Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-24
BERNEiARDTs RAGE.
She IN, ,-ns Her Attention 20 the
PPqarh, ,ers. Talsnage la Par
ficuJaN And gaireateHS
Euft or Criminal
Libel.

In an interview with a Boston re,
porter, Monday, Sara BeriAardt SAID
to me:
"They are extraordinary, these at
tacks on me, are they notl w hat is
the cause of them? Why should | be
singled out from all the other actresses
as the victim OF the clergyP Is 1t not
because a number Of the latter profes-
sion. running short Of ideas, seize
upon topic most promlGently before
the public as a subject foT a soess
tioaal discourse by which tEay may
concentrate attention on item
selves and fill their pockets with
money? a comparison OF the
morals of the clerical fraternity with
those actors and actresses would be by
40 means unlayorable to the latter.
A qreat many occupants Of pulpits are
-, = showmen. What, for instance,
Z ~ tbo osso ptial difference between the
naII;ug % lin eSd: ofan ,etress like myself and
that's tbat Of the % IN ountebank Tslmage,
always on the scent ,'9r the freshest i
bit Of scandal? This slGH1e ana I'm.
portant dilferenoe-that suppYIt'
myself by interpreting to people 'he
grandest thoughts of the grandest M u
who have ever lived, while he gains
his living by pouring into the public
ear his own verbose nonsense; but,
though in this sense, his profession is
certainly the same as my own, can
scarcely consider him bon oomrade. y
"ohall you take any steps to prevent
these outrageous attacks upon you In
the futureY
Certainly. When / first reached
New York, was greeted by the
appearance Of an Infamous book re-
garding my life, which not even the
immense sum OF money | should have
been obliged to pay MIR. Abbey for a
release from my contract with him
would have deferred me from answer
ing hy an instant departure from the
country, had it not been for the earn
est and encouraging protest OF MIR.
Jarrett and other friends. Then !
suggested to MIR. Abbey the propriety
of instituting legal proceedings against
my slauderers Of the pulpit and press
but as yet this step has not been re-
sorted to.
Hereafter, though, | propose tC
take the matter into my own hands
and any person, be he clergyman Of
otherwise, who attempts from this
time forth to blacken my reputation
NV Groclaiming and circulating falls,
renorts about my life, Of which ht
Knows and can know nothing, will,
rive him fair warning, be summaril!
brought into court to answer to
S-iminal charge To fasten the proof
In cases Of this kind | have alread.
engaged two stenogTaphers in two 0
the large cities, which ] soon shal
visit nrofess; ;onally to watch for thl
slightest breath Of SANDER cominl
from any pulpit, ans take a verbatim
report Of the reckless words uttered
There is no reason why slsnder iron
the pulpit should be outside the yurls
diction of the law any more than
slander from another quarter, ana
have my rights as good as others.
II presume, Mile. Bernhardt,' que
ried the reporter, the pretended
bitterness against you In tho churche
has not prevented the church peopl!
from applying to yon for financial aicf
"Not in the least. Apart from tn
ordinary applications for charity tina
/ receive by mail, numbering owe
ffy almost every day. some OF thou
coming from as far as San francisco
members Of churches are CONSTANT
besieging me with their subscriptio
books. asking money for tho poo
money for missions, money tc