Photo by F. Berkeley Smith
GEORGES TIERCY IN HIS GARDEN AT BOIS-COLOMBES
I found the home of this serious humorist filled with interesting souvenirs of his life as a comedian and a chansonnier, and we sat chatting until late. My friend with the mysterious air told me many interesting incidents of his career which, in its early days, was one of mingled failure and success. Having played for many years in revues and operettas, Tiercy founded in 1893 his cabaret, the Carillon, where, with his creations, “The Clown Badaboum” and “Opéra Maboul,” he achieved a triumph—“a succés fou!”
The Carillon failed after a short existence, for this man of humor, this generous son of Bohemia, was unsuited to the ways of close-fisted managers. Tiercy lost twenty thousand francs in the enterprise. He went back to his profession and sang in the Sans-Souci. Since then he has been a success as a mimic in nearly all the cabarets of Montmartre and the Latin Quarter.
“And now,” said my host seriously, “a glimpse at my woodland.” He opened the curtains of his sanctum. A spare group of trees hardly hid the next villa from view.
“My friend,” I said, “it is as you say, a veritable pays sauvage.”
And I hurried for my train with Tiercy’s laugh ringing in my ears.
AT THE QUAT-Z’ARTS