The times., 1899-08-06
sARDoU THE MAN.
The Adventures of Medical Student
in Recoming "A Great Playwright.

in Becoming Great Playwright.
From the London Mail.)
Victorien Sardou, the author of Robe
spierre," which Sir Henry Irving produced
at the Lyceum recently, has now written
plays for over forty years, and since the
death of his brother playwright and bosom
friend, Dumas fills, can be unhesitatingiy
crowned king of dramatists. Although a
man of great individuality, Sardou's per-
sonality is almost unknown to those Eng
lish audiences which have enjoyed Peril, :"
Diplomacy" "a Scrap OF Paper" La
Tosca," "A Mans Shadow, and numerous
other adaptations from his facile pen.
Victorien Sardou, member of the French
Academy, is now nearly sixty eight years
of age, having been born on September 5,
1881, in the Quarter st. Antoine, Paris.
His father was professor of history and
the editor of numerous classics. His son
Zone never reads of any other chiidren)
was reared in the midst of a highly edu-
Gated circle, and was finally turned into the
medical schools of the Quarter Latin In
order that he might graduate as doctor.
But Sardou as doctor was not a sue
cess Lodging in garret with another
student, they endeavored to keep life to-
gether upon a three-sous breakfast and
six-sous dinner. Like the picture very
idealized thought drawn by another dram
atist in "Our Boys" they wrote cheap ar
ticles for dictionaries and tried TO gain
subsistence by journalism. Al last Sardou
wrote his first play and La Taverne des
EtIdiants" appeared in 1854.
At the end of the first act 1t was doomed.
At the end of the second its unhappy
author rushed from the building, yowing
never to enter it again. In 1858 he mar
ried Mile. de Brecourt who had consider
able green room influence, and, at the
earnest solicitation of the famous Virgnie
Delazet, he took up his quill once more.
In 1860 was produced at the Gymnase Les
Pattes de Mouche,' and his future fame
was assured. This play, now transferred
TO the permanent repertory of the Comedie
Francaise, is well known in England as "A
Scrap of Paper" with Mrs Kendall in the
leading role.
Sardou's physiognomy has been compared
to those of Dante, Voltaire, and Napoleon
Bonaparte He is small, thin, wiry with
sharp eyes and mobile mouth. He is per-
hans best described as being a good lover
and a good hater" His plays have brought
him in enormous sums, and he keeps
country establishment almost regal. In
deed, the chateau and park at Marly-le-
Roi near St, Germain and overlooking the
valley of the Seine, formerly belonged to
Louis XIV. Gossip reports that it was
originally purchased with the royalties
accruing from La Familfe Benoiton,"
very successful drama of the early sixties
No matter whether the playwright be at
Marly-le-Roi or in his gorgeous Partisan
fiat near the Church, ST. tAugustin, he is
always tremendous worker. How many
plays Sardou has written Sardou only
knows. Awake and about at o'clock from
January to December! at,H he commences
to write AT IL he has slight lunch (un-
like most Frenchmen of genius, he is not
a great feeder) then scribbles away until g.
If writing has been finished for the day,
work has by no means ended. He has
actresses TO interview and managers to ar
que with. Woe betide the man who stands
up against Sardou upon a question of
archaeological detail, for the dramatist's
learning is almost universal.
For thirty years he has been noted as a
spiritualist and medium His views upon
Shakespeare are more those of his proto-
type Voltaire than of the generality of
French authors In a republican country
he is an unbending monarchist, which may
be accepted as one explanation why so
many of his plays, 'Thermidor for in
stance), have brought down such torrents
of journalistic abuse.
In one respect at least Victorien Sardou
strongly resembles Sir Henry Irving. Both
are famous for their charity; they are ever
willing to assist the struggling or fallen in
a calling noted for its ups and downs. In
Paris the king of dramatists bears the
same enviable reputation accorded in Lon
don to the head of the English histrionic
profession.