The Elder Dumas

Of his Sheridan-like dealings with tradesmen an anecdote is told. During a scarcity of ice a n'eighbor of Du mas sent to a dealer tor soine and was told that the liinited stock on hand was kept for the use of the f anions author. Then the gentlerutu) sent again aud bade his servant ask for the ice in the name of M. Dumas. The plan succeeded. The ice was given, and theservwnt put down the ruoney on the counter. "Ah," cried the tradesman, "give me back that ice! Now I kiiow that you are not trom M. Dumas. Ho never pays ready money." "My father," said M. Dumas fils, "once told me that if he ceuld portion out a nesv lite he would be a haudsome woman till 80, a victorious general from 30 to 50 and a cardinal in his old age." Dumas, as he related this parental desire, glanced toward Rossini and added: "I shonld prefer to close my life as an illustrious composer. Mon cher Rossini, when you enter a room, the very lacquer pronounces your name with piide as he announces you." Then turning to the company he continued: "Announce, for instance, M. Ie Duc d'Aumale and Signor Rossini at the same moment and see on which side all heads and all hearts will incline first. AM eyes would beon the great nausician who created'Il Barbiere de Seviglia.' " And then we all filled our glasses with armagnac of the vintage of 1811 and drank the health of Rossiai. The old composer did notrise, bnt bis face broke out into volumicous smiles as he shook the hand of tbe aathor of "La Dame Aux Uamellias. "