The Critic and record., 1891-04-08
sARDou's COUNTRY HOME.
Fanny Davenport's Impressions of q
Great French Dramatist.

Fanny DaNenpOrt's Impressions of the
Great French Dramatist.
The home lie of Sardou, the great
French dramatist, is a subject of interest
to all who have admired his works, and
no person is better able to describe It than
Fanny Davenport, who has shared his
hospitality, and whom he has chosen to
interpret his works in this country, as lie
did Bernhardt in France. The American
Cleopatra is never weary of talking about
Sardou, whom she regards as great mas
ter Of the drama. Speaking of the author
To Times reporter yesterday, Miss DAv.
export said.
"Of course, | have had little opportu-
nifty tn study him rs man except when,
at his invitation, my husband aud staid
at his country home in the environs of
Paris short while-a favor that he
rarely grants, because the theatre is like
his business office and his home is quite
properly retreat from business aud as
sCCiations The house stands in the
midst of magnificent grounds, for Sar-
don is sensitive TO everything beautiful,
and he takes great pride in the flowers
and smooth lawns that surround his
home. The house itself is not unusually
large or striking in appearance, but it is
artistic and quaint In architecture.
"Sardou himself impressed me as a
man who, without egOtism, is thoroughly
conscious Of his own abilities, and con-
trolls them so well as to use them TO the
very best advantage. No man who is
hailed by q nation as lie Maitre' of the
drama can be expected TO show extreme
mOdesty, and Sardou certainly realizes his
own value to the stage. Heis Il man of
average stature talks with the usual
quick, nervous volubility Of the French
man ana extends courteous hospitality
to his friends, for which his cOmpatriots
are noted
"Sardou, continued the actress works
principally in his country house. lie has
cozv library, with the usual shadOwy
gloom about 1t that seems necessary Ia
awaken his genius. When writing play
lie secures every book he can obtain that
has the slightest bearing in any way upon
the subject he has chosen, and he studies
them all before beginning to write. lie
gave me a veritable monument of books
treating of the appearance and manner of
Cleopatra and the incidents of her life.
lie has a charming wife, a tall, 1.-THE,
graceful woman, who was ailing when we
paid our visit, and three children. As n
parent he is strict and somewhat brusque,
but full of love for his children. We
were offered during our stay some rare
wine, which was made exclusively for
the royal palace of an adjoining monarch
and which the King had presented tC
SardOu.'
"One morning. Miss Davenport said
the dramatist took from u corner of the
/ library a. huge key, the hiding place ol
which is Il secret Of the Sardou family
/ and led MS across the garden to an old
/ rusty door, set in massive stone.work
Fitting the key into the door, he opened
/ il and led us into wild growth Of shrub
/ berry, long grass, and giant old trees
sort of woodland that had apparently os
/ capped the eye of civilization for years
/ The place had quite an extended area, and
was surrounded by high stone wall
/ This wood, Sardou told us, had once been
the favorite hunting ground of French
! royalty, and upon the advent of the re
/ public had been decided to him. A few
wild animals were still there, he said, bu
they were rare. We afterward Learned
that no person but Sardou himself eve
opened the gatewayto this sacred ceme
teiy of nature"
SardOlts writing, as shown in severa
letters TO Miss Davenport. is so small rs h
almost require magnifying glass to reaI
it,. The original Freanch manuscript o
"Cltopatra' had few stage directions o
suggestions for business and it is due /,
Miss Dayenpor's abilities as stage di
rector that her production of cleopatra
is 50 full of life and incident.