New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-12
THE LONDON STAGE.
BERNHARDT, KELLOGG AND NILSSON

NILSSON APPEARS IN "LoHRNGRIN JULES
CLARErIE ADMIREs IRyING-PRosPECTs OF
MODERATELY GOOD OPERA SEASON.
FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.
LONDON. June 27.-It is stated in n society jour
malone of those journals about which Mr.. La
bouchere modestly said in court the other day he
knew nothng-that Nile. Sarah Bernhardt has
been offered 100000 and all expenses paid. to
give series of representations in the United
States. 1t is not stated who offered it. how he
expects to get his money back Nine. Christine
Nilsson content with hall the sum- and lost
half Of that by unlucky Investments. But of the
fact that Mile. Bernhardt is going to America there
is no doubt. You had the announcement fort
night ago on her own authority.
The same journal remarks upon the social hOnors
paid to Mile. Bernhardt. saying that there is dis
may among the professors of precedent and that
horror upon the soul of the compers of peerages
This dismay aud horror from the fact that at
arecent dinner party, which included the daughter
OF a duke and the wife of dukes sou, the host,
dsrcgardng all the sacred canons took the actress
down to dinner before all the titled ladies' The
effect, remarks this chrouiclcr, was stupendous. ]
can only say that witnessed similar performance
last week, and that the effect-the visible effect.
at any rate-was not stupendous at all. 1t was ac-
cepted the most natural thing in the world. The
laws of social precedence in England are precise,
no doubt, and perfectly well defined But they are
also elastic. and admit of certain relaxatOns one
of which is allowed at times in the of foreign
ers. distinguished foreigner has no rank in the
English scale and therefore may have any rank. If
you once admit that Mile. Bernhardt was a proper
guest to be asked-Ss these ladies did admit by GO
| ing to dinner to meet her, knowing that she had
| been asked-the rest follows easily. One of them
who thus passed over in the actresss favor
look if she took the slight much to heart. l do
! not think il was a slight.
| Although it Is a.weell since that scene at the
Gaety Theatre where Mile. Bernhardt failed TO
! play IN "LEtrangere," the journals still busy
| with 1t and the aggreved and disappointed audi
ence still talking of their hard fate. column
or two of correspondence on the subject has already
| appeared two letters from Mile Bernhardt herself
appearing among the rest. This lady's efforts with
| the pen have not hitherto been reckoned a great
success, but there is no want Of cleveness IN the
letters now published with her signature. She de-
clares that up TO IL o'clock the morning of Sat
urday she had hoped to be able to play then the
vomiting of blood set in afresh, and she sent word
| to NJ. MAYER that she could not acr. She regrets
| that NJ Mayer who gave no notice TO the public,
but allowed people to send away their carriages and
take their places in the theatre, did not send
/
not the custom in Paris. says Mlle Sarah. but then
| no more Is it the custom to cast a doubt
| the actuallty of her illness. The correspondent
| whose letter calls out her reply speaks of her
"neryes" the cause OF the failure. In
| TRUTH" retorts she, " l more aware
| of their existence than when | read his
letter. Elsewhere she writes that to have refused
| to act when she was announced and able to act
would have been b5ti8e and she assures her editor
i friend that whatever else she may Be- she Is not
J6e Nor is she but 1t is still possible to believe
that she thought herself entitled, in her capacity Of
spoiled child and darling Of the public, TO take
| liberty which her physical condition did not abso-
| lutcy require. Perhaps, after ALL it was required.
! II is certain that the previous evening she was
! acting Ph6ire and another piece at house III Boil
| grave-square Ii Is sad-which may may not be
! true-that she went afterward to a gathering more
| Bohemian in its character where the fun was fast
and furious and lasted till early morning of Satur
! day. One has heard before now Of what comes from
burning the candle at both ends and in the middle.
| There must be A limit even TO Mile. Sarah Bern
| hardfs endurance She is endowed with one of
! those nervous organizations which seem cUriously
delicate yet cUrously under the control of the will
As she herself says. she acted in " Hermann
| m tho evening which followed the af-
! ternoon disappointment only because she
! had resolved to act, and nothing but
the force of her resolve carried her through the last
! scene Isaw her play two acts of " Phedre" at a
private house on Monday. She was 50 much eX-
hausted at the end that when called out she could
only totter across the stage. have seen the same
thing happen in Paris at the Theatre Franeais, and
those who know her best say that tins Is no aecta-
| ton. Yet on Monday she had so far recovered
within half an hour to be able to play Zdneto IN
| NJ Connects "Le Passant"-a strolng minstrel
.t.Ia . tba Il TO Uplr
| but which | don't remember TO have heard OF her.
| giving at the Francais.
| The production of "AIdap at Her Maiestys Thea
tr, has brought Mss Kellogg prominently before
| the London public. Mr. Mlp!esOn mounted the
opera IN style of great splendor. The scenery was
So good that the scene-p ainter-l am sorry don't
| know his name-was called out at the beginning OF
eacn act and the costumes and other appointments
were in keeping with the scenery. You have had
opportunitcs in New-YOrk of judging for yourself
the merits of Miss Kellosgs representation OF the
| tItle-r0le and L need only speak OF the re-
ception it met with at the hands OF pup
lie which brides itself on its critical dis
nosition. Her success was, to say the least,
doubtful during the first two acts. From nervous
ness OF some other cause, Miss Kellogg was not IN
| fI nossossion of her voice. Matters mended in the
| third when she sang aud acted with such spirit as
10 serpre call before the curtain fmld general APP
plouse. Ihear she was in still better form at tho
second representation. The papers have taken htIle
note of her first shortcomings, and have welcomed
her return TO the London stage with much cordial
ity. They agree in describing even the hrst night
as n genuine success. The opera IS announced iol
yer, renetitions and hes taken its place as one OF
the standard attractions of Mr.. Mapiesons theatre
Mime. TrebePs brilliant singing and acting as
l,,peri, and the general care in tho production
With the spendors of the mise scene, contribute
much to It's popularity.
Mime Gerster was to have appeared this week in