The reader will notice a peculiarity about this gentleman's name. It
starts off with "M" and then there is eight bars rest until it comes to
Santos. This is a French custom. Every man in France begins his first
name with "M" and then refuses to tell the rest of it. It seems such a
stingy habit.

Let us quote more from M. Dumont's own story:

"My first desire to get off the earth happened while I was extremely
young.

"One day while out in the Brazilian diamond fields picking the luscious
white stones from the trees it suddenly occurred to me what a frivolous
life I was leading.

"Diamonds, diamonds everywhere and not a place to pawn.

"I became restless.

"My father owned the diamond plantation so I went to him and explained
what a tired feeling I had, and how I longed to rise in the world.

"Father at once turned about fifteen volts into his right shoe and I
rose for a distance of four feet.

"I returned almost immediately, but this short flying trip made a deep
impression upon my mind, and otherwise.

"Ten years later I left home just to convince my father that I could
rise in the world without his kindly collaboration.