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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1896-11-19, Page 3D 11 MA1TIi,IER. RELIABLE SKETCH OF THE GREAT ARTIST -AUTHOR'S LIFE AND WORK. Tie ivied of the Same Disease That Carried 00 the Monstrous Svenaall—Ilis youth In Paris—Seemed Always Right in His Opinions of Social realms. Even while the air was still vibrating with the last eohoes of the toiling bell which knelled the passing of William Morris there Caine across the writers the message that the author of "Trilby" had followed his heroine to the kingdom of Ponemah, to the Isles of the Hereafter, It will, of course, take the public some time to think of an author so very much alive as was Du Maurier as one who has no longer any tidings to give to the pub- lic that hung so eagerly on his utter- ances, and the story of his which is now being published in a monthly magazine will have a new and .pathetic interest since death has marked it as the laid work of its. author. But the public, like the conscience of a dying man, naturally reverts at once to the closed chapters of a dead man's history and asks for an epitome of his life, whereby it may know how to write his epitaph, either mentally, to be in- scribed on its private judgment tablets, or for the benefit of others who have no data from which to draw their conclu- siops, Unfortunately all the information that the public gets is usually what might be termed external records, To the internal smiler inscriptions which give an account of the real man the public has no access. The nearest approach to anything like an inner history can sometimes be found between the lines of an author's stories by those who aro versed in that form of interlinear cipher. According to this invisible record Du Meunier was a man with the humanities very largely developed, phronologically speaking; a man of broad sympathies, frank likes and dislikes and impulses which made hien a spiritual mugwump in his choice between paganism and Christianity. What was beautiful in each be elected into his creed and did not worry himself by any effort to make it fit into the system of anybody else. Judg- ing from his interlinear confessions, one could count on himto relieve distress whenever it was in his power to do so, but his sensitive artistic disposition would hardly allow him 1'o snore than GEORGE DU MAURIl:R, notice the cases which he could not avoid seeing, The external records of Do Maurier's life arc much snore simple: He was born in Paris, that bad and beautiful city, which is the pride or shame of a French- man, according to his bringing up. What the author's sentiments were towards his native city he has most tenderly chroni- cled in his "Story of Peter Ibbetson," which the public has never really appre- ciated as it would had it not appreciated "'Trilby" so much. As everybody knows who has read "Trilby"—end that takes in the larger part of the reading world—Du Meunier received his technical education as an ar- tist in the .Latin quarter of Paris, which he has.made famous as the background of the sad and sinister scenes of Trilby's life. Be afterwards continued the study of art in Antwerp, where overwork, the cigarette habit and failing eyesight corn polled him to spend months in the hos- pital. But with only one eye to pursue his investigations he made a thorough study of Punch's Almanac during his illness, and made up his mind to draw for that paper. He accordingly moved to London as soon as he was able (in 1800) and contributed to Punch during a per- iod of thirty-six years a series of carica- tures aimed at British stolidity and ho- vininity. The reader who has taken the trouble to do a little addition will thus see that Du Meunier was fifty-six years old before he had discovered (or had it discovered for him) that he was a novel- ist. Oddly enough, both of the most popu- lar novelists of the day, Du Meunier and Maclaren, had to be instigated to write the novels that made them famous. And to Henry James falls the honor of point- ing out his calling to Du Maurier, who recklessly offered his plot to the Ameri- can author. But the latter generously urged him to use it himself, and the re - Suit the whole world knows. No land or clime so remote can be found where the character of Trilby is not as familiar as that of Rachel, and Rebecca. Indeed, it is more than possible that more. people of the present generation could pass a good examination on Trilby than on the history of the patriarchs, even with the immense start given in favor of the latter. An extract from a bona fide conversa- tion overheard on a tourist train which was passing through a rural region will give in condensed form an account of the "Trilby" craze:— "Read ,`Trilby?' " said the man with a nineteenth-century coat. "Nope," was the rejoinder from the man with a back -number hat and suit to snatch. "What's it about?" "What's it about? Why man alive, it's as hard to find a man :that hasn't 'read the Bible as to find one that hasn't read 'Trilby.' .. "Well, what's it all about? "About? It's about everything; but Mostly about a girl that had such beauti- ful feet that all Paris