THE ELEMENTS OF FAILURE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3810, 1 October 1883, Page 4

THE ELEMENTS OF FAILURE.

M. Jules Clarolic, author of Monsieur le Ministre, dramatist, novelist, poet, historian, critic, and pre-eminently journalist, is one of the most methodical and un-Bohomian of men, and, curiously, his name was first printed at the foot of a newspaper article on the very day when Henry Murger, the father of Paris Bohemianism was laid in his grave at Motitmarfro. M. Claretie first became known in tho newspaper world in 1858, when one morning slender, beardless, blushing, with an umbrella under his arm, and wearing a good suit of clothes, he entered the olliro of Le Gaulois. "Messieurs," be said, with high bred courtesy, to the assembled editors, " I have ventured to bring an article for your estimable journal." They glared at him through clouds of tobacco smoke. He became confused, dropped his umbrella, and laid his nrinuKcript—a poem in prose —upon the table. The chief editor took it up and read it. "It will be used next week." "Next week r" echoed Claretie, in delight ; "ten thousand thanks." " \Vill you have a

cigarette !-" asked one of the editors. " No, thank yon ; I never smoke.' . Then ncrvou.>l\- consulting a handsome watch, he added, "i'ardon, messieurs; my family expect me to dinner ;" anil bowed himself out. The moment he was out of hewing the editors joined in a chorus —" He has a watch" "And an umbrella!" "Good cloihcs!" "A family!" "He dines—and at home !" " lie never smokes !" Then, all toffofhr.T, fortissimo—"lie will never amount to anything !"