New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-12
HOW DAUDET UROTE SIDONIE.7
From lie Figaro.

The following is an extract from the yet nm
published book by Alphonse Daudct entitled Ills
/ conceived the first idea for Fremont Jeunc
during the rehearsal Of my play OF Aresenne at
the Vaudeville Theatre. concluded that IL was
time 70 awaken the sympathcs of the IaTlSlanS Tor
n piece drawn from their every day life aud moving
in their atmosphere. As lived in the Maras az the
time naturally came upon the idea OF placing 'Le
scene amid the hustle and morse az tial nlslil'sI
quarter The associations of the quarter charmed
me. Myself the son of business man kncw py
experience how very hard the struggle IN these com
mercial centres is: how people OF the most Narlcu
natures and different education are ny the 'ohiiuu
nifty of their interests thrown ana kcp' 1U1
wears j knew of the small leai"uSlcS ntt""Il
families: of the rivalry between women Id
whom the spirit of caste exists ana man
talns itself to far greater degree than IN
mon. I knew of the torture OF tenement house life.
What with Mines, Lyons and Paris together, |
found ten models for every one OF my characters so
that | soon began to think over my piece, the pot
of which was To hinge on thc'Valdty OF signature
and the honor of a business company: Blt passion
unfortunately, is Indispensable on al Ihia s'dtc.
And thus il was that Inc interest l t"ok III MY
studv decreased or WAS at least transferred ana con
centratcd on Sidonie and her adventures. and tins
although | had originally intended the associations
mean. however. at some future day to make II 50. -
As is known, "Arlcsicnne' did not please me- III
was foolishncSs 10 imagine that alnld me louie
wards where the Capgiccs and modes OF iarls arc
ever whrling in n secthng vortex. people could be
found ready to interest themselves III rustic loVe
drama, with its farm house and tho odor "t nay
Iuows and barns on the one hand. and lts lavender
scented Provcncal plains on the other The piece
proved failure and full OF disgust abandoned
the theatre. I'm my rang the pcals OF RAPID
laughter which my touching scenes had eNclted;
and without even defending myself III the papers !
resolved 10 write no more dramas.
Fremont" once prepared. thought over and
brought near Ia its climax, struck me as hclhg
suitable subject for novel. | ought AZ inns p"Iii
TO have changed the lntucaces oi the pot as wen
as the arrangement of the scenes. But then noth.
ing is so difficult To alter work the portions q"
which fit and complete each other IKE the cones
II, of fft-sNn |
finally came TO the elements OF my drama III
the composition of nv novel II y not surprising
that the fiction of Fremont Junior should he slightly
old and romanesque. he TRAITS oil character anu
society circles pictured therein are strictly IN ac-
cOrdance with facts and painted from nature. All
the characters in Fremont have llNed or are sun
living The character. old "Garinois Tor III
stance was a cause OF much anguish 10 one OF my
friends whom | much liked, hut then coulh not
refrain from pOrtraying this type of an cgoiNtlcaL
terrible old man, OF an unncTChul up.iaIt VINO
while standing on the terrace of his park. wond
often glance around at ms farm and castle" az IN
woods and waterfalls with greedy look. ana Turn
ing To his children would say: have at least one
consolation, and that i that when am no more no
ono of YOU vii, be rich enough 10 retain all thus
property" The name OF the Cashier llanus IN
zeal life was Schcrcr | used 10 see HIM often M
his banking house IN the rue de LondrfS p"fchrd
before his money bags and shaking head over
stocked with arithmetic aud giving vent 10 ms
scrio-comic sOrTOw with Icutou accent: " "a ialt
ricn chat has gonvlauzc. Even Sldonic cN-
ISIS: the IMPOVERISHED parental household, Madame
Chehc's little diamond case on the old Empire
chest of drawers long the only luxury Of the needy
family, all this IL from life. The original Sdotlc.
however. was not quite ~ bad rs have made her
True she was an intrigucr. ambitions. apt 10 hc
dazzled by fortune. and greedy after pleasure and
rich toilets But she was incapable oi inhdclitY
under the conjuga roof, such A. made her appear
to lie for the sake If few impressive scenes. Her
real name is Madame Gardlnols. Rlslrr y q
souvenir of my youth. TINS tall, blonde artisan
was employed by my own father From an
Asacian | have transformed him into Swiss. a.
did not care to earn cheap popularity 10y display
of sentimental patriotism Ia the last place. Delo-
belle has lived at my side. and how often have
heard him exclaim: have night to give up the
stage"