went wild over her," "Humph," wall the reply, "I'm too old a man to go wild about anybody's feet." It was not Trilby's feet, however, that the world went wild oyer, The secret of Du Maurier's success was the name which made "Uncle Tom" a household word wherever the English language is rpoken, and what Holmes wrote of Mrs.. Stowe may be re -written with a change of pronouns of Du Maurier:— His lever was the wand of art, His fulcrum was the human heart. Upon this human heart, sinning, lov- ing and forgiving, 1)u Maurier played the deep, sad symphonies which, moved the world to sympathetic tears since the world was given over to the habitation of man, Even those who may have read the book for certain other characteristics which advertised it to the sensationally minded, could not fail to weep away their sins of inquisitiveness in the melting conclusion of the story. Despite all strictures at the rigidly righteous and the "unto geld," "Tril- by" will still remain a masterpiece in its characterization of loyal fellowship, unselfish love and charity, In addition to all its merits as a work in which the daintiest, airiest French esprit flickers in undertone through a theme full of deep- est pathos. The author's own death is a fitting climax to the minor strain with which he so beautifully closes the chapters of Trilby's life:— A little work, a little play, To keep us going—and so good -day! A little warmth, a little light, Of love's bestowing --and so good-nighti A little fun to match the sorrow Of each day's growing—and so good - morrow' A little trust that when we die We reap our sowing—and so gond-by' With the very disease which carried off his monstrous Svengali—heart fail- ure—Du .ilaurier surrendered the fame and, perhaps, the greater glories that still awaited hila. Almost his last words were that the popularity of "Trilby" had killed him, a remark which is per- fectly intelligible to those who know how exciting has been the course of events which have resulted from that popularity. Du Meunier was the sworn enemy of the snob, the cad, the society bore and the congenital dunderhead. All the abuses he made fun of are real crying evils in Eng- lish society. It is difficult for an intelli- gent man to realize the colossal lack of tact which is the keynote of a large pro- portion of English "upper circles." Much of what appears to he absence of diplo- macy in Great Britain is deliberate in- solence, but more of it is unadulterated mutton -headedness. The "things one would rather have left unsaid" series have become famous. They chronicle how various people in' society put their foot in it just as deep as ever in Merry England every day. His "Feline Amenities" are'very sub- tle. They repeat the cutting remarks which women make to their dearest friends. Here is one of thorn. A woman 0 selecting from the photographs of a dear friend, says to her:— "Now, which one of these photographs of you may I have, dearest? The beauti- ful one or the one as I know you?" Du Meunier had something true to say about the American snob millionaire girl "putting on side" in England, as witness this dialogue under one of his drawings:— Young Britisher—Your father's not with you then, Miss Van Tromp? Fair New York Millionairess (one of three) -Why no; popper's much too vul- gar! It's as much as we can do to stand warmer! The absolute photographic accuracy of this conversation" must impress every one who has observed the antics of ill- bred but rich Americans on the other side of the Atlantic. Here is another "thing one would rather have left unsaid":— "I was so sorry not tobe at home when you called, Mr. Binks.'' "Oh, pray don't mention it! It didn't. matter in the least, I can assure youl" Du Maurier seemed always to be right in his opinions of social follies. The idiocy of the aesthetic craze struck him at once, and be attacked it mercilessly, making caricatures of its . flabby and filthy apostle, Oscar Wilde. Here's one of his "Things one would have expressed differently';. -- Nervous Invalid Ah, my dear fellow, this is one of the worst attacks I ever had: Sympathetic Friend—Yes, old man. I sincerely hope it will be the last ! Good-hy. Here's another L' Ton can't go home when it's raining like this. You'd better stay and have PONY EXPRESS RIDING. dinner with us." "Oh! it's not quite so bad as that." Then there Is the remark_ of the photo- graher:—• "Please look a little pleasant, miss: know it's hard, but it's only for a nun went!" And the observation of the host to the departing guest:— Guest--Well, good -by, old man! And you've really got a very nice place here. Host --Yes, but it's rather bare just now. I hope the trees will have grown a good hit before you're hack, old man. A MEDICAL BICYCLE. A New 'fork Doe or Invents a Device to Prevent Bicycles I+'rmn Spilling. The bicycle that will not upset has long been the dream of bicycle inventors and wheelmen. The so-called "safety" is really not safe at all, at least until its capricious tendencies have been mastered according to the known laws of physics. The name "safety" was given to it to differentiate it from the high wheel of years ago, the high