New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
CHARLES GARNER.
A FAMOUS FRENCH ARCHITECT. DE-
SIGNER OF THE OPERA-HIS
ECCENTRIClTlES.
ECCENTRICITlES

could never think Of GARNER as an old man,
yet ne attained the ace OF seventy three years.
His toughncss was extraordinary, and yet he
had rcvcr really good health. His life from the
time he was engaged TO build the opera House
was brilliant. He vas pushed by circumstances
t. 'front.' place everywhere, but he never souSht
t. advertise himself GARNER belonged 10
brilliant generation. Among the leading mem
bcrS of that generation he was Kind OF leader.
and entirely owing TO his personal worth lie
afforded Baudry that splendid field for his pie
torial talents. the ceiling of the foyer AT the
Opera House. GARNER was "scii-mhd".' Ills
mother whom | knew. sold vegetables in the
streets. She came late in life into fortune,
and worshiprcd her SON who returned her love
with interest. ! hear she Is still alive. heard
him say that he had no Jewish blood so far as
NJ knew. but he had jet black rinSlets Ike
Dsracli. ardent black eyes. and very pro-
nounccd aqune nose. lie was warm
hearted. lOvahlc person
Carriers cdnocs often remind me # Disraeirs
novels He loved bright col0rs The poly
chrome Internal decoration Of the opera House
Vas good deal criticised. SO were those low
browcd corridors. ard the inconVenient way
from tho pit and boxes to tho foyer. The dis
proportionaic height In regard 10 the other IL
mansions Of the foyer was also criticised The
faults were due 20 GARNER knowing nothing
about box tiers at grand theatres when he com
p,tcd for the task II designing the opera House.
He was then an obscure sub-inspcct"r Of
Paris buildings. on n salary Of less than I'D
"A year. Had hr gone 10 the Italian opera
House Place Nentadour. he would have de-
opera House are very fine. They were intended
IL be- a stage for the display " the Empress
Eugcnic's trains. The steps OF the Madeleine
are not. in fine weather more faVorabl" To a
clothes show. GARNER made his way up by
competing for prizes. The PriX dc Rome won
at the age II twcnty-threc enabled him TO
study IN Rome and Athens. In 1N6l he com
pctcI for and was intrusted With the task 81
designing the opera House. lie spent nit"rn
years over it, while the work was goirg ~ he
formed the present generation Of architects.
al u his efuIig-pfly SNsLt-
f0ldiuCs There never was less dcSpoic mas
ter He taught his pupils to seek iESp"ailnh
In themselves. in the circumstances ana cohui
lions Of the time and the indtrialS nj manu-.
GARNER designed the Casino nj Monaco
Bischon shcim's house and observatory At -
Reno. and the Cerclc dc Ia Lbrairie IN the
boulevard 81 Gcrmain. This murninS mes
sage of confidence from the President 81 tne
Republic VAS received by The family ~ the de-
ceased .,
GARNER was all his iifc poor man. lie
would never build one Of thps" barracks houses
in fats. He called them "carcs l"catairrS. OF
! tenant-caGes \ million Of francs he SAM. "ouil
not pay him for The DISCUS iclt IN des'sn,hs '''''
| thing 80 frishtful lie had ~" Simple TASTE 81
| one WHO grew IN poverty and hard work us
gay disposition made a lttl" money seem ID MN
| 4 fortune. Had h not been an archlt'.t ne
| would have been "chans1nnicr" At Mont
| martrc. People who did not know how indiher-
| cnt he was 10 wealth wondered to 81" him I'VE
In the almost humble fiat In the Boulevard -
| German. His good humor was untaiiing Inc
/ "Gamin lie Paris" the "C;avrOch"" never wholly
died out ~ him Nobody had better right
! than GARNER To say: My mind To me kin;
! dom u.s." He was very poetic. and. Ike most
poets vastly enjoyed his own company. This
did not however. take from his sociabillty
| GARNER WAS thinking Of taking w light
! theatrical literature as profession Wh'n ne
dcd. There VS. l freshly written oprretta IN
| his papers. He rcld passages to friends wh1
| came To soc him in his last illness NJ. Sarccy
| said Charles GARNER Is prouder u ms
| oprrctta than II hs opera house. Carrier hni
! A villa near san Reno. ard he Nycd there
AZ long AZ he 'oull Zach year. TO De- able
t. 10 so he counted as health, wealth and
| happiness H. Wa prohity itself ana hld a
deal Of sturdy honest pride GARNER was rec
| commended behind lis back 20 The Archbishop
Of Paris fOr place on the scaTo!d.nss 81 the
! Basilicn II the SIcrc CUur. lie was named
inspector. but finding ~ vas - draw a salary
| Of $40 francs I month and To 90 no WORK ne
| resigned lie Na1tri the money. but. AZ he
said. man who once thought himself rch on
| iSD a year roull lN without a.
GARNER h,lpncci 20 IN" parish ~ St SEVERN
| but b. dI not care f1r The old church 10 "hic.
/ Uuysru1rs has called attnatlon. Gothic archi
tcciure did not go home To him. lie rcyeslcd II
/ that Of the Renaissance II" liked TO- express
/ wealth. cas- hospitality and fancy in his ,di
nc.a. The fancy ought cftcn 30 run INTO coi1r
! The architect ought to call Ia n" sculptor aht
/ painter Thlueh Garnicr often went int'
/ kinks" = laughter in thinking Of artists quar-
/ r.s at the Ju"ru HDusr they wer" not, /
| thought. as absurd A. those or IN" great corn
poscrs lie wanted to have husts II the latter
! rscI oruamentHly there. Some objected to th'i
husts beins simple accessories. Each wanted L
. choose las sculptor. and each objected To the
/ others EOSsui stood cut against Mrycrb"ci
| and Weber He did not see the use Of Mozart
| sho was not Of the German school. and only
/ an Italian Of Austria. Put don't YOU thi'r
! the Germans have musical genius remarked
/ GARNER Eossni took a pinch r snuff. and said
They are such Internally bad cooks"