New-York tribune., 1908-11-15

work one Of the classics or one OF the works Of
George Sand then at the zenith OF her fame, and
one of my pet idols. { thought OF her. dreamed
Of her. scarcely ever hoped TO know her 5ui
hoped some day at least TO see her one morning
( went to the Odeon with play rolled up In my
hand-not accepted. of course: the stage manager
told me they rehearsing one of George
Sands pieces. that the stage was full, and Nine
Sand there. experimenting the stage setting Nine
sandr I cried. Oh let me go the stage: let me
look let go her. find me a place
somewhere, dOr I was wild with excitement MY
IdoIl I was TO see her at last l went on the stage
very timidly. OF course-aud awkward - my
schooIboy. ! a large. not III favored woman.
looking like cook. rolling cigarettes ard l'il-
ing IN a large armchair. The cigarettes l noticed
particularly. the regulations were very severe.
being allowed smoke the stage
thought myself that IS old duenna or the
managers stage cousin; but imagine the shock
when I heard and req lized that she was George
Sand. That blow. however. was slight. Her ap-
pearance the first shc~k. and admit that for
a poet his ideal looking like a cook and
smoking one cigarette after another.
exactly the dream. the goddess. his fancy had
pictured The rehearsal On. Presently there
q ull and one Of the uachinsts was obliged
TO cross the stage He had 3ust started when Sand
caught sight OF him She stopped short with the
cigarette she rolling. she turned firm the
manager. then speaking to her. and her eye fol-
lowed the pompier Of sight when instead OF
answering the managers question with bland
smile she murmured II est bigrement bien fait
Rars Ia"'
''If there was one man IN the world had tarI-
Ing Of affection for. that man was-veIl one of
our greatest poets. From having often looked
at his picture knew his face and form by heart
and ally loved him with tho romantic passion
OF stud-nt who worshipped such mind. genius
and fame Early one morning vav
the Theatre Francais; # was pouring with rain
| led he NJ I Tol,
served q shelf ring himsalC-ieaning against
the sides OF the walls. you KNOWN the Rue st
Honore This man was emaciatec. hagEard. shah
: BY; he Intoxicated that ne could scarcely
stand. and once thought h would reel into my
very arms AS approached saw 70 my horror
who II was. and naturally look d with all my
might mingled look OF curiosity. Interest
row. and chagrir He return~d my gaze swag-
gered TO one SIDE cock d hi hat and hogan, What
are YOU staring at-~ho you and what do you
want? Move on curse you, move onT Zach word
prelaced with the viesi oath had ever heard and
each phras- followed by string OF vituperation
enough TO make Bilngsgate habitue shudder. I
recoil-d. gaspnG Alfred Mussetr idiot he
screamed. who did you expect Il was? and. with
a dreadful hiccough. added. de- Mussat7 Je ie
crois bien then iofti!y. drunk anly. touching rs
hat with another choice selection from his vile
vocabulary, NJ reeled away and was lost in the
crowd. That was the only time my Idol
AifTrd de Musset. the GreHtes' poet his tirn :
being whose very name had been q synonyne OF
all that was great glorious and euvjabls-que
vou!ez yous?"
This add-d. sic transit gloria Musset'
and Sardou. smiling said. lie le Grains bien''
On another occasion h said to ne:
Il am not HillingIy a critic but my profession
makes me "ue. am obliged to discriminate: I am
suii student q workngman; cannot follow
people biindy. I must have my eyes open and
know what about. So much do | love men
and women IN whatever walk Of life they may he
VINO 90 their work thoroughly. much do Ioathe
those slovenly creatures who undertake everything
and accomplish nothing. There is no medium for
me. People arc either capable or Incapable. trust
worthy OF untrustworthy. and that sums up all
human nature.
i reverence the conscientious worker I rern.n-
Der al the Porte ST Martin there Was an honest
te!o" named CAInus. whom actually loved He
"as property man, always r.ady. always cheer
tui' al his heart and soul i'm his work He would
hsten 10 the rehearsals ana absorb scraps of con.
Fersauoh relative to the piece. what would he re-
QnlTeo, what would be easy. and wha, would n,
o'tncuIt 10 hnd and the neXt day, without q word