So Ungrateful.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 53

So Ungrateful.

Monsieur Legouve, the French writer, tells a charming story of his distinguished cyiintryman, Scribe. On one occasion the great dramatist v-as visiting at the country house of a friend, and the evenings were spent over English novels, which were read aloud by the English governess residing with tho family. One evening the young lady paused for a moment when &he had finished a chapter.

"Ah," she raid, with a sigh, "if 1 could only realise my dream!" "And what is your dream?" asked Scribe.

The little governess blushed. "To have, some day— after a long, lung time — an income of 1200 francs, so that I might have independence and re&l 1" Several days afterword, as tha latt chapter of a rather insignificant novel was finished, the dramatist turned to the reader and said:

Do 3-011 know, I think that in this there is a pretty subject for a one-act comedy. You have suggested the idea to me : are jc v willing to write the play with me?" The proposition was joyfully accepted. Three days later Scribe made hia appearance with the comedy finished, and three months afterwards it was announced that tho piece would be performed in Paris. Scribe lurried to the house of his dramatic ogent, and said to him, under the peal ol secrecy: " They ore going to produce a piece of mine to-c'ay. I had a young lady collaborator in the work. I do not know whether it will be a success, but I do know that I must bring her 1200 francs a year as long o<s she live?. Arrange the matter so that it will have a perfectly natural air.'

The sequel to this story iilu>,fratcs a curious trait of human nature.

Changed ■with her success, the young English teacher now &penl a great deal of time in hunting up plots for plays from Englibh novels, and these she carried to Monsieur Scribe, who always gently declined them. One day someone was expressing very warm admiration for Scribe in the young lady's prepence.

"Oh, yc<," she replied, "he is a charming man, but — well — in hot he is a KtUe ungrateful. We wrote a very pictty comedy together, which has brought us cuch» 1200 francs a year, but he will not ".vrife with me again."