The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-27
HE LOVED SARAH.
And Was Also infatuated With the Stage
and Acting.


The theatrical career Of n. Geoffroy, ban.
ker OF tie rue du Quatrs sertsmbre, in Paris.
was duly noticed I'm Tnr NEWS, when 10
commenced In New yors last winter under
sarah Bornhardt's direction. MGeonroy
who is Of middle age. had long been an ad-
mirer Of tho actress and when she reached
tho steamer at havre last January, prepared
to embark for this country. she found M.
Geoffroy on board. He had cherished for
years an ambition for the stage and as Sarah
know that She was likely to have the pleasure
OF his society during her tour to this country
she decided to make the best % the situation
and allow the banker TO play in her company.
30 N the steamer he learned several relies
and made his debut here ss the father In
Camille" "Geofroy Rudsl, tho Provencal
troubador, was one Of the characters In play
sarah produced in Paris 30 she thought ID
would 10 a good idea to disguise her banker
uudsr the name OF. Rudsl, and as such he ap.
poared first here. His debut was harrow
ing sigh, TO the audience that witnessed ~,
but the actress continued TO struggle with
him and no acted in several other parts. After
the story of his part in her company was
made public Bsrnhardt began to think that
she was appearing little bit ridiculous In
the matter and she tried TO devise some
means of eating rid of N. Geoproy. But no
excuse was TO be found. He was more con-
eientious than the most humble member Of
the company. He studied and rebearscd In
defat!gably and being man Of wealth, sal
cry was no important object To him. Sarah
puzzled over the situation, but ID was not un-
ill sbo left New York that way out OF the
difficulty occurred to her. NJ. Geodroy was
en- old friend and his feelings had to be con-
sidered. but the plan shs finally adopted
seemed 10 meet every requirement.. When
sue got to Boston she sent a long cablegram
TO friend in Paris requesting him to for
ward from Paris this message to her admirer.
signed with tho rame Of one of his clerks:
Important business compsls your presence
here. Credit Of the firm at stake. You
must return imm ediately."
Geoflroy brought the cablegrsm TO her, In
despair Mt this threatened interruption to
his theatrical career. He assured Saf all that
no would rather let the business 20 20 smash
in Paris than leave her and the stage. "You
go to Paris" she said "attend to the matter
and then come back Immediately. Leave
your costumes here and / will explain every
thing to your managers IL will be all right,
and you can be back with Us In three weeks.
This satisfied the banker, who sailed for
Paris. delighted at the idea of returning to
rejoin the company within such a short time.
But soon as. the steamer had sailed Sarah
started another cablearsm to Paris addressed
to M. Geoffroy himself. 1t read:
"The managers are furious. Your contract
Is broken. DONE think OF coming back to
America. will explain when SEQ you IN
June" N. Geofroy's roles were assigned
promptly to other actors in the company and
his theatrical career, commenced romanti-
cally, came to a sudden end. be wrote back
IN grent distress that unless he should be al-
lowed to act again with sarah when she got
back to Paris he would atart for China as
soon as she arrived ana pass the rest of his
life there, as he never again could bear to soc
her on the stage and not be on il with her.
But the people who know the actress believe
that M Geoffroy will be compelled to 60 to
China IL he really meant what he wrote.
The actress used the cables for many more
important purposes while she was In this
country. Her earnings from q season OF 20
weeks were about $4,000. which was not
particularly large sum. But soon she
got her share Of the receipts every week she