The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-06
FERREOL
A DxFENcx OF sARDou's oRIorNALIrY-HIs-
ToRIcAL REVIEW OF THE pLoT-pAuL PAR
FAT, sANDEAU AND DE VEGA.

A DEFENcx OF sARDou's oRIGINALIrY-HIs-
ToRIcAL REVIEW OF THE PLoT-PAuL PAR
FAIT, sASDEAU AND DE VEGA.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
AZ the HERALD happens to DO the one American
journal read in Paris permit its columns in
protest against the injustice dono to n. victoren
Sardou by several New York since tho produc-
ton OF that authors new play, 'Ferreo, NJ the Union
Square Theatre These njustccs, resembling those
which 50 often greet your own great dramatist Dion
Bcucicault, when he produces q play that de-
lights the town, will, believe, need only statement to
be understood
The first charge that meets the FIRST performance
that OF plagiarism sardou is charged BY Of the
New York daiics with having stolen his story OF Fer
reop from Paul Paraits novel, "LAssassn du Bel
Antoine" The same journal also charges that the
vii OF NJ sardou Is merely local wit; and that there
fore, his play IS snorn OF halt It's beauty by translation
Morally, tho Irst OF these charges the grave
Artst,cxly, the second the more important 10 tho
fame Of an author now recognized as standard in
Without tho slightest desire TO defend one or my
countrymcn by slshnng another, think Il no wrong to
NJ farixit TO recognize the TACT that NJ. Sardoc has
given IN his works, especially Ia Sersphncn "fatrc"
and 'Nos In,Imes," evidences OF mental power, Of
creative iccundty and Of constructive skill TO which
the amiabc secretary OF the late Dumas psrc would
himself be the last lay claim Tho abilities con-
slrucvc and creative, OF NJ Sardou universally
known that 10 ordinary people he might necd no de-
fence To the charge OF having steen from ~ Psrait
Yet with all this admitted, there IS sulicen. resenn-
bisncc between NJ Parfa,s novel and NJ. Sardous play
TO color charge which either envy or literary Jeai
ousy would lain accept AS proven a. soon as made.
The novel OF n. Parisit was published by Levy
Freres IN 1878 Tho "Ferrcol' OF sardou was pro-
duccd in 1874 IL the play stolen from the novel
sardou. therefore, could not hope 10 escape detection
No compiaint OF such stealing has been made by N.
Parfsit IL Is but natural 10 conclude that " Sardou
du use Paraits work he used II with the consent Of
Parait But did he use rsriairs work. Let us
The germnal idea of parairs plot tho occurrence
OF a crime durlng the clandcst,ne visit to former
lover by the vile OF the judge who investigate
crime Thus Is nearly the pivotal IDEA OF
the play OF "Fcrreol" But have pre-
cisely the same complication IN Jules san
deaus story I'm Debut dams Ia Magistra.urc: also
published BY Levy frcrcs, but published In 1894
Again We have nearly the same complication OF
GaDoriau's novels s'L'Analrc lie Rouge and an IN
dustrious reader OF Spanish plays The same COM
pcaton forms tho ground work Of OF De Vegas
innumcrable plays
Whore, then, ~ the evidence that ~. Sardou stole
the idea IRON Parfait not from Sandeau. nor IRON
Gaborisu. from DO Vega; shall we say Sxndcau
stole from DE Vega, Gabor,au stole from Saudcau Par
fat stole from Gaborau and SSrdou stole from Parfat
IL 10 far nkey that ssrdou stole all four
q thsms THAI hLs combating. constructing mind