhisownsuccessinHypnotism，asitiscallednow，MesmerismorMagnetismasitwascalledthen.Whowaslikelytopossessthesepowers，ifnotthisgood—humourednaturalforce？"Ibelievethat，byaidofmagnetism，abadmanmightdomuchmischief.Idoubtwhether，byhelpofmagnetism，agoodmancandotheslightestgood，"hesays，probablywithperfectjustice.

HisdramaticsuccessfiredVictorHugo，andverypleasantitistoreadDumas’warm—heartedpraiseofthatgreatpoet.Dumashadnojealousy——nomorethanScott.Ashebelievedinnosuccesswithouttalent，sohedisbelievedingeniuswhichwinsnosuccess."Jenecroispasautalentignore，augenieinconnu，moi."Geniushesalutedwhereverhemetit，butwasincredulousaboutinvisibleandinaudiblegenius;andIowntosharinghisscepticism.PeoplewhocomplainofDumas’vanitymayberequestedtoobservethatheseemsjustas"vain"ofHugo’ssuccesses，orofScribe’s，asofhisown，andjustasmuchdelightedbythem.

Hewasnowstruck，ashewalkedontheboulevardoneday，bythefirstideaofAntony——anideawhich，tobefair，seemsratherabsurdthantragic，tosometastes."Alover，caughtwithamarriedwoman，killshertosavehercharacter，anddiesonthescaffold."Hereisindeedaparttotearacatin！

TheperformancesofM.DumasduringtheRevolutionof1830，aretheynotwrittenintheBookoftheChroniclesofAlexandretheGreat？

Buttheywerenotliteraryexcellenceswhichhethendisplayed，andwemayleavethisking—makertohover，"likeaneagle，abovethestormsofanarchy."

Eventosketchhislaterbiographyisbeyondourprovince.In1830

hehadfortyyearstorun，andhefilledthecupoftheHourstothebrimwithactivityandadventure.Hiscareerwasoneofunparalleledproduction，punctuatedbyrevolutions，voyages，exiles，andotherintervalsofrepose.Thetaleshetellsofhisprowessin1830，andwithGaribaldi，seemcredibletome，andareborneout，sofar，bythenarrativeofM.MaximeDucamp，whomethimatNaples，intheGaribaldiancamp.LikeMr.Jingle，in"Pickwick，"he"bangedthefield—piece，twangedthelyre，"andwaspottingatthefoesoftherepublicwithadouble—barrelledgun，whenhewasnotcomposingplays，romances，memoirs，criticisms.HehastoldthetaleofhisadventureswiththeComedieFrancaise，wheretheactorslaughedathisAntony，andwhereMadameMarsandhequarrelledandmadeitupagain.Hisplaysoftenwonanextravagantsuccess;hisnovels——hisgreatnovels，thatis——madeallEuropehisfriend.Hegainedlargesumsofmoney，whichflowedoutofhisfingers，thoughitissaidbysomethathisAbbotsford，MonteCristo，wasnomoreapalacethanthevillawhicharetiredtradesmanbuildstoshelterhisoldage.

ButthemoneydisappearedasfastasifMonteCristohadreallybeenpalatial，andworthyofthefantasyofaNero.Hegotintodebt，fledtoBelgium，returned，foundedtheMousquetaire，aliterarypaperofthestrangestandmostshiftlesskind.In"AlexandreDumaselaMaisond’Or，"M.PhilibertAudebrandtellsthetaleofthisMicawberofnewspapers.Everythingwentintoit，goodorbad，andthenameofDumaswasexpectedtomakeallcurrentcoin.ForDumas，unluckily，wasasprodigalofhisnameasofhisgold，andnoreputationcouldbearthedraftshemadeonhiscelebrity.Hissonsays，intheprefacetoLeFilsNaturel："Tragedy，dramas，history，romance，comedy，travel，youcastalloftheminthefurnaceandthemouldofyourbrain，andyoupeopledtheworldoffictionwithnewcreations.Thenewspaper，thebook，thetheatre，burstasunder，toonarrowforyourpuissantshoulders;youfedFrance，Europe，Americawithyourworks;youmadethewealthofpublishers，translators，plagiarists;printersandcopyiststoiledafteryouinvain.Inthefeverofproductionyoudidnotalwaystryandprovethemetalwhichyouemployed，andsometimesyoutossedintothefurnacewhatevercametoyourhand.Thefiremadetheselection：whatwasyourownisbronze，whatwasnotyoursvanishedinsmoke."

