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after the war； from an old chateau back of Cannes！ One unique piece of
tapestry had cost him less than one…tenth of that sum。 He discovered it in a
peasant's stable under a two…foot layer of straw and earth； where it had
probably been hidden a hundred years before by its owner； and then all
record of it lost by his descendants。
The mention of Cannes sets Sardou off on another train of thought。 His
family for three generations have lived there。 Before that they were
Sardinian fishermen。 His great… grandfather； he imagines； was driven by
some tempest to the shore near Cannes and settled where he found himself。
Hence the name！ For in the patois of Provencal France an inhabitant of
Sardinia is still called UN SARDOU。
The sun is off the front of the house by this time； so we migrate to a
shady corner of the lawn for our APERITIF； the inevitable vermouth or
〃bitters〃 which Frenchmen take at five o'clock。 Here another surprise
awaits the visitor； who has not realized； perhaps； to what high ground the
crawling local train has brought him。 At our feet； far below the lawn and
shade trees that encircle the chateau； lies the Seine； twisting away toward
Saint Germain； whose terrace and dismantled palace stand outlined against
the sky。 To our right is the plain of Saint Denis； the cathedral in its midst
looking like an opera…glass on a green table。 Further still to the right； as
one turns the corner of the terrace； lies Paris； a white line on the horizon；
broken by the mass of the Arc de Triomphe； the roof of the Opera； and the
Eiffel Tower； resplendent in a fresh coat of yellow lacquer！
The ground where we stand was occupied by the feudal castle of Les
Sires de Marly； although all traces of that stronghold disappeared centuries
ago； the present owner of the land points out with pride that the
extraordinary beauty of the trees around his house is owing to the fact that
their roots reach deep down to the rich loam collected during centuries in
the castle's moat。
The little chateau itself； built during the reign of Louis XIV。 for the
GRAND…VENEUR of the forest of Marly； is intensely French in type； … a
long； low building on a stone terrace； with no trace of ornament about its
white facade or on its slanting roof。 Inside； all the rooms are 〃front；〃
communicating with each other EN SUITE； and open into a corridor
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running the length of the building at the back； which； in turn； opens on a
stone court。 Two lateral wings at right angles to the main building form the
sides of this courtyard； and contain LES COMMUNS； the kitchen； laundry；
servants' rooms； and the other annexes of a large establishment。 This
arrangement for a summer house is for some reason neglected by our
American architects。 I can recall only one home in America built on this
plan。 It is Giraud Foster's beautiful villa at Lenox。 You may visit five
hundred French chateaux and not find one that differs materially from this
plan。 The American idea seems on the contrary to be a square house with a
room in each corner； and all the servants' quarters stowed away in a
basement。 Cottage and palace go on reproducing that foolish and
inconvenient arrangement indefinitely。
After an hour's chat over our drinks； during host has rippled on from
one subject to another with the lightness of touch of a born talker； we get
on to the subject of the grounds； and his plans for their improvement。
Good luck has placed in Sardou's hands an old map of the gardens as
they existed in the time of Louis XV。； and several prints of the chateau
dating from about the same epoch have found their way into his portfolios。
The grounds are； under his care； slowly resuming the appearance of
former days。 Old avenues reopen； statues reappear on the disused
pedestals； fountains play again； and clipped hedges once more line out the
terraced walks。
In order to explain how complete this work will be in time； Sardou
hurries me off to inspect another part of his collection。 Down past the
stables； in an unused corner of the grounds； long sheds have been erected；
under which is stored the debris of a dozen palaces； an assortment of
eighteenth… century art that could not be duplicated even in France。
One shed shelters an entire semicircle of TREILLAGE； pure Louis
XV。； an exquisite example of a lost art。 Columns； domes； panels； are
packed away in straw awaiting resurrection in some corner hereafter to be
chosen。 A dozen seats in rose… colored marble from Fontainebleau are
huddled together near by in company with a row of gigantic marble
masques brought originally from Italy to decorate Fouquet's fountains at
his chateau of Vaux in the short day of its glory。 Just how this latter find is
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to be utilized their owner has not yet decided。 The problem； however； to
judge from his manner； is as important to the great playwright as the plot
of his next drama。
That the blood of an antiquarian runs in Sardou's veins is evident in the
subdued excitement with which he shows you his possessions … statues
from Versailles； forged gates and balconies from Saint Cloud； the carved
and gilded wood…work for a dozen rooms culled from the four corners of
France。 Like the true dramatist； he has； however； kept his finest effect for
the last。 In the centre of a circular rose garden near by stands； alone in its
beauty； a column from the facade of the Tuileries； as perfect from base to
flower…crowned capital as when Philibert Delorme's workmen laid down
their tools。
Years ago Sardou befriended a young stone mason； who through this
timely aid prospered； and； becoming later a rich builder； received in 1882
from the city of Paris the contract to tear down the burned ruins of the
Tuileries。 While inspecting the palace before beginning the work of
demolition； he discovered one column that had by a curious chance
escaped both the flames of the Commune and the patriotic ardor of 1793；
which