The morning call., 1893-02-05

%A~D''
Emile BerOerat.
MARI and at each representation every
one in the audience wept" And then [
heard the story OF his life. In 1864 Bergerat
studied at the Lyeee Charlemagne and Gas
ton Boisser was his professor. The day
that lie presented himself for examination
he was refused the baccalaureat. AS he
walked awav. thinking of the reproofs Of
his father. jules ThienOt. one of the pro-
fessors ran after bin. "As bachelor OF
science You are impossible. my friend, but
as dramatic author-let us call on Got" SO
pupil and professor went 10 the Coincide
Franchise, where Bergerat learned that a
dramatic poem OF one act, lent by
him to Thienot. had been shown
to Got, by Got 10 the director, and by the
director to The committee. Tire young man
was pushed into the room where the COM
mittee was in session and asked to read his
play. He was choking with emotion, but
the play was received, and not long after
presented. In the meantime he had the
position OF guide to young man visiting
the monuments OF France; for his services he
received $50 month, and one day, seeing
in paper the announcement that his play
was to be presented for the last time, he
resigned his position, jumped In the train
and arrived at the Theatre Francois only
10 ITalu ltldt Tue pfONiICldl IOhIu&t was one
day behind those of Paris. He had never
seen his own play, aud he had hardly sou
. the world. Not discouraged BeTgeTat
offeret. .!is "Pere ct Mari" to the Theatre
Francois, bhc It was refused He then re-
solved to paint, al for this purpose went
south one day. CoGueIT sent him a dis
patch, saving that 'Pere MARI had
been unanimously accepted at b. Vaude-
Vile Theater, whereupon Bergerat took the
first train for Paris and heard I'VE should
like to present the play, but we have not
an appropriate actress" At last the play
was accepted at the Clucy Theater, where
it was presented in June, 1870. Then
came the war; the theaters were closed.
but as soon as they were reopened Bergerat
offered his ''Ange BOSanI 10 the Vaudeville
Theater. When it was presented the
director said 10 the young author: This is
the most powerful study of vice have seen,
and if you are courageous the future is
yours" After this Bergerats adventures
IN search of theaers for the presentation
of his plays are most amusing. "Hermlnie"
was presented at the door of every theater
NJ koning said to the author, lind an
actress" and Bergerat went TO Sarah Bern
hardt, Marie Laure, Marie julien. RousseiI,
etc, but all refused. Angler was sorry 10
see so much perseverance thrown away,
and sent the play anonymously 10 the The
atre Francois; it was unanimously refused.
At last it was brought out at the OdeOn
Theater. The ''Nour' was sent as present
to the Theatre du Pare in Brussels, where
it was played in 1888. Afterward II went
from the Renaissance, Paris. to the OdeoD,
from the OdeOn to the Vaudeville, from
the Vaudeville to the Gymnase, and from
the Gymnase il was returned 10 BergeTat
"F!ore de Frileuse" had one presentation at
the authors expense, and when the pre-
sentation was flushed. friend said to Ber-
gerat:
"W hat would it be II you had no talent?"
h. ft,l
was the reply of the unfortunate author.
But while Bergerat was suffering all these
defeats CaIiban was wreaklng vengeance
on those who refused to see the great ura-
matte talent OF Bergerat. Caliban wrote
TRADES against theatrical managers. and
the managers avenged themselves by con-
tinued bad treatment OF Bergerat.
One day, on one of the very rare Occa-
sions when Btrgerat accepted an invitation
to dinner, at table the guests began to talk
of theaters, etc. This was bergerats OPP
portunity. and he expressed his opinion
very frankly about the managers of the
Coincide Franchise. In vain Alphonse
Daudet touched his foot under the table. in
vain his friends tried to catch his eye; at
last, AIphonse Daudet lost all patience,
gave Bergerat a kick, and the latter, turn
ing around to see what was the matter, per-
ceived the manager OF the Comedle Fran
caise, pale and angry.
Emile Bergerat boasts that since his
marriage not once has he put on evening
dress, not once has he been to formal
dinner, not once to soiree. His wife Is
the second daughter Of The0phile Gautier,
and the sister of the famous Madame Judith
Gautier, whose husband is the more famous
Catulle Mendes. Two children make the jour
nalist's home happiness; these are Herminie.
daughter, and TheOphile, named for his
grandfather. The home of Emile Bergerat
is ~ Rue Vernier, In the Ternes quarter.
D0.t Ia xriIl
house is small. ana in front is little gar
den in summer devoted TO roses.
The drawlng-r0om is very small, and
seems smaller because of the immense num-
Der of bibelots scattered about. The walls
are covered with pictures. painted by Nine.
Bergerat, for the family OF Theophile Gau-
tier possesses all talents. The aQuarelles
are due to the brush of Bergerat himself,
for he also paints in his leisure hours. His
study is in the second story, and this is
flied with pictures and books, once the
property of Theophife Gauter.
The garden at the back Of the house con-
tains the studio of Nine. Bsrgerat and a
collection of dogs. parrots, and even turtle.
In summer Caliban-fOr that is Emile
Bergeraps most popular name-rises at
o'clock, in winter at 8, aud writes until
noon. He is never inspired with
out his pipe, and that is his constant
companion. After luncheon he walks
about his garden, in summer cares for his
flowers, then goes back TO his study, where
he remains until dinner time. Always
after dinner Nine. Bergerat plays his IA
v0rite airs on the piano, and again he re-
turns 70 his study and remains there until
IL o'clock. However, Caiiban does not
care TO write in the evening and very often
he only plans chruniQue for the next day.
Never does he make correction; rather
than erase a word he would tear the leaf
and reeommence.
"What is most difficult for me-" says
Cal!ban, sis the choice of a subject for
Ca;ibap must be able to develop some popu-
lar thought" Every summer Bergerat goes
with his family TO his seaside villa, Ca lied
ia Fourberie." His Is the only house on
the seashore. and his nearest neighbors are
two wine merchants. who are quarrelsome
rivals.
At La Fourberie most frequent guest of
Callban is Jean Richepip, and the two
friends play croquet whenever they rest
from their literary labors.
BergeTat or .Calihan wishes to be of
startling originality and In literature to pos
sess every talent-poet, author of "Enguer-
rande"; dramatist. whose plays have been
above mentioned; journalist. once the
Homme Masque OF the Voltaire. to-day the
Caliban of Figaro.