ThesimileisnobleandworthyoftheCyclopeancraftsman，Dumas.

Hisgreatworksendured;theplayswhichrenewedtheyouthoftheFrenchstage，thenovelswhichThackeraylovedtopraise，theseremain，andwetrusttheymayalwaysremain，tothedelightofmankindandforthesorrowofprigs.

SomuchhasbeenwrittenofDumas’novelsthatcriticismcanhardlyhopetosaymorethatisbothnewandtrueaboutthem.Itisacknowledgedthat，insuchacharacterasHenriIII.，Dumasmadehistorylive，asmagicallyasScottrevivedthepastinhisLouisXI.，orBalfourofBurley.ItisadmittedthatDumas’goodtalesaretoldwithavigourandlifewhichrejoicetheheart;thathisnarrativeisneverdull，neverstandsstill，butmoveswithafreedomofadventurewhichperhapshasnoparallel.Hemayfallshortofthehumour，thekindlywisdom，thegenialgreatnessofSirWalterathisbest，andhehasnotthatsupernaturaltouch，thattragicgrandeur，whichScottinheritsfromHomerandfromShakespeare.InanotherHomericquality，[Greektext]，asHomerhimselfcallsit，inthe"delightofbattle"andthespiritofthefray，ScottandDumasarealikemasters.TheirfightsandthefightsintheIcelandicsagasarethebestthathaveeverbeendrawnbymortalman.Whenswordsarealoft，insiegeoronthegreensward，orinthemidnightchamberwhereanambushislaid，ScottandDumasareindeedthemselves.Thesteelrings，thebucklersclash，theparryandlungepassandanswertooswiftforthesight.IfDumashasnot，ashecertainlyhasnot，thenoblephilosophyandkindlyknowledgeoftheheartwhichareScott’s，heisfarmoreswift，morewitty，morediverting.Heisnotprolix，hisstyleisnotinvolved，hisdialogueisasrapidandkeenasanassaultatarms.Hisfavouritevirtuesandgraces，werepeatit，areloyalty，friendship，gaiety，generosity，courage，beauty，andstrength.Heishimselfthefriendofthebig，stupid，excellentPorthos;ofAthos，thenobleandmelancholyswordsmanofsorrow;ofD’Artagnan，theindomitable，thetrusty，theinexhaustibleinresource;buthisheartisneveronthesideoftheshiftyAramis，withallhisbeauty，dexterity，bravery，andbrilliance.ThebraveBussy，andthechivalrous，thedoomedLaMole，aremoredeartohim;

andifheembellishestheircharacters，givingthemcharmsandvirtuesthatneverweretheirs，historylosesnothing，andromanceandwearethegainers.Inallhedoes，athisbest，asinthe"Chevalierd’Harmenthal，"hehasmovement，kindness，courage，andgaiety.HisphilosophyoflifeisthatoldphilosophyofthesagasandofHomer.Letusenjoythemovementofthefray，thefacesoffairwomen，thetasteofgoodwine;letuswelcomelifelikeamistress，letuswelcomedeathlikeafriend，andwithajest——ifdeathcomeswithhonour.

Dumasisnopessimist."Heavenhasmadebutonedramaforman——theworld，"hewrites，"andduringthesethreethousandyearsmankindhasbeenhissingit."Itiscertainthat，ifamoralcensorshipcouldhavepreventedit，thisgreatdramaofmortalpassionswouldneverhavebeenlicensed，atall，neverperformed.ButDumas，forone，willnothissit，butapplaudswithallhismight——acharmedspectator，afortunateactorintheeternalpiece，whereallthemenandwomenareonlyplayers.Youhearhismanlylaughter，youhearhismightyhandsapproving，youseethetearsheshedswhenhehad"slainPorthos"——greattearslikethoseofPantagruel.

