Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06

garre< OF BOn9parte. lieutenant OF uru-
lery. on the quays. Sardou worked there
at a table or on a shelf; evcrywhere one
sIw books-books stitched, books In old
blnlings-manuscrip and heaps OF
papers When he was writing. his head
vas always covered with a velvet cap.
end on that day he was dressed IN
red flannel coat Ike the shirts worn by
the followers OF Garibaldl. 1t was from
that visit that our thirty yesrs Of friend
ship dated-a sentiment whose strength
and depth have experienced rrore espe-
c.ally In certain hours OF trial. VINO
would lave said that I should one day
take part, In the first theatre
in France, In one OF this young
debutants plays? Nothing could have
LED me TO think that i would be
the director OF the Coincide Franchise.
and little dreamed OF II. / have seen
Sardou at home, In the Chateau de Marry,
which he had flied with princely rare
ties; l have seen him chatting In the
woods. walking briskly; and we have
searched for the traces OF the fugitive An
Dire Chenier in the environs OF his dwell
Ding I have seen him happy amidst his
own, between his charming wife and his
children, who are his life. j have seen
him on the stage directing the rehearsal
OF his work. instilling the sacred fire
into the actors. the musicians, the super
numeraries. every one. For me he has
remained the ideal OF life, a man better
equipped for the literary battle than any
I have encountered: enthusiastic above
all, interested in everything, attracted
by every work OF art. by every question,
and by every problem: knowing every
thing, reading everything, understanding
everything He pours forth In n discus
sion on literature, or In the defence OF the
interests OF the Society OF Dramatic Au-
thors, or in the directions given to the
scene painter, or to the architect,
wealth OF enhancing eloquence. He
would have made wonderful journalist,
an unique debater." What q glimpse 1t
affords OF the erudlton. the habit Of
mind, the unique methods OF the greatest
playmaker of the age.
There is an amusing account given OF
visit that Sardou paid to Theirs. then
President Of France. TO solicit his vote
for his seat in the French Academy:
HE astonshed the historian of the
Consulate and of Europe by speaking 10
him OF the transformation of the modern
theatre through the spirit which the new
writer's have infused into II by correct
ness and wealth of details. have
stopped at the comedies OF NJ. Scribe
said NJ. THEIRS. Monsieur lie President,
have you stopped at the furniture Of the
time OF Louis Phillpe| replied Sardou.
NO. and he looked around him. Have
you stopped at the classic grouping OF .ur-
niture around the chimney-piece. as In
the time OF Madame RecamierY No
There are arm-chairs In the middle OF
your room, some near the fireplace, some
- IL ~ Of T."l
disorder, which permits Of conversation
springing up in all the corners. giving an
animation to the room which II had not
when the older arrangement OF furniture
gave II classic aspect. And what
variety in draperies! That japanese silk
beside the Louis Nv. table, that Chinese
screen beside the Marie Antolnette chair,
copied from the model or Trianon. Di-
versity is the aim Of the modern fur
nisher. One does not want rigidity any
more, but contrast; and our furniture.
like our actions, Is always significant
In that respect our comedians OF to-day
differ from those OF the time OF VI. Scribe
NJ. Scribe put a sofa at each end OF the
stage, and invariably n table in the
centre. We put stands in all the corners,
small furniture everywhere, and the table
where 1t suits us NJ. Theirs was singu-
larry interested with this little lecture,
given with all kinds Of picturesque
gestures. He smiled, and said TO Nictorien
Sardou: 4 understand now, my dear
confrere, why Mollere was so good an
author. lie had been an upholsterer.'
Those words. my dear confrere' were. In
effect a promise that the statesmanS
vote would be given to Sardou. W. Theirs,
in fact. voted for him"
Theirs was better critic than he
guesses. His joke had solid founda-
ton in sober sense. The merit of Sar
dou's plays. and their value. which runs
often TO many thousands Of dollars, lies
first in their crafty carpentering. their
upholstery" as the little President put
It, place for everything an1 everything
in its place, is a maxim he never forgets,
and in marshalling his details he mar
ehals his uairons too.