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A CHAIR ON THE BOULEVARD

By LEONARD MERRICK

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY A. NEIL LYONS

1921

CONTENTS

I THE TRAGEDY OF A COMIC SONG

II TRICOTRIN ENTERTAINS

III THE FATAL FLOROZONDE

IV THE OPPORTUNITY OF PETITPAS

V THE CAFÉ OF THE BROKEN HEART

VI THE DRESS CLOTHES OF MONSIEUR POMPONNET

VII THE SUICIDES IN THE RUE SOMBRE

VIII THE CONSPIRACY FOR CLAUDINE

IX THE DOLL IN THE PINK SILK DRESS

X THE LAST EFFECT

XI AN INVITATION TO DINNER

XII THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS

XIII THE FAIRY POODLE

XIV LITTLE-FLOWER-OF-THE-WOOD

XV A MIRACLE IN MONTMARTRE

XVI THE DANGER OF BEING A TWIN

XVII HERCULES AND APHRODITE

XVIII "PARDON, YOU ARE MADEMOISELLE GIRARD!"

XIX HOW TRICOTRIN SAW LONDON

XX THE INFIDELITY OF MONSIEUR NOULENS

INTRODUCTION

These disjointed thoughts about one of Leonard Merrick's mostarticulate books must begin with a personal confession.

For many years I walked about this earth avoiding the works of LeonardMerrick, as other men might have avoided an onion. This insane aversionwas created in my mind chiefly by admirers of what is called the"cheerful" note in fiction. Such people are completely agreed inpronouncing Mr. Merrick to be a pessimistic writer. I hate pessimisticwriters.

Years ago, when I was of an age when the mind responds acutely toexterior impressions, some well-meaning uncle, or other fool, gave me apessimistic book to read. This was a work of fiction which the BritishPublic had hailed as a masterpiece of humour. It represented, with anutter fury of pessimism, the spiritual inadequacies of—but why go intodetails.

Now, I have to confess that for a long time I did Mr. Merrick theextraordinary injustice of believing him to be the author of thatpopular masterpiece.

The mistake, though intellectually unpardonable, may perhaps becondoned on other grounds. By virtue of that process of thought whichwe call the "association of ideas," I naturally connected Mr. Merrickwith this work of super-pessimism; my friends being so confirmed intheir belief that he was a super-pessimist.

But by virtue of a fortunate accident, I at last got the truth about
Mr. Merrick. This event arose from the action of a right-minded
butcher, who, having exhausted his stock of The Pigeon-Fancier's
Gazette, sent me my weekly supply of dog-bones wrapped about with
Leonard Merrick.

These dog-bones happened to reach my house at a moment when no otherkind of literary nutriment was to be had. Having nothing better to readI read the dog-bone wrappers. Thus, by dog-bones, was I brought toMerrick: the most jolly, amusing, and optimistic of all spiritualfriends.

The book to which these utterances are prefixed is to my mind one of
the few really...