INTRODUCTION

Julbs-Arène-Armand Claretik, generally known as JuLBS Clarbtib, wafl bom in Limoges, December 3d, 1840. He came to Paris early, attended the Lycée Bonaparte^ and soon engaged in literary effort, writing at first for newspapers of a very popular character, like the Petit Journal^ the Diogène (founded 1860), the Revue fantaisiste^ later for more important papers, such as the Presse, the Patrie, the Figaro and others. His father had intended him for a commercial career, but the young man^s talent as a writer was so pronounced that the idea was abandoned. A tour through England, Gtermany and France, which he made in 1865, gave rise to the charming book Voyages d*un Parisien, In 1866 the Avenir National eniployed him as war correspondent in Italy. He founded in this paper the Chronique qiiotidienne, and in the same year (1866) he commenced, under the title : Cotiriner de Paris, in the Illustration, a séries of instructive and brillant articles on literary matters which he has continued to the présent day. He also fui*nished for le Soir a weekly dramatic review, and for the Indépendance Belge of Brussels, a séries of articles of gênerai, chiefly literary, interest. His honesty and straightforwardness, and the vigorous use he made of his pen gained him the by-name of the Marceau of joumalism.