Hismaynotbethebest，northeultimatephilosophy，butitISaphilosophy，andoneofwhichwemaysomedayfeelthewant.Ireadthestiltedcriticisms，thepedanticcarpingsofsomemodernmenwhocannotwritetheirownlanguage，andIgatherthatDumasisoutofdate.Thereisanewphilosophyofdoubtsanddelicacies，ofdallyingsandrefinements，ofhalf—heartedlookers—on，desiringandfearingsomeneworderoftheworld.Dumasdoesnotdallynordoubt：hetakeshisside，herushesintothesmoke，hestrikeshisfoe;butthereisneveranunkindwordonhislip，noragrudgingthoughtinhisheart.

ItmaybesaidthatDumasisnotamasterofwordsandphrases，thatheisnotaraffineofexpression，norajewellerofstyle.WhenI

readthemaunderings，thestiltedandstaggeringsentences，thehesitatingphrases，thefar—soughtanddear—boughtandworthlessword—juggles;theshamscientificverbiage，thenativepedantriesofmanymodernso—called"stylists，"IrejoicethatDumaswasnotoneofthese.Hetoldaplaintale，inthelanguagesuitedtoaplaintale，withabundanceofwitandgaiety，asinthereflectionsofhisChicot，asinallhisdialogues.Buthedidnotgnawtheendofhispeninsearchofsomewordthatnobodyhadeverusedinthisorthatconnectionbefore.Therightwordcametohim，thesimplestraightforwardphrase.Epithet—huntingmaybeaprettysport，andthebagoftheepithet—huntermaycontainsomeagreeableepigramsandrarespecimensofstyle;butaplaintaleofadventure，ofloveandwar，needsnoneofthisindustry，andisevenspoiledbyinopportunediligence.Speed，directness，lucidityarethecharacteristicsofDumas’style，andtheyareexactlythecharacteristicswhichhisnovelsrequired.Scottoftenfailed，hismostloyaladmirersmayadmit，intheseessentials;butitisrarelythatDumasfails，whenheishimselfandathisbest.

Inspiteofhisheedlesseducation，Dumashadtruecriticalqualities，andmostadmiredthebestthings.WehavealreadyseenhowhewritesaboutShakespeare，Virgil，Goethe，Scott.Butitmaybelessfamiliarlyknownthatthisburlyman—of—all—work，ignorantashewasofGreek，hadatrueandkeenappreciationofHomer.

Dumasdeclaresthatheonlythricecriticisedhiscontemporariesinanunfavourablesense，andasonewishfultofindfault.ThevictimswereCasimirDelavigne，Scribe，andPonsard.OneachoccasionDumasdeclaresthat，afterreflecting，hesawthathewasmovedbyalittlepersonalpique，notbyadisinterestedloveofart.Hemakeshisconfessionwithararenobilityofcandour;andyethisreviewofPonsardisworthyofhim.M.Ponsard，who，likeDumas，wasnoscholar，wroteaplaystyledUlysse，andborrowedfromtheOdyssey.DumasfollowsPonsard，Odysseyinhand，andwhileheprovesthatthedramatistfailedtounderstandHomer，provesthathehimselfwas，inessentials，acapableHomericcritic.Dumasunderstandsthatfar—offheroicage.Helivesinitslifeandsympathiseswithitstemper.Homerandhearecongenial;acrossthegreatgulfoftimetheyexchangesmilesandasalute.

"Oh！ancientHomer，dearandgoodandnoble，Iammindednowandagaintoleaveallandtranslatethee——I，whohaveneverawordofGreek——soemptyandsodismalaretheversionsmenmakeofthee，inverseorinprose."

