THE ORIGINAL CAMILLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ORIGINAL CAMILLE.

"Mr first real success," says Alexander Dumas, "and my greatest of all, was *La Dame aux Camelias.' Of course, you know it was founded on truth. Margaret Gautier was a real person. I knew her, and loved her forty years ago. Marie Duplessis was her name. She was beautiful. She was also frail both in body and soul. When I was less than twenty-five years old she died. Of course I was much grieved. Not long after the funeral I went one day to St. Germain, and for an hour strolled about the walks I had often traversed with her. The idea struck me that her story would make A good book. Why not? Without a moment's delay I rushed to the White Horse Inn. * Landlord, a. room, with pen, ink, and paper. Quick !' They were proTided, and in five minutes I was at work. A friend had gone to St. Germain with me, and he now came in and wanted me to return home with him. Never! I would finish the book first. He regarded me as a inadman. Then he sat down to help me. As fast as I scribbled it off he copied it in a legible hand. So we worked for nearly four weeks, never leaving the inn all the time. When it was finished I took ib to a publisher. He haggled over the price, but At) last we agreed on 1000 francs for the '.firuto edition. It was brought out and sold to a day. For subsequent editions I was •Mile to dicta to my own terms. i