The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-05
PARIS LETTER.

dcrs Of Paris, Il short sketch Of the great &C
tresss professional career will doubtless be pc
rused with interest by your readers. Sarah
Bernhard is Of Jewish extraction; her father
was IN advocate at Havre, her mother was
Dutch. She entered the COnscrvatoire N
1861, and was pupil of the actor Beauvallet.
Mile Bernhardt pursued her studies with
such success that she gained the first prize for
tragedy, and was in consequence entitled TO
dejW at the Theatre Francois The GeJm,
however, was a failure; and her next attempt
this time at the Gymiase-proved complete
fdscO; so complete, indeed that, after the sec.
ond representation, the discomftted actress
fled from Paris, and in a last farewell letter
to the author Lablache wrote; "Ayez pltie
dime pauvre petite toquee," 1iave pity on q
poor little actress Returning after short
interval to the capital, Mdlle Bernhard per
formed at the Theatre of the Porte Saint Mar
tin; but here again she failed to please. IN
daunted by misfortune, Sarah Bernhardt paid
a visit to one of the directors of the Odeon,
and asked him to receive her This was NJ
Duquesnel, and to him she sad II have been
Turned away everywhere, but try me. | assure
you there is something here" pointing not to
her head, but her heart. And they soon found
at the Ddeon atthere was something there"
She made her deJW at this theatre in the role
of Sylvia in the "Jen de PAmour ct du Has.
ard" In this character she did not shine;
but when Alexander Dumas entrusted to her
the leading female part in his "kean," her sue.
cess was assured; and although the play was
| i'll received, the house rewarded her with
| perfect storm of applause. During the war,
prcyig- Size haJ "a heart !,r srcruer realities
lbaH those e the Stage, Ndi'r, Bernhard, as
sisted with the ambulanccs tending her wound
ed cOuntrymen with untiring care and devo-
ton. Then came the peace, and on Feb. ?,
1872 the curtain rose on "Ruy Bias" with So
jrah Bernhard as Queen Of Spain. Her tri-
umph was immense, and NJ Victor Hugo de-
clared that she realized the type Of which he
had dreamt for bona Maria. The Theatre
Franchise took Mdlle. Bernhard almost by
force from the Odeon; but at first her success
was comparatively slight She was not fortu-
nate in the parts allotted to her; and even now,
although all Paris rings with her varied fame,
she has had fewer original characters to create
than have fallen to the lot Of far inferior &C
tresses But Mdle Bernhard proved, IN sew
eral of Racnes tragedies, that she alone OF
living French ar,stes is capable of wearing
with grace that mantle that slipped more than
twenty years ago from the shoulders of Ra-
Chel
At length, IN La File dc Roland" the tai
ented lady, who had for so long been feeling
her way upon the stage of the Francois, found
a congenlal character in which the charm OF
her voice, the bright intelligence Of her die
ton, and her statesque grace had full opportu.
nifty of display. Her success was immense
and it sealed the future Of an author who had
public recognition.
No one can have watched Mdlle. Bernhardt,
as La File de Roland" winds her arms around
the venerable form of Charlemagne, without
thinking what an exquisite Cordelia she would
make, and without regretting that Shakespeare
is practically banished from the French stage,
Her next tragic creation was that of the blind
Postumia, in Rome Vaincue;" and here,
again, it was her remarkable impersonatlon
that redeemed the dizziness Of heavy tragedy.
Her part in the "Estrangene," although inferi
or in interest, and even in importance, to that
of the Duchease de Septmonts, was distinct
" individual creation, and many will have an
opportunity Of observing tonight IN London,
where she IS now playing, how completely
this gifted actress contrives to merge her own
individuality in that of the character she in
terbrets. Even in her accent as Mrs Clarkson
there is just the faintest possible indication OF
her foreign origin.
Into the details of Mdlle. Bernhardts pri-
vate life it would not be right 10 enter, were it
not that all her multifarious occupations are
as much public property as are the days OF an
Anne rican President. Those admitted to the
privilege Of her acquaintance have reason to
laugh al the stories of her employing others TO
do the work in sculpture, painting ana ntera
ture, which goes forth to the world IN her
name For all her work is done more or less
in public. Her stadio is generally filled with
friends, and it is in their presence, and IN the
midst of bright conversation, that she paints
her pictures and moulds the clay into shapes
that will live If she wears cricketing COS
tame, it is only when employed on some coios-
sal statue, such as that which has been set up
at Monaco: but when she is working on bust
she receives her visitors in ordinary attire, and
In the superb studio which is all that an artist
can dream Mde Bernhardt has the fancy OF
having her coffin always near her, but this
constant companionship with the idea of deaf Ii
does not cast shadow over her gaiety, and
many will agree with her in thinking that IA
mill arity with the inevitable is preferable to a
craven fear of the future. The skeleton which
is in every household occupies post Of honor
in that of Mdlle Bernhardt. For his bony
arms emhrace the cheval-g GLASS in her bed