wheel having no ele- ments of safety, but many of danger. When the foreign wheel makers hit upon the ideenof the modern wheel it was so much safer than the old nlgdel that its name seemed natural enough. A New York doctor now comes for- ward with an idea for a wheel that will be safer even than a safety, ills scheme has highly important features if it should prove to be practicable, and bicycles of the future will be equipped with an easily working contrivance that will enable the rider instantly to bring his wheel to a dead stop in emergencies, and actually bold in an upright position, firm and stanch, on the road. In the case of convalescents and nervous, aged persons advised by their physicians to ride, this improvement would go far to give them courage. Dr. Whitman V. White, of No. 105 Mlidisen avenue, has suggested this in- genious improvement, and from plans he has drawn up will make application for a patent. His device consists of an automatic attachment which may be fitted to any wheel. He replaces the cranks with V- shaped compound crank shafts, the pedals to be at the loop ends, and with two small idler wheels on either side of the sprocket, These Idler wheels constitute the essen- tial feature of the proposed improvement. They are secured to the outer terminals of the pedal -shaft, and aro so operated that they may he instantly dropped to the ground whenever the wheelmen is unable to keep his machine in proper halanue, or when he wishes to come to a full stop without dismounting. These guide wheels allow the bicycle to tip a little to either side, but prevent it from going over far enough to "spill" the rider. They do not interfere in the least 'fills lilenemE PREVENTS A SPILL. with the movement of the wheel under headway. This attachment would be very valu- able to beginners and to timid wheelmen when pocketed in a crowd of vehicles. The wheel of the novice might be as can- tankerously wabbly as possible, but he would have at his uominand a powerful check upon its uncertain movements. The fat woman who gets red in the face and hot around the collar trying vainly to control the wild oavortings of the front wheel, to which tbo trick -some leaps and bounds of a bucking broncho are mild by comparison, would simply let drop her guide wheels and bring her runaway machine to an upright position with the ease of a master whip driving a four-in-hand. We should not witness the painful spectacle of pretty girls dashed cruelly to death, nor of brewery wagons and coal carts suddenly run into by would-be wheelmen too early gradu- ated from riding schools. Dr. White's idea is along the line of the inevitable. The bicycle for thousands is like a runaway horse with the bit between his teeth. Anything that will render it more subject to human direc- tion should be welcomed, not to mention the influence it would have upon the monthly reports of vital statistics. Pedaling for Women. We are once more in the full season of bicycling—since September and October are the choice months of the year for the sport. Many women who have been rid- ing long enough to have learned all the practical and necessary points are now taking pains to acquire grace in riding, the first element of which is proper ped- aling, for you may , have a good seat, a suitable ccstume, a first-class wheel and yet spoil it all by a bad motion. Quite a large number of women riders, for instance, use the middle of the foot in pushing, and allow the heel of the shoe to come right up to the pedal. It must he said at once that this is all wrong, and if those who adopt this style only knew 'how greatly their general ap- pearance awheel was prejudiced thereby there would soon bean alteration. The foot plays a great part in cycling, and it is in the correct action of the feet that the woman rider should appear to the greatest advantage. It is here where she might, and sometimes does, ontrival the cyclist of the other sex. The correct and graceful movements of feet and ankle in good pedaling require no par- ticular muscularstrength; in fact,a man in trying to acquire this good action after his frame is set is often 'handicapped by excess of muscle. Good pedaling, on the contrary,' means a great saving of mere brute force all round. The rider who has the style and the action will easily beat the purely muscu- lar cyclist who has them not. It is, there- fore, more especially important from all points of view that a lady should learn to use her feet and ankles to the best advantage.' To push with the hollow of the, foot is absolutely fatal to good style. The widest portion of the foot is the part to push with, and it is onlywhen this is used that the ankle can be properly brought into play. The Order of Baronets was established by James I, in 161L This title is found in DO country of the Continent, existing only in the British dominions. A Veteran or the ' Pioneer Service of the Plains 'I'elis AboutXt. 