Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-09

had always looked forward. and while
still a young man he achieved the hisnest
dignity to which Frenchman of letters
can aspire-he was selected member vi
the Academic FRANCHISE. That, however.
did not come until 1877. and in the interval
he had done an amazing amount of work.
Following '.Candide" Sardou wrote M.
Carrot" and this he followed with the
brilliant comedy Les Pattes de Mouche. >
1860 and was subsequently adapted for
the English stage under the title of "A
Scrap of Paper in which Mr.. and Mrs
kendall duplicated their English success
in this country At about the same period
he also produced Les Pres Saint-Ger-
vais." which was well received and he
ventured a piece entitled Les Gems Ner-
veux'' at the Palais Royal. three at the
Vaudeville, one of which. Nos Intimes,
obtained a fattering reception; four at
the Gymnase and he had still another.
La Papillons." done at the Theater
Franchise, although this achieved no sue
cess.
In the Legion of Honor.
From 1903 he was writing for the lead
ing theaters of Paris and in that year re-
ceived the Cross of the Legion of Honor
Les Diables Noirs." after being prohibit
ed by the censorship, was finally brought
out at the Vaudeville. only to be received
with storm of condemnation from the
press. His next success was not achieved
until two years later, when La Famlie
Benoiton' was produced at the Vaudeville.
Then followed 'Patrie,' lie Rof Ca
rotte" a fairy operatta with music by
Offenbach: "Rabagas." comedy full of
political illusions. which caused sensa-
tiOl; 'LOncle SAM in which he satlriZed
the United States: Les Merveilleuses.
"Piccolino," also comic opera. and, IN
o- H., RNrn ar
piece achieved great success not only In
France but in this country, and 1T Will
be well remembered as one of the striking
triumphs of the stock company of Wal
lacks Theater In its best days.
Another of his most sprighty comedies.
which met with an almost unprecedented
success. was that played in this country
under the title, " Scrap OF Paper, IN
which Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall appeareds as
has been stated.
In the long catalogue of his dramatic
works mention must also be made, with
out attempt at chronological order, of
such triumps as "Divorcons. Daniel Ro.
chat" "Seraphine," "Ferreol, "Odette,'
Belle Maman," "Marcelle' and Spa
mela.
Fame Of "Fedora."
To the present generation Sardous
name is known best perhaps as that of
the author Of Fedora" "Theodora. La
Tosca" and "Cleopatra,' all Of which he
wrote for Sarah Bernhardt between 1889
and 1889. and in which she and Miss Fan
ny Davenport appeared in this country.
OF his still later works ''Gismonda and
Nine. Sans-Gene.' written in 1893 end
1894 and ''Robespierre" and Dante,
which Sir Henry Irving produced will be
remembered. His last work, "L'Affaire
months ago in Paris, and. despite the ad
vanced years of the dramatist, achieved
triumph with the aid of M. Coquelin.
and is still playing to crowded houses.
In the midst of his success Sardou's
wife. who had been devoted to him. died
in 1867. His activity tagged for while.
but was soon renewed. and in 1872 he
married Mile. Anne Souelle. daughter of
the conservator Of the museum in Yer
sailles.
No man was more persistently accused
of plagiarism than Sardou, but he was
plagiarist in the same sense that Shake
speare and MOlliere were. He may have
taken the ideas of others. but he nodded
them to his purpose and made them live
with verve that was entirely personal.
Ingenious in the highest degree, full of
resources. subtle. familiar with all the
intricacies of the stage. he knew how to
prepare with singular ability the grada-
ton of the scenes in order to strike the
grand blow at the denouement
Sardou's work has been characterized
as a faithful mirror of social and political
rance SlilCS IStN. CHOeT the empire lie
ran abreast with Angler and sometimes
little in advance Of him in branding
the vice and corruption of the day.
In Nos Intimes' he merely modelled
witty statuettes. in Les Ganaches'' he
showed wonderfully artculated marion
cites, and in Les Vieux Garcons'' he dis
played ordinary personages. put on the
stage with wonderful ability. But in
La Famille Benoiton'' he plunged his
pitiless scalpel into the wounds of the
social body. and held up to rdicule and
shame the luxury and corruption that
were invading the middle classes.
1t has been said that Sardou believed
in nothing but himself and his own
genius; that he wrote plays in order to
earn money and spent his money to make
himself happy. His chateau is palatial
residence, filled with antique furniture,
faience, porcelain and tapestries, and with
marvels of art and industry the descrip-
ton of which would fill a volume.
In the midst of his luxury. however the
constant recollection of his early years
of perjury inspired him with keen SYM
pathy for unfortunates of all classes who
came within his ken.