HowDumascametodivineHomer，asitwere，throughalanguageheknewnot，whoshallsay？HeDIDdivinehimbyanaturalsympathyofexcellence，andhischaptersonthe"Ulysse"ofPonsardareworthawildernessofnotesbylearnedandmostun—Homericmen.For，indeed，whocanbelessliketheheroicminstrelthantheacademicphilologist？

Thisuniversalitydeservesnote.TheHomericstudentwhotakesupavolumeofDumasatrandomfindsthatheisnotonlyHomericnaturally，butthathereallyknowshisHomer.Whatdidhenorknow？Hisrapidityinreadingmusthavebeenasremarkableashispacewiththepen.AsM.BlazedeBurysays："Instinct，experience，memorywereallhis;heseesataglance，hecomparesinaflash，heunderstandswithoutconsciouseffort，heforgetsnothingthathehasread."Thepastandpresentarephotographedimperishablyonhisbrain，heknowsthemannersofallagesandallcountries，thenamesofallthearmsthatmenhaveused，allthegarmentstheyhaveworn，allthedishestheyhavetasted，allthetermsofallprofessions，fromswordsmanshiptocoach—building.

Otherauthorshavetowait，andhuntforfacts;nothingstopsDumas：

heknowsandrememberseverything.Hencehisrapidity，hisfacility，hispositivedelightinlabour：henceitcamethathemightbeheard，likeDickens，laughingwhileheworked.

ThisisratheraeulogythanacriticismofDumas.Hisfaultsareonthesurface，visibletoallmen.Hewasnotonlyrapid，hewashasty，hewasinconsistent;hisneedofmoneyaswellashisloveofworkmadehimputhishandtodozensofperishablethings.A

beginner，enteringtheforestofDumas’books，mayfailtoseethetreesforthewood.Hemaybecounselledtoselectfirstthecycleofd’Artagnan——the"Musketeers，""TwentyYearsAfter，"andthe"VicomtedeBragelonne."Mr.Stevenson’sdelightfulessayonthelastmayhavesentmanyreaderstoit;Iconfesstopreferringtheyouthofthe"Musketeers"totheiroldage.ThenthereisthecycleoftheValois，whereofthe"DamedeMonsereau"isthebest——perhapsthebestthingDumaseverwrote.The"TulipeNoire"isanovelgirlsmayread，asThackeraysaid，withconfidence.The"Chevalierd’Harmenthal"isnearly（notquite）asgoodas"QuentinDurward."

"MonteCristo"hasthebestbeginning——andlosesitselfinthesands.ThenovelsontheRevolutionarenotamongthemostalluring：thefameddevice"L.P.D."（liliapedibusdestrue）hasthebadlucktosuggest"LondonParcelsDelivery."Thatisanaccident，buttheRevolutionisinitselftooterribleandpitiful，andtoonearus（onbothsides！）forfiction.

OnDumas’faultsithasbeennopleasuretodwell.InarecentworkIfindtheJesuitLeMoynequoted，sayingaboutCharlesV.："WhatneedthatfutureagesshouldbemadeacquaintedsoreligiousanEmperorwasnotalwayschaste！"ThesamereticencealluresoneinregardtosodelightfulanauthorasDumas.Hewhohadenrichedsomanydiedpoor;hewhohadtoldofconqueringFrance，diedduringtheTerribleYear.Buthecouldforgive，couldappreciate，thevalourofanenemy.OftheScotchatWaterloohewrites："Itwasnotenoughtokillthem：wehadtopushthemdown."Dead，theystillstood"shouldertoshoulder."InthesamegeneroustemperanEnglishcavalryofficerwrotehome，afterWaterloo，thathewouldgladlyhavegiventherestofhislifetohaveserved，onthatday，inourinfantryorintheFrenchcavalry.Thesearethespiritsthatwarmtheheart，thatmakeusallfriends;andtothegreat，thebrave，thegenerousDumaswecry，acrosstheyearsandacrossthetomb，ourAveatquevale！

