How I Became a Playwright ("Comment je devins auteur dramatique")

HOW I BECAME A PLAYWRIGHT ("Comment je devins auteur dramatique") by ALExANDRE DuMAS Translated by A. Craig Bell In 1833 Dumas wrote ten articles for the then infant but later celebrated journal, La Revue des deux Mondes, of which all but two were impressions of his recent travels in Switzerland." One of the two exceptions was a long biographical article: "Comment je devins auteur dramatique" ("How I Became a Playwright"). When Charpentier began to publish Dumas's Theiltre Complet in the following year, the article was printed as a prefix to the first volume, and it has remained there ever since. The only English translation of it ever to be made, apparently, appeared in the Parlour Magazine for 1851, together with a lengthy sketch of Dumas's life. The complete article runs to 34 pages in the French, too long, I imagined, for an article in a modern magazine. Fortunately abridging was made easy by the fact that the first nine pages consist entirely of biographical introduction to the main matter in which Dumas recounts the poverty-stricken situation of his mother and himself following the death of his father, General Alexandre Dumas; his determination to seek his fortune in Paris, like any D'Artagnan; the short memories of some of his father's so-called friends when he inconveniently called on them to enlist their help. His last remaining hope was a letter of recommendation from a mutual friend to General Foy, the celebrated and influential Deputy, and it is here that the narrative begins. A.C.B. I ARRIVED IN PARIS one Sunday morning in April, 1824, and the next day I presented myself before General Foy. I was shown into his office, where I found him working on his History of the Peninsula. He laid down his pen and looked at me with kind but piercing eyes. I trembled from head to foot. "You are M. Alexandre Dumas?" he said. 'Yes, General." "Son of General Alexandre Dumas who led the Alpine army?' "Yes, General." "A fine fellow! Can I do something for you? I should be very pleased." "Thank you, General. I have a letter for you from M. Danre." "He is a very great friend of mine.... What is he doing these days?' • Published in book form in 1834 as Impressions de VOl/age: en Suisse it remains one of the finest travel books ever written. As Travels in Switzerland a translation of it was published last year by Peter Owen (London) Limited. 251 252 MODERN DRAMA December "He is very happy and proud to have done something for you in your election." "Done something for me! Say rather everything." He opened the letter. "Ah!" he went on. "He begs me most urgently to try to help you. He must be very fond of you." "He is like a father to me." "Good. Now then, let us see. What can we do for you?" "Anything you like, Genera!." "But I must have some idea of what you can do." "Not much, I'm afraid." "Well, let us see. Any mathematics?" "No, General." "But you know the rudiments of algebra, geometry and physics?" He paused after each subject, and at each pause I felt the flush of shame rise to my face; it was the first time I had had my ignorance so utterly exposed. "No, General," I stammered. He perceived my embarrassment. "Have you studied law at all?" "No, Genera!." "Do you know any Latin or Greek?" "A very little." "Any modern languages?" "Italian, reasonably; German very badly." "Well, there is Lafitte, the banker. Do you know anything about accounts?" "Nothing at all, I'm afraid." I was undergoing tortures, and the General, I could see, suffered for me. "Oh, General," I cried, carried away by desperation, "my education has been badly neglected, I know; but I swear to you I will make up for it if only I am given the chance." "I don't doubt your word," he said; "but while you are waiting, how are you going to live?" "I don't know," I replied, crushed by the sense of my uselessness. The General reflected a moment. "Give me your address," he said...