MEN OF GENIUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3653, 26 December 1879, Page 4

MEN OF GENIUS.

The early lives of men of genius have always an interest for the public. Let us glance at a few of the best-known names in Paris from this point of view : Alexandra Dumas (the elder) was, first, clerk to a notary, and afterwards assistant secretary to the Due d' Orleans ; Scribe commenced lifo in the still more humble capacity of clerk to ahuissier; Michel Masaon was a working lapidary and clerk to a publisher ; Clairrille, at ton jeu - *£ aga, was an actor, and at the same time )> rapter at the little theatre which form<-i!. -xuted at the outskirts of the Luxembo . Gardens, and known as Bobino ; Th. Fiv •••' ir was a bellringer; Sardou was first a .• ifcal student, and afterwards professor 1 1 uistory, philosophy, and mathematics ; Theodore Barriere was a map engraver in tho offioa of the Minister of War ; Henry Meilhac, publisher's clerk; Edmond Goodinet, a clerk in the Financo Ministry ; Coutourier was an actor; M. Busnach, a coulissier (outrider) at tho Bourse ; Leon Gozlan was first a professor at the college of Marseilles, and afterwards a bookseller's assistant; Tony Revillon, clerk to a notary ; Xavier Eyma, a clerk in the Ministry of tho Marine; Jules Renard, a banker at Versailles ; Paul JToucher, a Government clerk ; F. Sarcey, a professor ; Erckman, a bookseller, and his other half, Ohatrian, clerk at a glass works 5 Albert Wolff nas first clerk in a house of business, then a designer, and afterwards soorotary to Aloxtindro Dumas ; tiainte Beuve was edu-cated-fora doctor; Chamfleury was a bookseller's assistant ; F. Beauvnliot wag a banker's clerk, and his namesake, iioon, was by turns engraver, decorative | niter, publisher, and actor; Plouvier, actor and dramatist, wa3 a working currier; J ouis Leroy was an engraver ; Auguste Marqta't, a professor ; Paul Foval was tirat an ad vocate and afterwards a banker's clerk ; Camille Doucot, a notary's olerk ; Ad. d'Ennery, the dramaturge (our neighbours' rather contemptuous word for playwright), was also a notary's clerk, then took to designing ; Blum, a huissier's clerk ; Henri Rochefort, a clerk in the offices of the city of Paris ; Ponson de Terrail, in the offices of the Minister of Marine ; Lambert Thibousb was originally an actor 5 Paul de Kook, a commercial clerk ; Littrd was educated for a medical man . Xavier Aubriet was in the Ministry of Finance, and rose to the position of sous-chef; Ferdinand Langlo was historiographer in a public museum, and then, strangely enough, director of funerals — or, as our neighbours say, of " pompes funebres "—in tho outskirts of Paris. This List case is, we think, unique.