'there has been'a great deal of glamor .and romance thrown around the pony, express business in the days before the advent of the railroads," said T. I., Mil- ler, one of the corps of riders who car- ried the mail across the plains in 1858, "hut the fact is, there was little romance about it, end very little else but hard work. "I commenced to ride for the express company in 1558,when the route was laid out and the company organized, and continued to ride until Batterflelcl came up and took the contract, and the tele- graph line was built. My route was from Egan Canyon to Antelope Springs, Nev. The riders bad to ride from sixty to eighty miles, On my section I had two relays, and used to make the trip in from six to eight hours. There was always more or less danger from the Indians, but when we met them we either ran away from them, crawled around them, or fought. The danger has been greatly magnified. The country was so big and the number of Indians so comparatively small that we had to run into a band before there was any serious danger, and then one white man was as good as ten of them. "Our stations were not fortified at all. They were log cabins or sod houses, with three or four men in each, and though they were burned over and over again, they were rebuilt immediately, and no serions loss or inoonvonieueo to the ser- vice Was occasioned. "We knew just when to expect the rider from the next station, and the horses were always ready, so that all we had to do was to change the mail from one horse to another, and we were off. It was the seine at the relay stations. The horseswere always ready, and the only delay was in taking a drink of water or a cup of coffee, and the mail was on its way, "It was simply hard riding, a cool head and a keen eye that was required. Once in a while the seen were caught. I have a scar or two myself to remember ' the Indians by; but on the whole the danger was not excessive, and as for romance there was nothing of it. In 1801 the Indians were specially trouble- some, and some bard fights resulted; but as they never remained long in the same place they could not do a very great deal of harm. "The first trial of the pony express was the delivery of Buchanan's message in the spring of 1857. Our company, which had the route from St. Joe, via Salt Lake. City, was the one which was afterward operated by Ben Holliday. Butterfield's route was through Arizona. We had the common mountain ponies, and Butterfield had high -bred horses. We took the message right through, and when Butterfield arrived at Mojave he found the message coming back from San Francisco. Butterfield ran the southern route until 1800, when he pulled off and established a line of coaches from St. ,Too to San Francisco, via Salt hake, In 1801 they commenced to build the telegraph lines. "I saw a statement recently that there are only five survivors of the pony ex- press riders, That is a mistake. There are a number of others. Besides myself I know of Frank Low, now in Cripple Creek; Erastus Egan, son of Major Egan, of Egan Canyon; James White, John Fisher and Sam Gilson, the discov- erer of the beds of asphalt in Utah. "There was always excitement enough in our work, and nearly all of us had narrow escapes of one kind or another. We had to make time, to look out for Indians, and sometimes to race with storms which were likely to bar our progress, but all these things soon be- came matters of course. We mounted our ponies and pounded away until we reached our stations, and then lay down and waited until our time came next. it was hard work sometimes, and . pleasant at others, very much time same as the other occupations of human existence." A Happy 1lrlstake, "It might not always be pleasant to be taken for some one else," said the man who was asked for an experience, "but in my case it was the most delightful in- cident of my life. You see it happened in this way. I was going to visit an in- terior town of some size, and my neigh- bor, old Joe Peters, who was rich and crabbed and eccentric, but not a bad sort withal, asked me to call on a sister he had living there. "I ain't seen her in twenty years," he said to ice, "and like enough she don't care a picayune whether she ever sees or bears of cue or not, but I'd kind of like to know how she's fixed since her hus- band died, a spell ago. You might skir- mish around and see how the land lays." "When I reached F:, the western town in which Peter's folks lived, I at• tended to my business first and then went to call on his sister. "Now I am not in the habit of using cards when I make a call, like swell folks, but I had a business card and it struck me it would be about right to send that in to the folks and wait in the parlor to see what came of it. "Well, such screeching and shouting I never beard in my life, and I began to think I had struck a lunatic asylum, and a few minutes later I was sure of it. for three.women came rushing into the room and they all began calling me 'Uncle Joe,' and bugging me within an inch of my life. " 'One at a time,' I said, for though the mother was handsome, the girls were just peaches and cream, and it was hard for me to tell them that I was' not Uncle Joe. I had sent in his business card in- stead of my own; and that's how they made the mistake. The girls seeme d to think it a good joke, but the widow was awfully flustrated. However, the