Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/39

 always remained, a Bonapartist—that is an individualist—in sentiment and fiction, though a staunch Republican in practice and politics.

He has given us a pen-picture of himself at this period. "I was rather a good-looking young monkey," he says. "I had long, curling hair, which fell over my shoulders, and which did not crispen until I was fifteen. I had big blue eyes, which are still the best feature of my face, a straight nose, small and rather well-shaped, big and mobile lips, and white and rather regular teeth. Lastly, add a startlingly pale complexion, which turned darker at the time that my hair became crisp."

He was a lad of spirit, "without knowledge and without fear," and his roving, out-door life was building up his frame with the strength to face the enormous life-work before him.

At sixteen a "calf" love-affair gave a necessary "finishing touch" to Dumas's education. He was stricken with admiration for one of two somewhat disdainful damsels who came on a visit from Paris. At that time our shabby-genteel hero dressed in rather an antiquated fashion, and the girls and his rivals made sly fun of the boy. On one occasion, anxious to "show off" before the "fair" in his gala attire, the impetuous Alexandre sprang across a wide ditch. The feat was skilful, but not particularly impressive—for the jumper split his tight knee-