Frédéric-Auguste CAZALS and the death of Paul VERLAINE

[Paul VERLAINE] – Frédéric-Auguste CAZALS (1865-1941)

Autograph letter signed to Edmond Lepelletier, Verlaine's lifelong friend.

Five pages ¼ in-12°. Paris. August 19, 1896.

Unpublished letter.

“… these painful letters that the friends of the poet of Invectives only reread while crying…”

Important plea from Cazals to Lepelletier (then editor-in-chief of the Écho de Paris) to defend the memory of Paul Verlaine (died seven months earlier), following the murderous criticism of Henri Fouquier published in Le Figaro on August 12, 1896 .

Cazals also works hard to erect the Verlaine Monument and mentions Stéphane Mallarmé, president of the Committee.

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“Dear Mr. Lepelletier, I read Mr. Henry Fouquier’s article too late to refute the various errors it contains. This duty was imposed upon me, both by my position as secretary of the “Monument to Verlaine” and by the sentiments that some of us profess for the memory of the great poet who so kindly honored us with his friendship. I no longer regret that circumstances gave you the upper hand over a defender driven solely by the zeal of friendship: Your reply to Mr. Henri Fouquier is decisive. It will, I believe, forever avenge the poet for the outrages he so unjustly suffered. Your article, dear Mr. Lepelletier, is indeed restorative, in that many points distorted by Mr. Henry Fouquier are restored to their true light. You rightly point out that, during his lifetime, Verlaine would never have consented to the publication of some of the pieces that make up this book.” In any case, the sharpest barbs were well-aimed. Wouldn't Monsieur Henry Fouquier himself be forced to acknowledge that the jibes he so vehemently criticizes Paul Verlaine for were, as they say, merely a case of "tit for tat"? Moreover, Mr. Fouquier quite wrongly accuses our poet of ingratitude toward "the doctor who treated him." This is entirely inaccurate. The piece from Invectives to which Mr. Fouquier alludes targets a certain "hospital intern" who, assigned by his "supervisor" to the care of the illustrious patient, took cruel delight (and I have this testimony from Verlaine himself) in exacerbating the atrocious suffering of Poor Lélian with a thousand practices unworthy of science and the master he had the honor of assisting . This is the truth attested to by an indelible page of " My Hospitals ," by the testimony of twenty true and honorable friends of the poet, and by numerous letters from him that recount these events. I would add, in response to Mr. Henry Fouquier, that the poet's feelings toward "the doctor who treated him"—I name him, if you please, it is Dr. Chauffard—were those of the most constant and profound gratitude.

The dedications have proven the point. They contain a sonnet from Verlaine to Chauffard that leaves no room for doubt on this matter. Thus, dear Monsieur Lepelletier, the moral character of Paul Verlaine has been truthfully restored ; Mr. Fouquier's accusations concerning Verlaine's marriage and his "relationships" with his wife and son have been refuted by your response. These calumnies will therefore be reduced to the sole confession of their authors and those who believe them. publisher of Invectives (Léon Vanier). If this avaricious businessman had, unfortunately, been entrusted with the task of creating Verlaine's monument, this undertaking, so dear to us, would have been doomed! The man perhaps places a little too much trust in our benevolence : it would be all too easy for us to expose his impudence by producing some of those painful letters that the friends of the poet of Invectives reread only with tears in their eyes. I am deeply grateful for your eloquent defense of our master, your devoted servant, F.A. Cazals, Secretary of the "Monument to Paul Verlaine," 17 rue Guénégaud – Paris. We would be most grateful, dear Monsieur Lepelletier, if you would announce the opening in September of the "public subscription" to the "Monument to Paul Verlaine." The appeal, made privately, has already raised some funds, which have been collected at the committee's headquarters. It was drafted by our eminent president himself, Mr. Stéphane Mallarmé. I am sending you a copy herewith, earnestly requesting that you publish it in L'Écho de Paris and also in those other newspapers whose work you honor with your contributions. Duplessys received fifty francs in aid from the Ministry of Public Instruction. He asks me to express his sincere gratitude for your kind recommendation. Furthermore, I would be grateful if you could let me know, dear Monsieur Lepelletier, whether you have met Mr. Osiris. I take the liberty of reminding you that in my last letter I requested that you make contact with this individual. FAC

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Lepelletier had an article published on the front page of the Écho de Paris on August 26 entitled “The defense of the monument” .

Cazals was at the initiative of founding the Verlaine Committee in May 1896. The “ Monument to Paul Verlaine ” envisaged by the Committee was not finally inaugurated until May 28, 1911, in the Luxembourg gardens. It is the work of the Swiss sculptor Auguste de Niederhausern, known as Rodo (1863.1913).