The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-02
TIE VIEWS or A FRENCH ACTRESS.
A Truly Remarkable Book About
America and Sarah Bcrnhardt.

A correspondent writing from Paris
saws: Marie COlombier, actress, Bohemian,
and woman OF considerable wit, has taken
advantage of the revival OF Partisan life to
publish her diary OF the American tour OF
Sarah Bernhardt, whom she accompanied
in professional capacity. Some OF these
letters have already appeared in Partisan
journal. The volume entitled "The Tour
of Sarah Bernhardt in America" is pre-
ceded by preface OF Arsene HOussayc, and
illustrated by portrait OF Marie Colombier
by the impressiOnist painter Ed. Ganet,
and by reproductions OF twenty or thirty
American carcatures of Miss Bcrnhardt.
II is really curious record OF nomad ar
tistic liie-a kind of nineteenth century
Roman Comique," OF which the scene Is
laid i'm what the French call the country OF
dollars. Marie Colombier's conclusion is
that America is a fine country seen from
aiar, and that Sarah Bcrnhardt and herself
are glad they are back again in France.
Miss Bernhardt starts from IIavre with The
conviction that she il going to gain q mil
lion, and at the same time that Americans
are going TO come 10 see her as they would
20 to sec "white elephant or a tricopha-
louS calf" The expression is her own.
In America, probably, nobody cares
what Marie ColOmbier'S impressions OF the
country were, but here in Paris what she
SAYS will be taken by many for gospel. AZ
ter all, Marie Colombier is no fool; her
book is bright and amusing, and people
read it and talk about il. Moreover she Is
Il Journalist. She is now on the regular
staff Of a smart daily paper, the Henri w.
and her colleagues in the Partisan press
will not be sparing OF pufs. This being
the case, shall ask leave to quote briefly
few Of Marie COlombier'S remarks.
Speaking Of Clara Morris's performance
in Alike, she says
"No, il is impossible for Psrisans to
figure to themselves the American star.
Imagine a woman who could give points 10
Sarah for leanness, angular, having 10
longer any age, and who can never have
had any beauty-youth, perhaps, but long
time ago. Her mouth is a black hole. Her
teeth look like cloves in sealing wax. And
people pretend that America is the country
OF dentistsl ShrivelIed up, mummiied,
she wears chcrubim wig. Atthe dramatic
moments she sobs with her head in her
hands. and you can see her long fingers ad-
justing the locks OF her hempen-blOnde
hair"
In short, Marie Colombier pronounces
Clara Morris to be without q spark OF ge-
MUS. " She does not know how 10 talk
or how TO walk. \ strolling mountebank."
Marie Colombier and her companions
are inexhastble in their un1avorablc criti-
cisms Of America and the Americans. At
Hartford she laughs ut the intelligence OF
the audience who followed FrOu-Frou in I.
the translation OF Phedre. She describes /.
one OF Mr.. Abbey's secretaries as "a 4
former slave-driver and spy during the /.
war;"
Here is her description OF the capital:
WWashington is a dull, dead-aliye town, /
with broad streets. Happily, the European .
residents there form a society superior 70 .
that of any other town i'm America. Listen F.
TO that, We Bostonians who said in your en- I
thusiasm, "Come again, Marie !" At least /
Marie. in her book, says that you did, The
and they are numerous, re-
semble Savoy cakes. The palace OF Con-
yress and that OF the President are models
Df bad taste, and all the people OF the cOun-
.ry are very proud OF them. The ladies Of
Washington are generally pretty, although,
ike their sisters OF New York and Boston,
.hey have not yet been able TO learn from
heir French dressmakers to wear the Paris
ashions as they should be worn."
The tour OF Sarah Bernhardt, which
,egan so joyfully and brilliantly ended, as
he reader will remember, in the most COM
nonplacc manner, and amid general indf-
erence. She had come TO earn money, and
lot to win glory, and many page in Marie
yolombier's book shows in what slipshod
way the performances were given. Well,
low much money did she earny Accord
ne 10 her companions account, she earned
70 900 francs (S177, 500 in 1O6 representa-
ions. Out Of this jarrett took 100000
rancs (sl9,30W; expenses amounted to
oO. 00o francs 1886, GOO; her creditors snd
,,yyers in Paris took 100000 francs (S77,-
00i: and she brought home with her a
heck ON the Credit Lyonnais for 100000
rancs (S42, 400.
Write TO Mrs. Lydia L. Pinkham, No.