The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-06-21
BRRNHARDTs METHODS. ID s..
An Eccentric Performance That
Scared q Hotel Proprietor.

One Of Sara Bernhardt's most mark.
ed peculiarities says'a correspondent, is
the manner in which she is constantly,
almost unconscio9sly, experimenting
with and studying her art, through even
the most rival and insignificant Incl
dents OF daily life. Mrs. Siddons ID
said to have ordered a beefstake with the
air Of tragedy queen, but the Bern
hardt avails herself soi, every chance re.
mark or action TO test her. ideas ol
naturalness and craissn,blance, and to
watch the effect pi henscting on others
For Illustration SaS Hight, while shs
was stopping at Mobile, the hotel serv
ant who responded to her bell was as
tonished to behold the star start sud.
denly as he opened the door, turn pale
clutch chair for support, aud whisper
hoarsely, though in very broken English
OF course: "Great heavens! It is be
Quick +! Conceal yourselfin this cabinet 7
followed by the hasty closing of the
closet door. If this had occurred at q
hotel here, the waiter would have dis.
creetly withdrawn. In this instance
however, he reported the incident at the
Office, and the proprietor at once pro.
ceeded to enforce the proprieties Al
the landlord entered the suspected apart
ment the star tripped smiingly toward
him with the naive, fresh, g rlish affec.
tion OF l6-year-cld daughter.
"Be seated, dear father" she said
"You must. indeed, be fatigued by your
long walk from Rouen."
"W-h-a-tp" stammered the hotel.
keeper. The actress instantly changed
her manner to that of a proud woman
struggling with rage and jealously.,s
81 have sent for yoa, M. le Prefect
to denounce thief. Yesterday was
robbed of case of jewels. and the
criminal is that woman IT, and she &C.
tually seemed to dllate in size, as with
glaring eyes, and outstretched. fingers
she pointed to dress lying on the bed
"a women!" gasped the host, who
was now convinced that he was talking
to manlac. 81 thought there was q
man in here, hut see was mis-
"Sh-s-s s-h!" whispered the star, with
her finger on her lip and an expression
OF steadily horror that made the listen
er's blood curdle. "Do you not hear
his blood still drip on the marble floor
He lies in the little cell yonder. Come,
let US peep at him. Five stillettoes in
his breast. How Venice will shout in
the morning." and she dragged the
trembling man tc the wardrobe.
II don't see any-anythips," he fal.
tered, meditating how be conld make q
running start for the door.
.".Ah!" she said, peering into. his eyes
with asearching glance. "Wouldst be-
tray Us, then, hard heart? Then lis
thor aiGhns shatL iEf tl97, e ,s s..''
ten," and the facile Sarah handed the
wretched man a match, and, seizing q
property dagger from the mantlepiece,
placed her hack against the door.
"Now, il l yell out l suppose that
am gone coon," said the landlord, the
dripping from his forehead.
'This crazy billiard cue will slice me all
up" Just then his eyes fell upon the
electric fire alarm button.
"Certainly, Ill Gre the palace" be
said aloud, and, lightning the match, be
laid it under the indicator.
The result was that, in few seconds,
the door was hurst open, and porter
with Babcock extinguisher dashed in
to the room and almost so lirted the
Bernhardt's head of. The landlord es-
capped in the confusion, and was about
sending for commissioner In lunacy,
when Manager Abby appeared and ex-
planned matters. But up to the day the
troupe left Mobile the landlord gave the
tragedienne wide birth, and never
even heard her electric voice yelling
over the banisters for the chambermaid,
or more towels, without shutting his
eyes and shivering like dog swallow
ing bone.