The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-22
sARCAsrIC SARA.
She Turns her Attention TO the Preach
ers, THImage I'm Particular, and Threat.
ems suit for Criminal Libel.

BosroN, Dec. 2l.-Sara Bernhardt passed
Sunday quietly at the Hotel vendome, re
ceiying few callers. To-day she leaves fol
New Haven, where she will appear in the
evening. She accorded an interview to
a Globe reporter yesterday, in the course
Of which she made some interesting state
ments. Referring TO the attacks on her
from the pulpit, she said:
"They are extraordinary, these attacks
on me, are they not? What is the cause
of them2 Why should / be singled out
from all the other actresses as the victim
Of the Clergy2 Is it not because a number
sfthe latter profession, running short OF
ideas, seize upon topic most prominently
before the public as subjscsfor q ssnsa-
tional discourse by which they may
concentrate attention on themselves and
fill their pockets with money! A COM
parison OF the morals Of the clerical fra
ternity with those OF actors aud actresses
would be by no means unfsvorable 10 the
latter. A great many occupants OF pulpits
arc simply showmen. What, for instance,
is the essential difference between the
calling OF an actress like myself and that
OF the mountebank Talmage, always on
the scent for the freshest bit OF scandal?
This single aud important tdifference-that
! support myself by interpreting to people
the grandest thoughts Of the grandest men
who have ever lived, while he gains his
living by pouring into the public ear his
own verbose nonsense; but, though IN
1hfn eanaa hsa npofaaafan 20 car4afnit, thn
same as my own, | can scarcely consider
him q bon couradS."
"Shall you take any steps to prevent
these outrageous attacks upon you in the
tuture"
Certainly. When I first reached New
York, was greeted by the appearance Of
an infamous book regarding my life, which
not even the immense sum Of money !
should have been obliged TO pay Mr.. ABB
bey for a release from my contract with
him would have deferred me from answer.
ing by an instant departure from the coun-
try, had It not been for the earnest and
encouraging protest OF Mr.. Jarrett and
other friends. Then l suggested to Mr..
Abbey the propriety OF instituting legal
proceedings against my slsnderers OF the
pulpit and press, but as yet this step has
not been resorted to.
Hereafter, though, l propose to take
the matter into my own hands, and any
person, be he clergyman or otherwise,
who attempts from this time forth to black
en- my reputation by proclaiming and cir
culatiug false reports about my life, oi
which he knows and can:know nothing,
will, l give him fair warning, be sum.
marily brought into Court to answer to q
criminal charge. To fasten the proofs in
cases OF this kind have already engaged
two stenographers in tvs otthe large cities
which l soon shall visit professionally TO
watch for the slightest breath OF slander
coming from any pulpit, and take yer-
batim report Of the reckless words uttered.
There ia no reason why SANDER from the
pulpit should be outside the Jurisdiction
OF the law any more than SANDER from
another quarter, and l have my rights as
good az Others"
~ presume, Mile. Bernhard" "queried
the reporter, "the pretended feeling Of
bitterness against you in the churches has
not prevented the church people from
to you for financial aid2"
"Not in the least. Apart from the or.
dinary applications for charity that re,
ceive by mail, numbering over fifty almost
every day, some OF them coming from as
far as San Francisco, members Of churches
are constantly besieging me with their
subscription books, asking money for the
poor, money for missions, money for
churches, money for everything. My first
answer to them always is: Evidently
charity does not ALWAYS begin in the pull
pit"