Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-25
How Sarah Studies.

One of Sarah Bernhardts most marked
peculiariies is the manner in which she is
| constantly, almost uneonsciouslv. expert
menting with aud studying her art. through
even the most trivial and insignificant incl
dents of daily life. Mrs. Siddons is said io
| have ordered n heefsteak with the air Of n
tragedy queen, but the Bernhardt avail>
herself of every chance remark or action tn
test her ideas of uaturalness and rrdisemb-
| lance, and to watch the effect of her acting
| on others. For illustration. one night.
| while stopping NJ Mobile, the hotel servant
who responded - her bell was as,onished to
behold the star start suddenly he opened
| the door, turn pale clutch II chair for support.
and whisper hoarscly. though in very broken
| English, of cuWrsv Great heavens II i
he. Quick, Conceal yourselves in this
cabinet followed by the hasty closing of
| closet door. Ii this had occurred at u hotel
out here the waiter would fhave discrectly
Withdrawn. In this instance, however. he
reported the incident al the office, and the
proprietor at once proceeded TO enforce the
proprieties. As the landlord entered the
pected apartment the star tripped smilinglv
toward him with the naive, fresh, girlish at
| tection of a sixteen -year-old daughter
| BE seated, dear father" she said. "lnu
must, indeed, be fatigued by your long walk
from Rouen."
| Nv hat z" stammered the hotel keeper.
The actress Immediately changed her manner
TO that of a proud woman struggling with
rage and jealousy.
Il have sent for you, NJ. lie Prefect, to de-
nounce a thief. Yesterday was robbed OF
a case of jewels and the criminal is that
man. aud she actually seemed to dilate in
size as, with glaring eyes and outstretched
! finger she pointed to a dress lying upon the
bed.
"a woman" gasped the host who was
now convinced that he was talking to
maniac. Il thought there was a man in
here. but See | was mis-"
"Sh-s-s-s-sh!" whispered the star. with her
finger on her lip and an expression of horrcr
that made the listeners blood curdle. 'Do
you not hear his blood still drip upon the
marble floor =: He lies in the little cell
yondcr. Come. let us peep at him. Five
stl!ettoes in his breast. How Venice will
shout in the morning." and she dragged the
trembling man to the wardrobe.
| II don't see any-anything. he faltercd,
meditating how he could make a running
! start tor the door
''Ah she said, peering into his eyes with
a searching glance. "Woudst betray us then,
hare heart? Then It's thou alone shall fire
the palace. Quick; here's thy torch. | will
guard the postern,' and the facile Sarah
ing property dagger from the mantlepiccc
placed her back against the door.
"Now. if yell out suppose I'm a gone
COON said the landlord, the perspiration
dripping from his forehead. This crazy
billiard cue will slice me all up just then
his eye fell upon the electric fire alarm but
| ton.
'Certainly, I'll fire the palace he said
aloud, and lighting match he held it under
the Indicator.
The result was that in few seconds the
door was burst open and porter with Bah
cock extingnisher dashed into the room and
almost squirted the Bcrnhardt's head off, The
landlord escaped in the confusion and was
about sending for commissioner in lunscy.
when Manager Abby appeared and explained
matters. But up to the day the troupe left Mo
bile the landlord gave the tragedienne n wide
berth, and never even heard her electric
voice yelling over the banisters for the cham
bermaid, more towels, without shutting
his ewes and shivcring like a dog swallow Ing
n bone.