Zebiline, vol 1 | Page 4

ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

ZIBELINE
By PHILIPPE DE MASSA
Translated by D. KNOWLTON RANOUS

ALEXANDRE-PHILIPPE-REGNIER DE MASSA
MARQUIS DE MASSA, soldier, composer, and French dramatist, was
born in Paris, December 5, 1831. He selected the military career and
received a commission in the cavalry after leaving the school of St. Cyr.
He served in the Imperial Guards, took part in the Italian and
Franco-German Wars and was promoted Chief of Squadron, Fifth
Regiment, Chasseurs a Cheval, September 10, 1871. Having tendered
his resignation from active service, he was appointed a
lieutenant-colonel in the territorial army February 3, 1880. He has been
decorated with the Legion of Honor.
The Marquis de Massa is known as a composer of music and as a
dramatic author and novelist. At the Opera Comique there was
represented in 1861 Royal-Cravate, written by him. Fragments of two
operas by him were performed at the Paris Conservatory of Music in
1865, and in 1868. The list of his principal plays follows: 'Le Service
en campagne, comedy (1882); La Cicatrice, comedy (1885); Au Mont
Ida, Fronsac a La Bastille, and La Coeur de Paris, all in 1887; La
Czarine and Brouille depuis Magenta (1888), and La Bonne
Aventure--all comedies--1889. Together with Petipa he also wrote a
ballet Le Roi d'Yvetot (1866); music by Charles Labarre. He further
wrote Zibeline, a most brilliant romance (1892) with an Introduction by
Jules Claretie; crowned by the Academie Francaise. This odd and
dainty little story has a heroine of striking originality, in character and
exploits. Her real name is Valentine de Vermont, and she is the
daughter of a fabulously wealthy French-American dealer in furs, and
when, after his death, she goes to Paris to spend her colossal fortune,
and to make restitution to the man from whom her father won at play
the large sum that became the foundation of his wealth, certain lively
Parisian ladies, envying her her rich furs, gave her the name of Zibeline,
that of a very rare, almost extinct, wild animal. Zibeline's American
unconventionality, her audacity, her wealth, and generosity, set all
Paris by the ears. There are fascinating glimpses into the drawing-
rooms of the most exclusive Parisian society, and also into the historic
greenroom of the Comedie Francaise, on a brilliant "first night." The
man to whom she makes graceful restitution of his fortune is a hero of
the Franco-Mexican and Franco-Prussian wars, and when she gives him
back his property, she throws her heart in with the gift. The story is an

interesting study of a brilliant and unconventional American girl as
seen by the eyes of a clever Frenchman.
Later came 'La Revue quand meme, comedy, (1894); Souvenirs et
Impressions (1897); La Revue retrospective, comedy (1899); and
Sonnets' the same year.
PAUL HERVIEU de l'Academe Francaise.

LETTER FROM JULES CLARETIE TO THE AUTHOR
MY DEAR FRIEND:
I have often declared that I never would write prefaces! But how can
one resist a fine fellow who brings one an attractive manuscript, signed
with a name popular among all his friends, who asks of one, in the most
engaging way, an opinion on the same--then a word, a simple word of
introduction, like a signal to saddle?
I have read your Zibeline, my dear friend, and this romance--your
first-- has given me a very keen pleasure. You told me once that you
felt a certain timidity in publishing it. Reassure yourself immediately.
A man can not be regarded as a novice when he has known, as you
have, all the Parisian literary world so long; or rather, perhaps, I may
more accurately say, he is always a novice when he tastes for the first
time the intoxication of printer's ink.
You have the quickest of wits and the least possible affectation of
gravity, and you have made as well known in Mexico as in Paris your
couplets on the end of the Mexican conflict with France. 'Tout Mexico
y passera!' Where are they, the 'tol-de-rols' of autumn?
Yesterday I found, in a volume of dramatic criticism by that terrible
and charming Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly, an appreciation of one of your
comedies which bears a title very appropriate to yourself: 'Honor.' "And
this play does him honor," said Barbey d'Aurevilly, "because it is
charming, light, and supple, written in flowing verse, the correctness of
which does not rob it of its grace."
That which the critic said of your comedy I will say of your romance. It
is a pretty fairy-story-all about Parisian fairies, for a great many fairies
live in Paris! In fact, more are to be found there than anywhere else!
There are good fairies and bad fairies among them. Your own particular
fairy is good and she is charming. I am tempted to ask whether you
have