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.