Guy de Maupassant to his father

Guy de Maupassant was a French author of the naturalistic school who is generally considered the greatest French short story writer. He took the subjects for his pessimistic stories and novels chiefly from the behaviour of the bourgeoisie, the Franco-Prussian War, and the fashionable life of Paris. During the 1880s, Maupassant's health declined as a result of syphilis, which he had contracted in the 1870s but physicians did not diagnose. Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt on January 2,1892, Maupassant was placed in a sanitarium. He died a year and a half later of complications from the disease.

Rouen, this Tuesday, End of 1870

My dear Father ,

This morning I received your two letters and I am sorry and embarrassed. I am far from blaming you, instead I was `sic` to thank you a thousand times the rush you have made me change, I just thought you'd left the first man because the other would cost you 100 or 200 francs less and I thought that the second may cost more than the first. You tell me that I was too fast to find Mr Preval, but I have not been there, it was he who sent for me and told me he had a letter from him that thou asked to submit the man you'd found and that I could send you a telegram to bring this man he took care to walk this case here. I thought everything was arranged and a letter of Mr. Preval have been found `sic` the deputy superintendent who has fixed yesterday or today at 9 am considering my man. You understand that Mr. Preval is not to be happy and now if we ask his protection from the Colonel of the 24th line, it will send us a walk.

I went this morning to the house at 22 rue St Nicolas, which is a very good house and has replaced several of my comrades. But to replace me in the 4000 F Quartermaster they ask and are not safe to have a man on the line or they ask another regiment F 3500 As they have minds across all the formalities are completed in 8 or 10 days instead of a regular period or two months, but it's awfully expensive, and then what they say I do not know if it would be easy to get the change of body, the Colonels will show the last few days very hard on that, probably due to secret instructions. My man in Britain has not written more letters since the one I sent you - and then he asked in 2500 - round trip 70 - 30 food inn - equipment costs total 120 F 2720 F or more. And then this man looks to me like a joker. Finally I'll write again.

I was introduced today an artillery battery that is here I'll see him again just now to know its price. But this man was not released until next January 1 - It is true that the old law allowed to replace in the last 6 months of service, the man continued his time in the Corps and who was to replace had to leave these six months there. It was perfectly legal. But I say, the new law occurring during these six months there does not she send my man home, his time is finished and send me to the regiment. Try to have a solution to this question -? It is very difficult to deal here with my replacement, with no freedom of action and finding myself in a city where there is no man, I can not get anywhere. I began to seriously fear can not get out of there, all my friends are gone now, some with great difficulty. ] E know a gentleman who travel from 15 days to find a man to his son. He finally has a man found at 2000 F in Britain, but he is at 500 F for travel in Britain, a trip to the depot at 200 F Marseille, 2 trips to Paris 100 F. Equipment (Corps and Cavalry) 220 F and a hundred francs for miscellaneous expenses 3,120 Total F. My gunner was dismissed but he asked 800 francs a year which is too much. In all 3200 F. I received your telegram I do not understand, I went to the office where it was telegraphed to the headquarters quia responded by sending me the same text reads: "Papal Zouave income by noon today or 4:00 , send your names by telegram to notary Maillefer 10 rue du Havre, Paris. " I understood - send your names and I have sent them without knowing why.

Farewell, dear father, I embrace you with all my heart.

Your son

Maupassant