In 1883, while he still was at the War College, his father died, and
when he graduated, which he did with honors, he found himself his
own master. His assets were a small income, a perfect knowledge
of the French language, and the reputation of being one of the most
expert swordsman in Paris. He chose not to enter the army, and
instead became a journalist, novelist, duellist, an _habitue_ of the
Latin Quarter and the boulevards.
As a novelist the titles of his books suggest their quality. Among
them are: "Un Amour Vendeen," "Lettres d'un Yankee," "Un
Amour dans le Monde," "Memoires d'un Gommeux,"
"Merveilleuses Aventures de Nabuchodonosor, Nosebreaker."
Of the Catholic Church he wrote seriously, apparently with deep
conviction, with high enthusiasm. In her service as a defender of
the faith he issued essays, pamphlets, "broadsides." The opponents
of the Church in Paris he attacked relentlessly.
As a reward for his championship he received the title of baron.
In 1878, while only twenty-four, he married the Countess de
Saint-Pery, by whom he had two children, a boy and a girl, and
three years later he started _Triboulet_. It was this paper that made
him famous to "all Paris."
It was a Royalist sheet, subsidized by the Count de Chambord and
published in the interest of the Bourbons. Until 1888
Harden-Hickey was its editor, and even by his enemies it must be
said that he served his employers with zeal.
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