MR.STEVENSON’SWORKS

PerhapsthefirstqualityinMr.Stevenson’sworks，nowsomanyandsovarious，whichstrikesareader，isthebuoyancy，thesurvivalofthechildinhim.Hehastoldtheworldoften，inproseandverse，howvividarehismemoriesofhisowninfancy.Thisretentionofchildishrecollectionsheshares，nodoubt，withotherpeopleofgenius：forexample，withGeorgeSand，whoselegendofherowninfancyismuchmoreentertaining，andperhapswillendurelonger，thanhernovels.Heryouth，likeScott’sandlikeMr.Stevenson’s，waspassedallinfantasy：inplayingatbeingsomeoneelse，intheinventionofimaginarycharacters，whowerelivingtoher，inthefabricationofendlessunwrittenromances.Manypersons，whodonotastonishtheworldbytheirgenius，havelivedthusintheirearliestyouth.But，atagivenmoment，thefancydiesoutofthem：

thisoftenbefallsimaginativeboysintheirfirstyearatschool.

"Manyarecalled，fewchosen";butitmaybesaidwithprobabletruth，thattherehasneverbeenamanofgeniusinletters，whoseboyhoodwasnotthusfantastic，"anisleofdreams."WeknowhowScottandDeQuinceyinhabitedairycastles;andGilliestellsus，thoughLockhartdoesnot，thatScott，inmanhood，wasoccasionallysolostinthought，thatheknewnotwherehewasnorwhathewasdoing.

ThepeculiarityofMr.Stevensonisnotonlytohavebeenafantasticchild，andtoretain，inmaturity，thatfantasyripenedintoimagination：hehasalsokeptupthehabitofdramatisingeverything，ofplaying，halfconsciously，manyparts，ofmakingtheworld"anunsubstantialfairyplace."Thisturnofminditisthatcauseshisworkoccasionallytoseemsomewhatfreakish.Thus，inthefogsandhorrorsofLondon，heplaysatbeinganArabiantale—

teller，andhis"NewArabianNights"areanewkindofromanticism——

Oriental，freakish，liketheworkofachangeling.Indeed，thiscuriousgenius，springingfromafamilyofScottishengineers，resemblesnothingsomuchasoneofthefairychildren，whomtheladiesofQueenProserpina’scourtusedtoleaveinthecradlesofBorderkeepsorofpeasants’cottages.OftheScothehaslittlebutthepoweroftouchinguswithasenseofthesupernatural，andadecidedhabitofmoralising;fornoScotofgeniushasbeenmoreausterewithRobertBurns.Ontheotherhand，oneelementofMr.

Stevenson’sethicaldisquisitionsisderivedfromhisdramatichabit.Hisoptimism，hisgaycourage，hishabitofacceptingtheworldasverywellworthlivinginandlookingat，persuadedoneofhiscriticsthathewasahard—heartedyoungathleteofironframe.

Now，oftheathletehehasnothingbuthisloveoftheopenair：itistheeternalchildthatdriveshimtoseekadventuresandtosojournamongbeach—combersandsavages.Thus，anadmiringbutfarfromoptimisticcriticmaydoubtwhetherMr.Stevenson’scontentwiththeworldisnot"onlyhisfun，"asLambsaidofColeridge’spreaching;whetherheisbutplayingatbeingthehappywarriorinlife;whetherheisnotactingthatpart，himselftohimself.Atleast，itisapartfortunatelyconceivedandadmirablysustained：

adifficultparttoo，whereasthatofthepessimistisaseasyaswhining.

Mr.Stevenson’sworkhasbeenverymuchwrittenabout，asithasengagedanddelightedreadersofeveryage，station，andcharacter.

Boys，ofcourse，havebeenspeciallyaddressedinthebooksofadventure，childrenin"AChild’sGardenofVerse，"youngmenandmaidensin"VirginibusPuerisque，"——allagesinallthecuriouslyvariedseriesofvolumes."Kidnapped"wasoneofthelastbookswhichthelateLordIddesleighread;andItrustthereisnoharminmentioningthepleasurewhichMr.MatthewArnoldtookinthesamestory.CriticsofeverysorthavebeenkindtoMr.Stevenson，inspiteofthefactthatthefewwhofirstbecameacquaintedwithhisgeniuspraiseditwithallthewarmthofwhichtheyweremasters.