Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1871 — A Novel Cure. [ARTICLE]

A Novel Cure.

Alexander Dumas published, some time ago, in a daily Paris gtaper, a novel, in which the heroine, prosperous and happy, is assailed by consumption. All the slow and gradual symptoms were most naturally and touchingly described, and the greatest interest was felt for the heroine. pne day the Marquis Dalomieu called on him. “ Dumas,” said he, “have you composed the end of the story now being published in the ?” "Of course.” rrzr “ Does the heroine die in the end ?” “Of course; dies of consumption. After suclt symptoms as I have described, how could she live?” “ Y r ou must make her live. You must change the catastropliy." “ I cannot.” “ Yes, you must; for on your heroine’s life depends my daughters. “ Your daughter’s?” “ Yes; she has all the various symptoms of consultation which you have described, and watches mournfully for every number of your novel, reading her own fate in your heroine’s. Now, if you make your heroine live, my daughter, whose imagination has been deeply-impressed, will live, - -—■ “Come, a life to save is a temptation——— “ Not to be resisted.” Dumas changed his last chapter. His heroine recovered and was hapjiy. About five years afterwards Dumas met the Marquis at a party. / -“Ah, Dumas,” he excliiimed, “let me introduce you to my daughter; she owes her life to you. There she is.” “ That fine, handsome woman, who looks like .Toanne d’ Arc?” “ Yes. She is married and has had four children.” “ And my novel four editions,” said Du mas; “so we are quits.”