Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-03

Bernhardt Sees a performance
Ofthe American Actress-Patri-
Otie Enthusiasm Awakened by
the Presence of Her French
SISTER for the Native Actress,
Who is Overcome by her Emo
lions.
New York SUM-
Mile. Bernhard went last evening
to see Clara Morris play the part OF
Alike in the play Of"The Countess de
Somerive." Before she permitted
herself this pleasure she did some
business with her trunks, rising in
time to 90 to Booths theater at half
past ten o'clock for that purpose. An
inspection was made of the baggage
which the actress brought with her,
but the goods which the appraiser
thought would be susceptible of the
customs tax were so numerous that no
immediate estimate was given. 1t is
presumed that the question will be
settled to-day, and that the amount
which the custom house will call up
on the Bernhard to pay will be an
nounoed. Her manager says that 1t Is
already decided that there will be some
duties to pay, and that he Is already
decided to enter a protest. Mile.
Bernhardt, in addition TO attending to
her trunks, went shopping in a small
way, and visited a piano warehouse on
Fifth avenue, where she. received q
bouquet and kissed a small and pretty
child.
At the Park theater a great throng
assembled to see her. 1t was nearer
8 o'clock than s when the curtain rose
on the Grst act Miss Morris is the
second person who appears in the
play. She was received with moder-
ate enthusiasm. Dressed in white
muslin, and acting a part that in this
act certainly is indifferent, it was evil
dent that many in the house did not
recognize her. When the act was
closed Mile. Bernhardt entered. She
passed along the isle to the left of
house, and entered the box to the
right of the stage on the ground tier.
Two of her six managers, Messrs.
jarrett and Schwab, accompanied her.
The box was draped with she flags Of
France and America. Breathless
silence, and the cpaljng Of every neck
in the house greeted the immediate
entrance of the slender and gifted
Parisienne. 1t was only when she
had seated herself, with much art and
pretty circumstance, that the subdued
applause began to break forth. 1t
grew, until the Bernhardt, half
rising, INCLINED her body gracefully.
The orchestra played the Mar
seillaise, 1t is a singular fact that
this air has always been produced in a
lugubrious manner before Mile. Berr-
hardt. The performance was espe-
cially lugubrious last night. People
were melted to make a noise both by
the wish to stamp out the music
and by the desire to greet Mile. Bern
hardt. The Partisan actress wore a
hat trimmed with white whose broad
brim was drawn down on both sides Of
her face and fastened under her chin.
Her face was to be viewed as if at the
extremity OF a funnel Of daisies She
wore a dress of black silk, with plenti-
full white lace trimming about the
throat aud neck.
The greeting of the French actress
had subsidized when the curtain rose On
the second act. Miss Morris, still ar
rayed in her simple dress of white
muslin, was the first character to APP
pear. Instantly such an enthusiasm
broke forth as. heretofore there had
been no intimation of. Ii was as if the
patriotism had got the upper hand.
This was probably the explanation Of
it. Eyes were fixed on the Bernhard
and hands made thunder for the pop
ular American. Miss Morris stopped
at the front of the stage, seemingly
amazed. She waited for the ap'
plause to subside; it only grew
louder. She bowed to the audience.
The great enthusiastic noise contin.
ued. She turned with a flushed face
to the box in which the Bernhard
sat and twice bent in a deep courtesy
Mile. Bernhard rose and returned tn,
salute as gracefully as it was given
The applause then reached its height
and Miss Morris, deeply flushed, re
tired for a moment, evidently to con
troll her feelings. "Let me pour yot
some coffee" were her first words a.
she returned to her place. They wer,
almost a humorous echo Of the enthu
siasm which had stirred her beyonC
her elf-possession.
As the play went on, the acting 0
Miss Morris was watched with IN,
keenest interest by her celebrated Wis
itor. The long and wrinkled whit
/. kid gloves Of the Partisan often me
in the applause Of some well-rendere,
point, and this was invariably a sigma
for an outbreak on the part Of the res
of the audience.
AT the close of the play the entir,
house wedged the lobbies to witnes
+ the Bernhard in her passage out
f She disappointed the people BY max
y ing her exit from the stage door.