568 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Bernard had literary aspirations, being especially attracted toward 

 the drama, and spent much of his time at the Theatre des Celestines. 

 He wrote a vaudeville comedy entitled " La Rose du Rhone " which was 

 accepted and attained a fair degree of success. Thus encouraged, he 

 started in earnest to write a five-act historical drama in prose and deter- 

 mined to seek his fortune in Paris. On reaching the city, in 1834 when 



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he was twenty-one years old, he presented his manuscript of "Arthur de 

 Bretagne " with a letter of introduction to the great critic, Saint-Marc 

 Girardin, who received him kindly and saw that the work possessed 

 merit, but, knowing the uncertainties of a writer's life, suggested that 

 Bernard take up some work whereby he could make a living. Hearing 

 of his former pharmaceutical training, Girardin suggested that he study 

 medicine. Bernard followed the suggestion and, for five years, applied 

 himself to the work. He was especially interested in anatomy and 



