The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-30
THE RICHEST WRITER LIVING

The Only Man Who Ever PIshsd 81, 000,-
900 Out Of an Ink Pot.
INTERVIEW WITH YICTORIEN SARLOU.
What the Greatest of Modern Playwright is
Has to Say About His Dramas
md How He Writes
Thorn.
Copyright. lSnior The Times)
KR ARls. June 90
Eictorien sardou
!: I
Z 49, Is probably the
~ tnly man who ever
WI A0N shed million
AA (" VI PILLARS out OF an
oE40 PIX pot with a
~ ,Kn. But. besides
NWeSsI = 90 Wing the richest
" Es1lr/ rS) Ritter in g
ESzEA%SM/E Xrld, he IL also
kSWu~r%T J greatest ritter
q I'm NkW ,hZ his line. Ger
III NMHR\/ Why there * no
SH~ fher playwright
NT r. him. And to he
- two widely Diff
rich and 10 be great \snan ,vho hss
ferng things. ] am k.hmncor No.,
writer In all America Atin,o con
devoted his life 10 blC achieve
els sold IN yellow COZ q anu -. -
-, IL a. NO, M ardou is an
~, n,.".. -. - 49, accessible TO ann
ns' III" sspt.,b l,,,i The public cafNEer
" . - 49, 80 trouble. But for him
aSon. bir, &c not Kwho wants TO write
her IL .rn14s 7
ar dneIs ~ pioo IN no character in his
matte than his zNVlth IRE more gc cp Sls So
that greatly profession a. first' ana e,,,
Tor reading asked to write rites som ana ns
heard il an Rredy which every one VINO
Of medici lauded That ended sdo his study nay
baed Tho in isas That he he 0 %ai write
:" His relatives were not pleased.
s,,<he did as he wanted TO. and paid no
fa(ention to the people who wanted MN
do otherwise. Then began struggle
The tragedy which had been received
with so much delight by his friends IN
The country village in the south OF France
was not looked upon with equal favor ny
the theatrical mara ayers OF Paris. lndeed,
ne could find no one who would produce
It on the stage. and he was greatly as
appointed. lie tried TO ind out why IL
Was rejected and suddenly realized that
lie had no real practical knowledge or
play writing He at once saw that II was
absurd for him so try to make success
OF a profession of which he knew moth
ing and so he began TO study the art OF
preparing stories for presentation on the
stage as carefully as he would have had
10 study medicine in order TO procure MS
diploma. Two or three years he worked
at II before he thought he was far enough
advanced TO write play which would DO
for submission to a manager Then ~
wrote "The Students Tavern" and, Who
der of wonders found a manager me
accepted H. and produced ~ ed 10 The
play was dire failure. II Sad reached
young playwright that hemugt die in
the end of all things. "a reason for dis
deed. he was not wliSnths he had half
couragement. For. order to be able 10
starved himself,He had SHARED neither
write the pJold ir order to make the
munger n~a possibility. and for II 10 fail
manu- 'cyy was horrible. He brooded over
.9myymfpectedly tragic climax of ms
t<<dy. and fell into serious Illness lie
@s only saved from death by the unset
fish and intelligent nursing which he re-
ceivcd at the hands OF a young lady OF
his acquaintance upon whom he mad TO
claim whatever. BY and by. after he got
well again, he married her. No pretter
love story is told I'm any OF his plays.
After he had recovered his strength and
courage he induced Paul Feval 10 COLA
borate with him In writing lie Bossu,'
a historical drama, which did not create
sensation. although Foval made good
novel out Of the plot For some time after
poverty was great as before. But bet
ter times came and when they did come
they came with q heartiness that sur
prised the young author as greatly as II
pleased him "Canddc" and Les Pre-
mieres Armes de Figaro were both pro-
auced at the Theatre Dejazct and both
succeeded. Their production was brought
about by the little muse whom the young
author had married She was the bosom
friend OF Mile. Dejazet Quickly follow
ing these two plays, appcart< the famous
"Pattes de Moucche.' known in America
as "A Scrap OF faper'-the play IN which
the kendals pleased the dear Yankee pub
lie so well. | am told that Sardou had
made up his mind TO stand or fan by this
play. Had II faiicd he would have emf
grated TO America and have taken up
some other profession But 40 succeeded |
Thus America lost one Of the most br,l.
liant men OF the century. and the world |
gained her greatest modern playwright.
or IHK MAN HIMSELF.
To follow his career frcm the time when !
the success OF "A Scrap Of Paper Dr.
termined t. would be merely 10 write
For the preseI& II may be more Interest
ing TO turn 10 the man himself
Sardou Is short. with nerves s1iper- !
evident IN everything about him. from
his smoking jacket 10 his eyes. The hand
kerchief which he wears knitted around
his neck is an unfailing barometer of his
state OF mind. Actors and friends have
learned to study the nature OF the knot
and TO learn thereby how the great man
happens 10 be looking at the world tSat
day. Color, too. plays It's part IN TINS
important feature OF the playwrights
dress. At his home ON the Rue dc Ma
drid in Paris and at his country place at
Marty. he wears a red handkerchief AT
the theatre he wears white one. SO
n Sardou gently unwinds his red hand
kerchief from about his neck while he Is
talking TO you In his study and puts IA
its place a white one, you may take the
action for a polite dismissal IL means
that the time has come for the can 10 END
and for his work at the theatre TO begin
His home In Paris Is by no means pre-
tentioGs enc. The drawing room is hung
with fine tapestries. and has In IL some
wonderful bric-a-brac. But IL is simple
and unosfentaticus place when compared
with houses like those OF Emile lola.
The study Is great airy room. full OF
light and Uttered with books and news
papers--a kind OF orderly litter. sardou
Is as good 4 business man as he is play
wright. and tbs lltt+r is Of the sort That
might be found IN the Office OF rail-
road president His table Is large. and |
81. ali a. nj IL |