The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-30
Glimpses of Rochefort.
From the NeIr YORK sun.


One day in Paris my attention was at
tracted to a cafe by a crowd of wildly ex-
citable Frenchmen SurglnG around a small
table, on one SIDE of which sat Henry
Roche fort, smoking a cigarette and gazing
with rather bored air at a neatly shod
foot which be had crossed over his knee.
Opposite him and leaning over tho table
was specimen of the genius actor in
towering rage. He was n member of Sarah
Berahat dts company the Emperor in
Theodore and he had been lnSuted with
Singulariy picturesque and diverung bru-
tallty by ROchetorU IN that brilliant French
mans paper The actors face was hvid.
and his whole frame trembled as he shook
his fists under RoChetorts nose and called
the journalist every name known to science,
literature and the stage. ROChcfort did
not reply. He considered it unnecessary,
as he had explained that morning III his pa
per that he could not honor an actor by
meeting him in a duel, because actors were
not gentlemen, while he, Rochefort, was of
gentle blood. He might have added with
truth that he was an arlStoCrat and mar
Quisi as well by birth, but he did not. 1t was
against this final fling that the actor was
protesting that day Oh the boulevard. In
the climax of his fury he suddenly knocked
Rochetort's hat from his head and stamped
on it violently. Then STOPPING, he raised
the battered remnant of the hat, and tar
ing it to shred, with his nervous yellow
hands, cast the fragments in n shower over
the famous duelist. After this the actor
stepped back and waited tempe,tuously.
The imperturbability of Rochefurt was
astounding There was not n trace of
bravado about 1t, nor the faintestsuegestion
of theatrical strQlning for effect. His deli
cate and finely hewn face, with the snowy
hair, graceful white mOuStaChe and Impe-
rial, and heavily hdded eyes, had no other
expression than one of entire boredom. He
was carefully dressed, and is hands were
small and well moulded. He finished his
cigarette while the ac or stood glowerlng
fiercely at hiu, then walked bareheaded to
his cab and drove Off. On tho way through
the crowd he accidentally jostled man, and
as lie TUNED quickly ana apologlzed his face
lighted mp in "A smile that was CHEEKY and
expressive.
That night saw him again. | sat in a
stall 1T the big Eden Theatre, near box
that stood forth from other boxes by rea-
son of the presence of a woman perhaps 20
wears of age who was as perfect n specl-
men of Spanish beauty as | had ever seen.
At short intervals, her big and brilliant black
eyes were cast over warm tinted shoulder
toward the door of the box. An elderly
woman who ,sat in the box dOzed sedately.
The younger one was atire with Impotence.
A Frenchman, whom | knew, came up dur
ing an entire act, and said
''She rivals the stage, does she not"
Shes beautiful girl-SpanishW
Yes
waiting for some one too"
Eyes again, She is waiting for Roche
fort. She is his niece"
There was an almost imperceptible drOop
of the eyelid as he mentioned the relation
| ship.
4 moment later the door of the box
| opened and a blush blazed over the express
sive face of the girl as the journalist quietly
seated himself beside her and began TO talk
into the near ear. Family matters, doubt
| less.
Four hours later there was a brisk and an
CRY discussion in one of the upper rooms in
| the Cafe de Ia Paix While the hubbub of
voices was a its hight, the door was thrown
| open, and RocheforC STROBE out on the arm
of a distinguished looking man Of 60 years
or more. The latter was exceedingly wroth,
but there was not the smallest change in the
suave indifference of ROchefort's mien. A
great wrangle was going on. didn't bother
| with it, but it occurred tom Inc before | went
| to sleep in the hack on my way home, that
| if that was a specimen day of Henry Roche
! forts. his existence must be diverting, tc
say the least.