next time I kissed her it wasn't any mistake." Meaning of Colors,. White is the color of light, purity, in- nocence, faith, joy, and life. Black means mourning, wickedness and death. Red signifies fire, divine love and wisdom. Blue stands for heaven, truth from a celestial origin, constancy and fidelity. Yellow or gold is the symbol of the sun, of marriage and faithfulness; in a bad sense yellow signifies inconsistency, jeal- ousy and deceit. Green, the emerald, is the color of spring, hope, particularly of the hope of immortality and of victory, as the color of the laurel and palm. Vio- let signifies love, and truth, or passion and suffering. Purple and scarlet 'signi- fy things good and true from a celes- tial origin, Sawdust Bricks. Sawdust is, turned into transportable fuel in Germany by a very simple pro- cess. It is heated under high steam pres- sure till the resinous ingredients become sticky, when it is pressed into bricks. One man with a two horse -power machine can turn out 9,000 brinks a day. tr r., 01411 HESITATE TO TALK FOR PUBLICATIIJI But It Is Not a Disgrace to be Sick. Yet Some Suffer in Silence and Will Not Even Speak on the Subject to Their Physician —A Foolish Modesty. HEALTH CID STRENGTH CAN BE RESTORED. w Not the least among the many valuable services Dr. Williams' Pink Pills have rendered to suffering women, is that of. tiding them over the critical periods. commencing at middle age, commonly, known as the change of life. it so often happens that at this climacteric women relapse into a state of chronic invalidism' and the actual danger to life which attends the change is so great that a medicine which can be relied upon to carry the 'system over this dangerous time, is nothing less than a life-saving invention. What Dr. Williams' Pink Pills will do for women at this change of 'life is shown in a case reported in the Dews- bury, (Eng.) Chronicle. It is that of Mrs. Benjamin Smith, who lives at Han- over street, Dewsbury. The change of life had left her weak and miserable, with constant pains, dizziness and short- ness of breath on the slightest exertion, together with chronic rheumatism in the, head and eyes, The pain in her head was too acute for words. She got no sleep. either by day or night, and her agony was at times so great that it took two people to hold her in bed. A skilful doc- tor was called in but did no good. "My cheeks would swell up as big as sau- cers," said Mrs. Smith, "my eyes were as red as fire and there was no getting rid of the pains in the head. I suffered also from a sluggish liver and weak heart, and at times my eyesight was so bad that, objects before me seemed but dim shadows, and there was nine of my friends who looked for my restoration to health. I saw an account in a newspaper of a cure similar to mine through the use of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills, and my husband urged me to try them. Before two boxes were used the pains began to disappear as if by magic, and the con- tinued use of the pills for a little more than a month, has left cue enjoying as good health as ever T, had in my life. I consider Dr. Williams' Pink Pills a bless- ing, and as I know there are thousands of women who suffer in silence from troubles having the same origin as mine, I am gratefnl enough for what they have done for use to tell my story in the hope that some suffering sister may be sim- ilarly helped, and you have full permis- sion to publish what I have told you, which statements can be verified by any of my neighbors." Mrs. Frank Murray, who resides near Ogdensburg, N. Y., says, "I am 40 years of age and for many'years resided near Prescott, Ont. We moved over here some time ago and have worked this farm since. My husband is working in Ogdens- burg at his trade, that of a stone mason, while may children and myself carry on the farm. "I have been a great sufferer from sick headache, which would generally come on about evening, and I would be com- pletely prostrated, not even able to lift my hand or help myself in any way. These spells would last for about twenty- four hours, and would leave me in so weak a condition that for a few days I could scarcely drag about the house. I have also had considerable spinal trouble, the sharp, darting tongues of pain being most severe, following along my spine and to'uhe hack of my head. Have don toned much, but without the desired result. The doctor told me it was due to the approaching change of life. I heard of Dr. Williams' Pink Pilis for Pale People, and also later heard of the cures they had effected in a number of per- sons known to me, and it was their stories that decided me to try them. I' got some of the pills, and after I had taken a few boxes I bad no more head- aches for several months. This summer my head began to have a heavy feeling, and at times I was quite drowsy, but no pains accompanied it. I now have more pills and though I've taken only a few I feel well again, I don't think any person could stand it a great while to be troubled as I was and stand the amount of pain. I know that Pink Pills are a good medicine and fully what they nee represented to be, I have