M. G. Saphir.”
Saphir’s Witty Reply
An indifferent, but very arrogant author said once:—“My works will be read when Schiller and Goethe are long forgotten.”
“Certainly, not before that,” was Saphir’s quick reply.
Case Not Parallel
Once an author came to Saphir with the manuscript of a comedy he wished to read to him, and said:—“You know, sir, that whenever Molière finished one of his comedies, he read it to an old woman in his service, thinking that whatever would make her laugh, would have the same effect on an audience. So in reading mine to you, I have no doubt that if it pleases you, it will please the public.” “Thanks for your compliment, but since you are not Molière, permit me to decline to play your old woman,” was Saphir’s reply.
A Painter’s Stick
Some one spoke of a clever young woman, who had great talent for painting, and who had recently married a fool. “If she does a great deal of painting,” said Saphir, “I am not surprised that she took a stick!”
According to His Need
Saphir once had a wordy battle with an author. The latter, who envied the famous humorist, said: “You write for money only, while I write for honor.” “Every one of us writes for what he needs most,” was Saphir’s rejoinder.