OCR Text |
Show CAREER OFJEAN RICHEPIN. lie I tho Tiero of a Nanber of Strong Escapndea. M. Jean Rlchepln, the author, U probably the horo of a greater number ot strango escapades than any ot his French contemporaries ot equal eminence. emin-ence. Innumerable stories aro told ot his early vagaries. For a breach ot tho regulations he was "sent down" from his Lyceo. Ho remained, however, how-ever, In tho neighborhood ot tho college, col-lege, and, strolling Idly about the strcots noxt day, his eye lit upon a' perlpatetlo vendor ot frlod potatoes, and In a moment ot Inspiration he purchased the whole ot the stock and paraphernalia of tho merchant He thon took up a post Just outside the Lyceo gates, nfllxed to his movable Apparatus Ap-paratus a notice ot huge dimensions describing his academic and other qualifications, and shouted to all bis late collegiate friends to patronise their old pupil and fellow-student "Two sous a packet, gentlemen! uy, buy!" To say that ie authorities wero scandalized la to put It very mildly. Indeed. Tho story ot how he came to adopt a literary career is sufficiently picturesque. For some time he hail picked up a precarious livelihood by doing "odd Jobs," Including such pro eato occupations as that of bootblack and casual porter on Qual Marseilles. One day he was ongagod by a gentlo-man gentlo-man to carry to tho railway station a heavy trunk. Arrived at the station thero was an Instant mutual recognition. recogni-tion. They wore old college chums. "What are you doing here?" asked his friend. "Carrying your trunk, I believe," be-lieve," said Jean. "Why do you do this?" "Becauso I must" "Whore do you live?" "Come and seo," replied Rlchepln. Tho future dramatist took bis friend to his dwelling, a miserable room in an attic In tho poorest quarter quar-ter ot the town. Upon the table lay scattered heaps of manuscripts Jean's excursions Into the realms o! poetry when the moro prosaic duties ot the day were over. Looking through them, his friend was astonished at their quality. "Why do you carry trunks and blacken boots when you can do work Uko this?" he asked. Rlchepln Rlche-pln had nover given the matter a thought; he had nover dreamed these products ot Idle hours worthy of publication. pub-lication. Published they were, how ever, In a very tow weeks, and created an lmmenso sensation. From that moment Jean Rlchepln has never look od back. Westminster Gazette, |