The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
SARDOU WHEN HE WORKS.
ITCTURE or yHE ERENCH PLAY
URIGUT ar ms HOME.


translator Of "Robcsprrrc," became we'll acquaint
ed with Virtoucn Snrdou while working upon the
English version uf the play
'Safduu" said Mr. Irving, is at least 20 years
old but he is n man Of wonderful energy and vi
tality This | think, is the most striking thing
about his personality. lie Is never quiet lie
IN a wonderful talker; he talks necessarily and
remarkably well. In fact. II he did not talk SO
we'll you might feel q ttiilc miiIcd about the way
he n,onup,lilcs the conversation. But you are
perfectly willing to hold your own tongue, as he
is perfectly willing you should. Indeed, at times
have known him Ia he almost fearful lest you
should take a favorable opportunity 10 get In a
word 81 your own. Even at dinner, the great
draniatist had every thing his own way. and when
discussing a variety Of topics In which he hap
pcnrd to be Interested placed an ohcctunl EN-.
barge upon my saying n word. For example,
he was inclined, whenever he raised his spoon
to his mouth thus mOmcntarlly stopping his flow
II talk to lit his hand dcprccatingly. and cS-
claim: Wait n minute! Waii a minute lie np-
parently feared that 'ght take an undue advan-
tagc while his mouth was full aud surrcptitiously
slip in a comment, IIu, mind you. Sardou's gar.
rulousncss is never offensive. He always talks
to the point, and has vast fund Of information
upon the many subjects such a. the French hrvo-
luton in which his interest Is absorbing
The first time met him was at Marty his
summer home My father had suggested 10 him
a. the subject Of play, Robcspcrrc. and
sent to France to talk the matter over with him.
| hal to go 10 France. for Sardou. you know,
would never come 10 England he has never trAv.
rll-l and cannot bc persuaded 10 leave his own
country. the very thought Of a two hours sea
voyage il an unspcakablc horror. My appoint
mcut was, believe. for 10 o'clock: but WAS not
quite on time. which did not seem to me anything
important But IL was TO Sardou. I made some
remark about being a little late Yes. II was a
little late remarked my host, but then. he had had
time to write three letters However, he was
not discourtcous: there was sting in the re.
buke hc treated me with the utmost kindness.
even going so far as 10 salute me mon con.
'rsrr, compliment which rated at its true
worth Physically ho was an interesting and
unusual figure. In tho house he always wears
velvet hat shaped somewhat like a Tam % .Shanter
and white scarf lie IL a small man. rather
bent the upper part Of his face think. about
the forehead and the eyes, strikngly resembling
my fathers His whole frame. small as II Is
IL suggestive Of almost supcrhuman energy:
/, IL never still His mind, apparently. is always
At work When called he had the play Of Robes
pierre already mapped out tho scenes and tho
characters were all in his mind, and he
had carefully arranged all tho stage
began To show the stage plans OF the
scenes, roughly drawn but thoroughly detailed:
and had vast number Of engravings, his own
collections. which serve as basis for many Of
the scenes in the play. At this time. you know
not line Of the play had been written.
This was very characteristic Of Sardou's
untir,ng energy and Of his wonderful gift for
detail lie is one oi the hardest workers in the
world and when he IL at work he does not like
10 he disturbed In his Paris house a beautiful
mansion. lie has a double locked room In which
he spends his working hours and In which only
his servant is reunited To in,rude Frequently
this servant will bring in calling cards which
are very likely 10 send the dramatist into a pas
one morning this spring. My own visit WAS
perfectly legitimate, as u was connected with
and besides had an appointment Il was differ
ent. however, with another gentleman who
met as approached tho door Of the sacred cham
her, lie was a very dignihed person, was in
decd. high church official q cardinal, believe,
Are yTu s ing :" see Sa|d9g' he asked III; Fl
go in together he said whereupon l knocked
Els roas Ia" came from within, The door
orened and Sardon. with his velvet hat and hiH
Nom; non" he cried to the clerical dgni,ary,
,ous<n' And pushing me IN; he shut the door
What became Of the o,her caller do not know.
Th"ae who break in upon Sardou when lc Is
busy are not Likely ~ find him a hospitahle host
"Sardou Is not only a hard and industrious
worker but he rcaps the fruits OF his laboFs lie
sense Too, and keeps careful track Of the pennies
To illustrate We had made arrangements with
certain gentleman about scenery and Sardou
In our plans, he decided not To send Az We were
discussing the matter. Sardou pulled The note
from hts pocket and tore II into little pieces all
except the postage stamp This he carefully
separated from the envelope and PLACED in little
drawer, LIS only i've sous, he said, but then
As he opened the drawer | noticed fnur or i've
he had evidently laid aside in the same frugal
way. Sa-dou. suppose, has rather poor oIin.
of England, They're ali robbers he USED TO
ssy Of Englishmen. But he does appreciate
in the Wnited states Miss IS MsrbSry. u" Who ki Is
his agent. amured mo one day by her relation
eyes 10 the gold mine hat ni,cd hin, in America
toNk some time Ia Impress upon his mind the
p.s Of a' om Il. n.a &a
h. didn't, ask Tor more Hs absolutely knew
nally Niles Mnrbury called upon him with map
q the United States She showed him New
'hio.so. San Francisco and all the rest The
great man was impr ,ssed and at once placed his
Interests In Miss Marbury's hands And ever
since then he has drawn immense sums yearly
"Sardou at dinner il a picturesque spectacle.
tInt uhS ulneu ana IrlrnN. fOter1 Ihfer
He appeared with his little shor, coat his velvet
hat and his everlasting white scarf and he kept
them all on throughout the meal; even the hat:
he didn't remoys II once After The dinner was
finished he and his family gave us an impromptu
rehearsal Of the music in the Fete Of the supreme
Being, scene in 'Robespicrre, Mile. Ssrdou
played the piano one of his sons the violin and
the other instruments were distributed among
tho various members Of the family. Sardou
himself played the snare drum. lie had no in
strument, hut ne gave very fair imitation Of II:
his little figure clad in velvet cap and white scarf
marching nervously UP and down the room, his
arms, swung as drum sticks, beating vigorously
upon an imaginary nstrument 'rattat-tat! rat
tat.tat And during the meal and afterward
he talked ceaselessly and intrlligc nifty upon the
subject in which we were chiefly interested at IN AT
time the French Revolution. Sardou has made
thorough study ~ those stirring times and 4,
regarded "a ono Of tho greatest living authorities
upon the period The history Of the Revolution
he believes is yet 10 he written. lie says that
no his ,nriGn has amy true conception Of thc period
or of the chief ChnrCCterS involved Mirhelet's
history Is the best. he declared, but even that
gave no proper notion oi the time We have
only, lie says, really. legun TO study the Revolu-
lion. For example, he called M attention 10 the
absurd stories written even low about the Bastille
The lInStillr. SardOu believes, was really not Tho
hcrrihl" place II is generally believed 10 Re on
IN" contrary. nc shES, II WAS very comfortable
prison and the prisoners We're worry