Marius ROUX (1838-1905). 80 L.A.S., often supplemented by hi - Lot 135

Marius ROUX (1838-1905). 80 L.A.S., often supplemented by his wife Anna, January 30, 1878-March 29, 1880, to his family; approx. 200pages in-8 and in-12, 2 on Petit Journal letterhead. Important family correspondence in which Marius Roux writes in turn to one of the family members remaining in Aix, who circulates the letter and replies to it; the central character is his daughter Louise, born on January 30, 1878. 1878. To his parents, he recounts the birth (January 30), then his emotions as a young father. He chronicles the baby's development on an almost daily basis, with great detail on her development, progress, clothing, food and so on. He finds nothing but sweet words for her: "darling", "treasure", "princess", "naughty", "cute". There's little room left for family news; he rejoices at his sister Marie's departure for a convent in Marseille and Gustave's entry into college, which he encourages. He sends music to Manette, the Charivari to his father: "If those I have sent are insufficient, or if the dampness eats some of them, there will be others" (October 27). 1879. Louise's first steps, weaning, teeth, nothing is forgotten in the evolution of the princess who turns into a "little tyrant". Then come the first words, then the first carefully recorded sentences. The father holds his daughter's hand to make her scribble a few words in her letters. He takes on errands (hardware store, music publisher). He asks for the photograph "Vue du barrage du Canal Zola" (View of the Canal Zola dam) to be sent to him, well wrapped (July 10). He is on call at the newspaper, and his only thought is to take his daughter to the Jardin d'Acclimatation (July 29). Jules Ferry visits Aix: "if anything unusual or extraordinary were to happen, Lodi would act wisely by writing to me at the Journal" (September 17). Small allusion to Zola: Louise "sits at the table like a little woman, and she hides some! as they say in L'Assommoir" (October 8). 1880. He resumes the "Bébé bulletin", which continues to delight his parents, who admire his intelligence and bon mots, despite his mischievousness. Marius gets good news from Gustave, but worries about Jules, who writes like "a cobbler". He is thinking of organizing their annual trip to Aix, in April, but regrets that Gustave cannot have a leave long enough to join them. Enclosed are 2 telegrams, a letter of congratulations signed by family members (January 30, 1878), L.A.S. from Lisette and L.A.S. from Jules; 6 L.A.S. from Anna Roux, 3 pseudo-letters from Louise, an extract from her baptismal certificate; Le Petit Journal of January 8, 1881 (poor condition) and 2 issues of the Aix Republican newspaper Le National of March 22, 1896, with an article on Marius Roux.