Dumas Would Have Been a Gymnast.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 325, 15 December 1888, Page 3

Dumas Would Have Been a Gymnast.

Alexasdre DvMAS'Jils.has written a letter, which occupies several columns'of the Paris ' Figaro,' to Baron de Vaux, on 'the subject of his work, *Les rlommes.de Sport,' to which this lengthy, epistle Jis intended to ser\e as an introduction. He writes :— ' If I had been able to' follow my own inclination T should have occupied myself, I do not say exclusively, but certainly to a large extent, wilb hor-e- and dog=, toncing, and tlie ';ha-<e, and above all with gymnastics To be possessed of great muscular power was lon-4 1 ago my ambition, and 1 shoukl have seemed it, for Nature had met me halfwaj, but -late —or shall 1 use the truer A\oid, fortune — decided otherwise.' M. Dumas,/?"^ points out that he inherits these predilections ior pport from his father and grandfather, who were 4§oth endowed v.ith mu&cular strength, and knew how to use it — o}»opn> of which some capital stories arc to ( d. One of these is worth tellinu M. Dumas' grandfather was a Ueneialof the Republic. On a particular occasion he was sitting in a box at the theatie with a handsome Creole lady. The deneuil was at the back of "the lor/c when a Mou^quefaire friend of the lady opened the door and attempted to enter into conveisation with her, concluding with an otter to escort her home. ' I thank you, sir,' she answered, ' but I am not alone' 'Who is with you?' inquired the gallant. ' This gentleman,' replied tho lady, pointing to the General sitting at the back of the /o<je. 'Oh ! pardon,' exclaimed the young man, 'I took Monsieur for your lackey !' This impertinence was no sooner offeied thin General Dumas seized the Jfoit^/ui'aup by the waist and threw him into the pit of the theatre.