recommended them to some of my friends with bene ficial results. Oh, my, yes! - They have done wonders for me. I do all my own housework on' the farm. We have a dairy of twelve cows, and often when the boys are very busy getting, in the crops I have milked all the cows alone." Mrs. J. H. McMillan, South Finch, Ont., says: "For seven years lwas afflict- ed with what is generally termed female weakness, and was for weeks unable to leave my bed. At times my friends all thought that I was going into decline and had consumption. My complexion was sallow, my appetite was almost gone, and I was terribly emaciated, my head gave me great trouble, and attimes the pain was so great that I feared it would affect my reason. I had tried many medicines without avail, and be- gan to despair of recovery when I was urged to try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. The result has been marvelous. From a sickly, despairing woman, I have been transformed into one full of health and anergy, and I feel more thankful than I can say for the wonders Pink Pills have done me." Mrs. L. Lundahl, Levant, Ont., says: "I have much pleasure in adding my testimony to the great efficacy of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. Some years ago I was severely injured in child birth and had to go to the Kingston hospital to be operated on. I was in the hospital and under treatment for nearly two menthes, but flowing set in and all the skill of the doctors was unable to stop it. I Went home and after still suffering for three or four months, I determined to go to -the hospital again, but fortunately for me an old lady on the cars, who noticed my emaciated and worn condition asked 'what ails you, my child?' I told her my trouble and she replied, 'Before go- ing to the hospital again give Dr. Wil- liams' Pink Pills a fair trial. I know they will help you.' I followed her ad- vice, and after taking four boxes the .flowing absolutely stopped. I took the ;pills for some time longer and my / health was fully restored, and since then I have been both strong and active. I believe Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are a blessing to women." Mrs, A. C. Fitchell writes: "I take this opportunity of thanking you for the great benefit I have received from Dr. Williams' Pink Pills in that critical ,period known as the change of life. I had suffered far years from kidney troubles, and this I suppose was the commencement of the change. Then I was attacked with spells of dizziness and weakness, accompanied with pains in the back, which would last for weeks at a time, and from which I would not get more than an hour or two's sleep at night. A friend who had successfuly used Dr. Williams' Pink Pills in a similar emergency urged me to try them. The result was that they brought me safely through this critical period, and I ale again enjoying perfect health, and take pleasure in recommending Pink Pills to those similarly situated." Rev. David Forbes, missionary at Poplar Dale, Algoma, writes: "I feel that I would be remiss in my duty did T. not write to let you know the wonderful benefit derived by a young lady here from the use of your Pink Pills. Miss Mary Martin, the young lady referred to was taken sick two years ago, and all the medical treatment she underwent proved of no avail. Visiting the family in my capacity as missionary, I saw with sorrow that unless something was done to avert the progress of her trouble, she would not be long forthis world. She was pale, almost bloodless, and subject to all the distressing symp- toms • which accompany anaemia and bring the victim to an early grave. I urged the parents to try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. They acted upon my advice, and I am rejoiced to say that they have fully and entirely restored her health, and in the rosy-cheeked girl of to -day you would not recognize the invalid of a short time before. The words of her grateful mother to me were these: 'We have to thank you, Mr. Forbes, for recommending Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. They have saved our daughter's life and we are more grateful than we can say, and freely give you permission to send this testimonial, in the hope that some one in similar circumstances may be benefited.' " -- Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are a tonin medicine, enriching the blood and strengthening the nerves, thus reaching the root of disease and driving it from the system. They are beyond donbt the greatest medicine of the 19th century, and have cured in hundreds of eases attar all other medicines had failed. The great popularity of Dr. Williams' Pink Pins has caused unscrupulous dealers to imi- tate them extensively, and intending buyers are urged to see that every box is enclosed in a wrapper hearing ' the full registered trade mark "Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People." Pills col- ored pink, but sold in loose form by the dozen hundred or ounce.' or taken from glass jars, are fraudulent imitations and should always be refused, no matter Low plausible may be the story of the Inter- ested nterested dealer offering them.