The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-10


inside-it had to wait ten years for mel"
1T must be very pleasant 10 realize
wish which one has cherished for SO many
years." remarked.
The little gentleman bent his head to
one side with his small, cunning fox eyes
and answered, the habitual smile play
ing around his lips which reminded me
somewhat of Oliver Wendell Holmes:
81 lived with a shoemaker at the time.
1t seems at this moment as if could still
smell the sticky atmosphere, the disagree
able ordor of moist leather, pitch and glue.
1t did not have very charming influence
on my empty stomach. 1t was very nasty !"
And he made gesture of aversion. He
has the reputation of Possessing, in spite
OF his leanness. a genuine Robelai.iess APP
petite.
Then he turned to Conrad and said with
slight bow:
II hear you are one of the rising critics.
would like to have some honest criticism
on my work"
Really honest2" and Conrad's eyes rad
lated with JOY, but then he shook his beau
tiful head and laughed
why not 2" asked Sardou.
You would not like TO hear it."
why mott" insisted Sardou with an in
curing look. Il like adverse criticismsp
began to feel a little embarrassed, as /
knew Conrad's outspoken manner.
Pardon me. he began again, ''it would
be impoiite. You are our host, but If you
insist. Your characters are like trees
without roots"
'Why, why, what do you mean by
that p"
"They are" continued Conrad, 'built
on sandy bss SIS and with the first gust of
criticisms they hang like marionettes in
the air, handled ad libitum by the author.
Pardon me for saying it, but such is my
opinionl'
Sardou looked a little stupefied for
moment, but then he smiled again.
"Oh, you want to prove that | only pro-
duce stage characters and not creations
tue TO real life?"
Conrad nodded and then resumed. az
admire your brilliancy with the rest, your
facility OF managing the dlalogne and your
rare talent of developing characters with
out Gidactic explanations. / admire your
comedies, but"
"Not my tragedies" interrupted Sardou.
''Yet the dramatic author who respects his
art, must tackle the social and philosophic
questions of the day. 1t is nv dutvI-
have been a medical student, and have al
ways taken a deep interest in positive,
sciences. | have knowledge enough tn
chat with DIR. Broce' on molecules. and
could dispute metaphysics with any phil
osopher. When l wrote Daniel Rochat' I
". i
dav and night; l read the Bible, ST.
Augustine, the fathers of the church, the
theoiogians, the historians, the German
philosophers. For almost three years I
lived completely in the sixteenth century.
That's what / have donei Unfortun ately
one cannot gain living by such works,
and SO have written PLAYS for Sara Bern
hardt. Money is not the principal thing
to me, you know, but l like to have plenty
of bread and-butter
saw that Conrad was prepariu for a
reply, but before he could IRE off another
broadside at our charming little host. with
all the military bluntness of German
asked:
"Do your ideas suggest themselves
madly while reading?"
"No-not exactly. have stored away a
mass of slumbering material which ONLY
needs an awakening to unfold itself I
like to dig up old "reminiscences, for moth
ing explains the present better than the
past. But what beautiful weather We
have today! like the country and love
the seal Ny other castle is situated on
the shore"
Then long pause en.ued.
81 have" he began aCain, "also WI itten
articles on men and art works of the re-
Nuisance for an encyclopedia. 1t does not
pay AS we'll as successful plays, but it is a
work of love for me. Even my collection
of bric-a-brac has profted by my studies"
and he smiled softly to himself.
1t seemed to me that he wished to inn
press US as being great historian.
no longer remember the connecting
links of the conversation that followed.
but it eventually turned on lola, who Is
the essence of all greatness to Conrad.
He has treated me very harshly," re-
marked Sardou, ''you know he said -"
We nodded, for we knew lola criticism.
''Sardou does not possess and will never
possess our literary esteem!''
sand yet" Sardou continued, "we have
one thing in common, we are both of Ital-
ian origin"
At the beginning of the last century a
class of people left the island of Sardinia
and emigrated to the province The natives
called the strangers lei Sardou" Vic
torien Sardou is the illustrious descendant
of these pilgrims. His father was super.
intendent of school in Burgundy.
We took our departure in a short time.
Sardou waving his hand to US from the
verandah.
What is your impression of Sardou p"
inquired Conrad.
II find him one of the cleverest and most
active men have met" answered.
"Yes. he understands his business. he ia
very smart. And | would pardon him
anything, even his plagiarism from Ger
man authors, if he would not try to pose
as philosopher and scientist, historian and
God knows what all {"