Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-09
A TALK WITH THE DIVINE SARAH.

TALK WITH THE DIVINE SARAH
OUR REPORTER ENrHUsKD-HIs ESSAY AT
FRKNCH-CoNCLuDEs TO DROP INTO ENGLISH
MILE. BERNHARDT IN A SUNNY MooD-sBe IA
DELIGHTED WITH WASHINGTON AUDIENCES
CAM STAY TO SEE THE CITY NOW But WILL
CCMB AGAIN.
The STAR reporter who was assigned to In
terview Mile. Sarah Bernhardt once went to
school. Among other things that he pretended
to study there was French. He became very
In that ana soqG It
hoasSs when a1y they rate dismissed ss reporter nm
from from -. school o for misconduct that there
vas one thing in which he was certainly pro-
1c1ent, and that one thing was the French
9ne,ie 9SI,I and "boned up. a little He went to
Bernhardt in her boudoir. His card went up
and word came down to walk up stairs. Getting
out of the elevator the eolored emissary showed
part OF the suite which Mile Bernhardt and her
train occupied. The room was furnished hand
somely. The sofas and divans were covered
with old gold rep. There was quite long wait
before rnademoiSelle appeared. The reporter
was glad OF 1t. IL gave him time to collect to-
gether his French, which was rapidly oozing
out as the time for its being put into active
operation neared. By and bye the door opened
from an adjoining apartment. 1t did not open
wide enough for the reporter to see beyond
"BoNG J1oR,"
said the reporter, bowing low, and speaking
those words with the latest Partisan accent.
as nearly as might be. Mile Sarah looked a
little startled, but came forward, holding out
her hand, and there was hearty shake. "Stt
down, will you please" She said this much
more rapidly than the young man had ever In
bis palmiest days, been in the habit OF having
French hurled at him. He managed, however,
to grasp the idea that he was invited to sit
down. Mile Bernhardt had seated herself in
a commodiouS low chair. The reporter looked
as comfortable as 1t was possible for a man
located on the edge OF sofa, aud weighed
ssnc, " MS saroS doubtful an9wedge OF
She wore morning robe OF gray. IL swept the
floor behind, and allowed easy play for her feet
In front. The pockets were trimmed With bright
red SILK, as was the skirt Her hair, which Is
long and auburn-Some say red-Wa5 loosely
and aItistically arranged back OF the head. In
front IL was friZZed and fiuffy. She had large
lace colli,lre OF white around her neck. A white
the head In some way or other. Her eyes are
bright and moving. There is fun In them The
sleeves OF her robe were finished IN lace. AS
size recllned In her chair the toe of one white
slipper looked out. One Of her arms lay along
the back OF the soft chair. The other, the right
one, was In her lap. She looked very fresh
There is but little color 1n her face the features
OF which are boldly outlined The reporter did
not see all this exactly at this junctuFe. He
took 1t In gradually. lie had been thinking OF
something 1n French TO say.
EER OPINION OF THE AUDIENCE LAST NIGHT
asked: "What did you think Of your audience
last evening"" Mademoiselle does her English
very prettily, and it was only now and then
when she dropped entirely into French that the
reporter was stumped
oh she said, Il was delighted. hope the
people liked me-
The reporter assured her that the people were
Wild about her.
81 Think" said the slender lady, that last
nights audience was one OF the most appreci-
ative that / have played 10 in this country.
There were many more people there without
ubIettos than have met anywhere else. That
old me good. l saw as soon as came on the
stage that large number OF The people present
not only saw the pantoraine but thoro ignly un-
derstoOd every word that was uttered. That was
great help to me. Mon Dieu! out sometimes
there is not a single people (she made that slip
very prettily} who. understand word OF
French. VIII there be a crowd az the mala2e
this atternoon?"
Tie reporter somewhat to the Iady's surprise,
remarked that the weather would have TO be
very frigid when good saturday matinee Ia
and children especially. She did not seem to
catch the meaning concealed under the meta
phor OF the young man, for she simply said:
You neWspapaire gentlemenz l do not quite
yet make out
There Will be great many children at the
matinee this afternoon" the reporter said, de-
teImined to steer clear Of the colIoquial there
That Will be nice; we're nice. l ike children.
like always TO see them when L play. They
inspire me to try and make myself u0derstood
to every one"
Mile. Bernhardt5 arms at the beginning OF
the interview looked very long TO the rep)rJeT
He thought couple Or SO OF Inches could be-
spared from them, and improvement result.
But the lady had now begun to gesticulate. The
arms no longer seemed Of too many inches.
They we're just right How gracefully she did
use them.
"Win you 60 out to- day and take a look
around our pubic Duildinga?" inquired tie re-
porter.
SHE HOPES TO COME HIRE AGAIN.
mo; cannot. You see, go from here to
Baltimore directly after the matinee this after
noon, and play there this evening. ! leave Bal
tmore Immediately after the performance to-
country, end see your beautiful city. To-day
would not be very good for seeing the sights,
would tt?'-and the Bernhardt laughed and
showed some very pretty teeth.
longer than you expected, has it not?" asked
THE STAR.
"Oh, yes: we're much longer. But you see we
nave been very successful, and naturally did
goot beesness." And she laughed again.
1.-The newspapers have had good deal of
fun about you, mademoiselle; does it offend
you?"
It. What do understand laugh at. This one
Is funny, Is 1t nOt?" She handed a newspaper
clipping. which said that when she looked on
Niagara falls she exclaimed. 1t comes down
like hale" just then maid put her head
through the door and asked something in
could understand was "cafe." He made his
adieu, receiving another shake OF the slender
hand. When he came away he congratulated
bimself that he had neither asked the lady how
she liked the country or the people.
A Timely Short Catechfsm.