, 1879-07-10

The Much Bcpufrsd t.a<!y Kicks Up drauer
, IsbW,

d. Londoa truth, Jua6 20. :.
On Saturday afternoon a representation of
"l'Etsnngora " had bcon advertised, mud for q
month before no 6oat could ho had fot mouey
and still less for love. About half IN hour be-
foro the curtain went up, Mile. Bernhard, who
was to play Afstrss Norkson, sent curt notice
to the theatre to ANNOUNCE that she could not
appear, as ahe Was not we'll. When NJ. CoguelIn
Informed the audience that there wotid be no
performance thero was ut first dead silence,
for few Of the votaries Of the French drama un-
derstood enough Of the language to realize what
he had sald. By degrees, however, the. fact
dawned upon them that "l'Estrangere" was
not to bo performed. Then cnsued scene tfat
ward md announced thut IS ltEsirangero would
be replaced BY "TartufIa." The audience scofred
at Moltere and Hooked to tho tckct-o1lce, whero
they clnmoEed for their llonoy. To mako con-
through tho crowd looking for their 1nosters
and mstrcsses, whtie al the door tic officials OF
tho theatre endcaYorcd to stcm the cusfont ut
those wllo wcro trying to s9ter.
But on the stage there HHs nlso scene. II
the audience WAS angry so wers also tito actors
mud actrcascs hfr. IIo|linEsllcnd had arrat,ged
the "behind the scenes" like q sort Of drawings
room, for It is needless to observe tlat what Is
enough for our august French 8,,esta. Tho floor
Is carpcted over, md b!fieials 70 about calling
upou cTcry Qua who has the eltree iuto these
sacrsd presi1ets to remove his bat from hI
already dressed for thelr parta. "Cctte saittm.
banqueW was the Mfldest expression nsed III
reference to tho fascinating earnh, whilst 81
Got, NJ; Fcbvro, and other artists were NOR
eaprlcc.. saraa, 1t would appear, Ind been gtT
inS private representation at Mrs, Kal1i's Of
the previous Night, md sho had remained there
until nearly . II thu morning Now, tl,es!
regard them rs beneath the dignity 81
societalrt Of the Theatre Franca!s. Il
Il, Indeed, ohylon. that :el30 are not paid
from any lore Of art, but rathcr as meana to
attract "socicty" to .tlcir houses. Sarah il
merely tho lccoy-luck who is exhibited to &C.
cure the presence Of ''sopery." For Sarah,
public because ahe had on the previous night
been decoY.ducking Dactcsscs and other social
granlces to a private party was fclt-a1ld justt-
l1ahly iclt-to he an insult alike to her comrades
and to tho public. aul not myaelf m admlrcr
Of the Comed!c Fraucasc. school Of acting, md
regard tic almost regal houurs With which tho
troupe has been received u.s. ridiculous, but no
one sat! doubt that they arc l'osornble nil high
dignity OF their profession, unl honestly and
coneclentiously doing their best to- rcspond
to the warm wclco!nc which LAS brcn
,Ssqsts 1SsGf e nst % { ,b T. i O. Ssy kSu s t. 3 S ,Ss;
wcre " Indignant last Saturday afternoon at tlia
conduct Of Mile. Bernhardt ~ tho nudtcncD that
she disappointed. 1Aunt, great tatcnt, sarah
undoubtedly hus, and there is something that
appeals irreslstlbly to the imagination In tho
ferce energy With which ahc tries To excel in
every department OF art. But H. would secm
thnt she Is becomIng intoxicated by tlsc funca
Of the incense that Ii burut before her. Al tho
Lord Mayors luncheon her behavior was not
polite; the other day sho made = large party,
Including royalty, walt for All hour 6cforo ahe
eondescenusd to appear IN thu silly lttIlo pteco
for prlYats representation for wlilcl! slu ra-
cclvcs El3Q, And noW she has CONC step furthcs
aud Outraged alaree audience by her caprc!ous
tolly. Is al thts entirely has iaul. Or Is It not
IN part ourst Wa layo mada tou much OF ler.
As an actress aumlt TINT TOO aucA praise can-
pot b. laYislted on hor. Dat wo should not.
sums ~ n ,Aecoy, duck. nor should w l,avo
good-natArcalr taken au serieuk her p1eten-
SUNS as pait,tcr, for to tell tile real truth her
palnt!ngs ars ltto better M tha9 ~ re- citor!s ot m
while aa Tor her pretensons to literature, they
arc, to judge by one Of hsr lcutlletons which i
being translated IN tile ltlsfruttI Spurting aud
UTaN4asit hfHt, bsuGattl CONTEMPT.