The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
EGOISM OF COQUELIN
IdiOSyncraSieS OF the Greatest
of the French Actors.
TRAGEDY AT END OF CAREER
Always Considered Himself Essen
tiRI Part of the State-WaS Close
Personal Friend OF Gambefta-He
Believed that His Personality
Counted in International Politics

Paris, Feb. S.-Well known as Coquelin
was in the United States. there are few
characteristics anecdotes of his career
which are not likely 10 be told Perhaps
the secret of his success-aad Of the
amusement he furnished-was his taking
himself so seriously. His father, q pros
porous baker, did not look at him in the
same light. When the young man insist
ed on his desire 10 become an actor, he
answered by sending him to the bread
trough and oven
Al last COquelin deliberately allowed
an entire batch Of loaves 10 burn while
ne ostentstiously vas learning DIOllere
by heart The father dismissed him from
baking on the spot and let him go about
his own business The younger brother,
CoQGeIin Cadet, followed his example,
and afterward HIS son Jean. A man IS
made a baker, the actor Is born.
Powers OF Comedy Great.
A streak Of tragedy colored the end OF
COQUelin Cadets career. His powers OF
pure comedy were unrivaled, superior TO
those OF his brother. He had not the
same universal opinion Of himself. and
he remained cgntentedly under the state
patronage OF the Coincide Francaise.
while his brother paid the heavy forfeit.
took g theater OF his own. and went 70
and fro in the world acting independently.
Many months ago Cadet began shedding
tears amid his choicest laughter. He had
TO be taken 10 medical home for
treatment.
CoqUelin was a close personal friend OF
Gambetta; and when the latter set about
founding the republic Of France. the ac-
tor persuaded himself that he. too. was
an essential part Of the French state.
After Gambetta was president Of the
chamber OF deputies. he publicly used
the old familiar thee-snd-thou 20 him.
IN vain Gambetta tried 20 remind him OF
etiquette by answering with the formal
you II was OF no use and the states
man was obliged 70 submit 10 the actors
simplicity
Must See Foreign Minister.
Coquelin never lost. this conviction that
his personality counted even in interna-
tional policies Only a few years ago he
returned TO Paris from Berlin. where the
Emperor had made much Of him. To the
his stories of his imperial visit he said
gravely. II have = great deal 20 tel
you; but I must see the foreign minister
first
In Ike manner he remained anti-Cieri-
cal, Just as Gambetta had started him
on the political way. He had 20 griev-
ance Of his own against convent sisters
and brothers, and probably no relatives
who were 70 lose their homes BY Parlia-
ment suppressing such institutions. But
with his usual seriousness he wrote 10
Waldeck- Rousseau. 20 express his au-
proval OF the associations law which was
10 work the dam1ge-
With the death OF Coquelin the pros
pect Of any near representation OF Ros-
tand's "fChantecIer' fades away. bis
good-natured persistence had finally
drawn the text Of the play from the
caprici0Us author. who has now taken Il
back again and returned 70 his seclusion
IN the Pyrenees- Vague promises are
made for the autumn-we shall see.