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

translator Of "Robcspcrrc," became we'll acquaint
ed with Nirtorrn Sardpu while working upon the
English version uf the play
"Satduu." said MIR Irving. "is at least 75 years
old but he is n man NJ 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 welt In fact II he did not talk SO
we'll you might feel trilc mifcd about the way
he n,pnup,lilcs the conversation But you are
perfectly wilin. To hold your own tongue. as he
is perfectly willing you should. Indeed, at times
have known him To he almost fearful lest you
should take a favorable opportunity 10 get in a
word uf your own. Even at dinner. the great
dramatst had vetything his own way, and when
discussing a variety Of topics In which he hap
pcnrd to be Interested placed an encctun EN-
barge upon my saying word. For example,
he was inclined whenever he raised his spoon
10 his mouth thus momcntarily stopping his flow
of talk, to lift his hand dcprccatingy and cS-
claim: ait a minute! Waii n minute He up
parently feared that might take an undue advan-
tage while his mouth was full and surrcptitiously
slip in a comment, Bu, mind you. Sardou'sga
robustness is never offensive He always talks
to the point and has vast fund Of information
upon tho many subjects such a. the French lryo-
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, Robcspierrc and was
sent to France to talk the matter with him,
had to go 10 France. for Ssrdou. you know,
would never come to England he has never trav.
cllrd and cannot bc persuaded 10 leave his own
country the very thought ~ a two hours sea
voyage is 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
hut Ia was N Sar,nu I made sotnc
remark about being a little late. Yes. II was a
little late, remarked my host but then. he had had
time tn write three letters However. he was
not discourcous; there sting in the re.
bukc: he treated me with the utmost kindness.
even going so far as TO salute me as mon
frsrr compliment which | rated at its true
worth Physically ho was an interesting and
unusual figure. In the 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. strikingly resembling
my fathers. His whole frame. small as 1t is,
IL suggestive Of almost supcrhuman energy.
it il never still His mind, apparently. is always
at work. When called he had the play Of Robes
pierre already mapped out the scenes and tho
characters were all in his mind, and he
had carefully arranged all tho stage
settings and the costumes lie at once
began TO show the stage plans OF the
scenes. roughly drawn but thoroughly detailed:
and had vast number Of engravngs his own
collections. which serve as a basis for many Of
the scenes in the play. At this time. you know.
not a 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 Of the hardest workers in the
world and when he IL at work he does not like
-. I'D L., -, lN.., A
mansion. he has a double locked room In which
he spends his working hours and In which only
his servant is rermitted 10 iutrude Frequently
this servant will bring in calling cards which
nre very likely To send the dramatist into a pas
sion had good opportunity TO observe this
urr,.rny ie,sitin,c,. a. /, wss snnn.r,,h viii
The play upon which Sardru was then engaged:
and besides had an appointment 4 was differ
ent however. with another gentleman who
met nsl approached the door Of the sacred cham.
her. lie Was a very dignihed person. was in
decd, a high church official a cardinal. believe;
me ] replied that was. Very well will
go in together he said whercupon knocked
Eics rous Ia" came from within, The door
opened and Sardou. with his velvet hat and his
Non; aoT- he cried to the clerical dgni,,sry,
shaking his head h"rcely. '.AHes.rous-cri AHe.
%hs Became Of 6he Re SS' moi se
Those who hreak in upon Sardou when IL is
busy are not Likely To find him a hospitable host
worker: hut he rcaps the fruits OF his labors lie
il immensely wealthy lie has a strong money
sense, too. and keeps careful track Of the pennies
To illustrate we had made arrangements with
certain gentleman about scenery and Sardou
had written him note, which, owing 70 change
In our plans, he decided not 10 send. A We were
discussing the matter, Sardou pulled The note
from his pocket and tore II into little pieces all
separated from the envelope and placed in a little
drawer It's only i've sous, he said. but then
As he opened the drawer noticed four or five
he had evidently laid aside in the same frugal
way Sa,dou. suppose, has a rather poor olin,
of England They're all robbers" he USED TO
eny OF Englshmen. But he does appreciate
e TneG iP s ss F MsbSr2 MS sRo Is
his agent amured me ono day by her relation
Of the way thst-h FIRST opened The Frenehmnns
y took some time Ia impress upon his mind the
idee Of the percentage system Ne didn't eA.
said: u they paid him lump sum. ali right, but
he didn't ask for more tIe absolutely knew
nothing sbcT. America Or Of its great cite. n,
q the United States She showed him, New
York, with Its immense population Philadelphia,
great man was impr sssed and at once placed his
interests In Miss Marbury's hands And ever
since then r, he has drawn immense sums yearly
"ssrdon at dinner is a picturesque spectacle.
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. Sariou
played the piano one of his sons the violin and
the other instruments were distributed among
,he various members Of the family, ,Sardou
himself played the snare drum. lie had no in
strum.ni. hut he gave very fair imitation 81 il;
his litt figure clad in velvet cap and white Rcarf
marching neryously UP and down the room. his
arms, swung as drum sticks, beating vigorously
upon an imaginary strument 'rattattat! rat
tat.tat,' And during the meal and aferward
he talked craselessly and intrlligc nifty upon The
subiec, in which we were chiefly interested al that
time, the French Revolution. Sardou has made
thorough study q tho'" stirring times and Ii
upon the period Tho history Of the Revolution
he believes is yet 10 he written, lie says that
no his.nriGn has any true conception Of thc period
or Of the chief characters involved Michelet's
history Is the best, he declared. but even that
gave no proper notion Of the time We have
only, lie says, really begun 10 study the Revolu-
lion, For example, he called mr. attention 10 the
absurd stories written even ow about The Bas,iile
The BaS'illr Sardou believes, vas really not Tho
hcrrihI" place II is generally believed 10 he ON
IN" contrary. he says, II WAS a very comfortable
prison and the prisoners We're very comfortably