The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-06-22
How Sarah Studies.

One Of Sarah Bernhardl's most marked pc
culiarities, says q correspondent, is the man
ner il which she is constantly, and almost
unconsciously, experimenting with and
studying her art, through even the most triy-
ial and insignificant incidents of Gaily life.
Mrs. Siddons is said to have ordered d beef
steak with an air OF a tragedy queen, but the
Bernbardt avails herself of every chance re-
mark or action to test her ideas Of natural
ness and yu11sfuWl0nce, and to watch the eff
feet of her acting on others. For ~illustra-
ton, one night, when she was stopping at
Mobile, the hotel servant who responded to
her bell was astonished to behold the star
start suddenly as he opened the door, turn
pale, clutch a chair for support, and whisper
hcasely, though in very broken English,
Of course, "Great heavens, it is he! Quick !
Conceal yourselves in this cabinet !" followed
by the hasty closing Of q closet door. If this
he'd occtr ei at a hotel in Paris the waiter
would have d;screetly withdrawn. La this
instance, however, he reported the incident
1t the office, and the proprietor at once pro-
ceeded to enforce the prophecies. AS the
Ink AIAAo bAC OuCpCClCu aJd1 tuiCuL
the star tripped smiiingly towards him with
the naive, fresh, girlish affection Of a 16-
year old daughter.
''Be seated, dear father" she said. You
must, indeed, be fatigued by your long walk
from Rouon."
"W-h-a-t " stammered the hotel keeper.
The actress instantly changed her manner to
that of a proud woman struggling with rage
and jealousy.
Il have sent for you, NJ. lie Prefect, to de-
nouce q thief. Yesterday [ was robbed of q
case of jewels, and the criminal is that wo-
man !" and she actually seemed to dilate in
size as, with glariDg eyes and outstretched
finger, she pointed to q dress lying upon the
bed.
"A woman" gasped the host, who was
now convinced that be was talking to a ma
MAC. Il thought there was a man in here,
but see | was mis-
"S-h-s-s-h. !" whispered the star, with her
finger on her lips and an expression of
horror that made the listeners blood curdle.
t'Do you net hear his blood still drop on the
marble floor /? He lies in the little cell yon-
der. Five %stillettos in bis breast. How We
nice will shout in the morning." and she
dragged the trembling man to the wardrobe.
Il don't see any-anything," he ~faltered,
meditating how he could make a running
start Tor the door.
"Ah !" she said, peering into his eyes with
q searching glance: "Wou]d'st betray US,
then, hare heart ? Then lis thou alone shall
fire the palace. Quick here's thy torch I
will guard the postern," and the facile Sarah
handed the wretched man a match, and,
selling a property dagger from the mantle
piece, placed her back again the door.
"Now, if | yell out l suppose I'm a gone
coon, said the landlord, the Precipitation
dripping from his forehead. 'sThis billiard
cue will slice me all up" Just then his eye
fell upon the electric fire alarm button.
Certainly, I'll fire the palace" he said
aloud, and, lighting the match, he laid it IN
der the indicator.
The result was that, il a few seconds, the
door was burst open, and a porter with .
Babcock extinguisher, dashed into the room
and almost squirted the Barnhardt's head off
The landlord escaped il the confusion, and
was about sending for q commissioner in lu-
macy, when Manager Abbey appeared and
explained matters. But up to the day the
troupe left Mobile the landlord gave the trag-
edienne o wide birth, and never heard her
electric voice calling over the bannisters for
the chambermaid or more towels without
shutting bis eyes and shiYering like a dog
swallowing a bone.-Kg.
HOW q BisasOD Waited.