The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-07
COLOMBIER'S "SAR4H BARNUM."
Suiferings of an AdOrer Who Dined the Ac-
tress at Summer Hotel in Winter
New York Snecial.

in the caresses of Marasky, the Odessa banker,
she suddenly became smitten with the good
looks of certain actor of the company in
which she was playing. His name Angel,
which is presumed to stand for Angelo,
who was the leading gentleman in the
Bernhardt company which visited the United
States. The Barnum had, among her many lit
tie tricks, learned that of fainting at opportWe
moments, and so it happened that during the
performance one night Sarah swooned when
standing near Angel, and was at once gathered
up by him and carried to her room. The Incl
dent was, according to the book, too much for
both Of them, and their friendship was cemented
from that moment little incident is then
given to show the peculiarities of the actress,
whose selfish and wholly mercenary character is
displayed on every page of this singular book.
Colombier writes:
sit was thus that certain evening when
there was no play, burning to meet his adored
one, but fearing that a meeting in stylish res
taurant would compromise her, he asked her
to supper at the restaurant of Madrid. lie Bots
de Boulogne that freezing November night must
certainly be less frequented than similar estab-
llshments on the boulevard. No sooner said than
done Hiring cab the Bots is reached. The
place is found closed They knock. One
waiter, two walters appear 'NLadeiral Port!
SherryP No: a ROOM A room at half-past
in the evening, 50 below zero! The two func-
toneries were in a quandary. Go ahead. quick
exclaimed Angel, helping his companion, all
wrapped up, to leave the carriage Between
you two fellows you will be well able to serve us
a supper. But first make fire. and
the couple entered dark passage, full of soil
tude and neglect whore the past gayeties of by
gone parties had left but dust aud sadness on
the naked walls. A door opened before them,
and they found themselves in the customary
'buen retro with the looking glass full of
names, and the soiled sofa. By the yellow color
of the candle which the waiter was holding the
place was vested with sad horror 1t was mel
ancholy spot, smelling more of mold than of the
atrocious remembrance of loves whose ephcmeral
vulgarity it had sheltered. The man tried to
light the gas, but the burners had not been used
for two months and the dry. half strangled
whistling which those brass mouths gave vent to
tainted the air without giving any light. Great
shadows projected from the candles fell on the
walls, and made of the looking-gla where their
tumultuous battles ended, dark lake, round
which a furnished varnish bordered the inky
darkness. Angel was grumbling.
The waiter as yet stupetied from surprise, was
trying to get the gas burning and, little by lit
tie, reminded of his professional duties by his
unnatural visit, was mechanically saying with
bis nose on the fixtures, pea soup. bisque, soup
a la Crecy-lobster, American style-Bordeaux
crawfish.'
Shut upr exclaimed Sarah, who was up in
the classics. The waiter was unmoved las
paragus he sighed, adding, as if coming out of
d dream, If madame would have the extreme
kindness to lend me pin perhaps l could sue
coed in freeing the burner The tragedienne
handed him a hairpin. The man opened the
narrow opening closed by the dust, applied his
candle, and clear light-lively, yellow blue
came out, filling the shadows of the room with
its warm rays. Then the cold was felt the more
by contrast Make fire Immediately. A fire
before all 1t was lighted. Naturally it did
not burn. Sarah repeated the words of Cam
bronze. This made the fireplace no brighter.
Madame will excuse me, said the waiter, but no
one ever comes here in winter, and the fireplace
is only there for ornament anyway Then he
blew the GOALS, kneeling before the rusty CRATE,
even pushing his mustache between the bars.
Sparks redeemed the black mass and a sharp,
thick, and heavy smoke penetrated into the
room. Then shall we say pOtage bisquer
Whatever you choose said Angel, impatiently,
who amply furnished with that caoric peculiar
to love- did not feel the cold creeping into his
bones. The dinner was frightful. However, the
two lovers did not notice this at first being en-
tirely occupied in wiping their eyes, for they
wept and coughed continually, strangled, suffo-
Gated, by the victorious smoke. A time came
when this was no longer endurable. Sarah,
whose fine eyes seemed by reason of weeping to
be bordered with anchoves,' following her
motto, left and ran to the window, which she
opened. The smoke struggled against this
invasion of cold air. 1t became thick formed
itself into an Opaque cloud then gathered about
the gas-burner, and finally towards the
ceiling, and breathing became possible For
minute this was keen endowment for the two
diners. but soon struck with the cold, the young
womans teeth chartered Angel rushed to the
window and shut it, but the smoke came down
again all at once and the chimney began to bech
forth fresh torrents. He was forced to open the
window again; then discouraged he went and
sat down by Sarah's side.
so SILVER dear love- said the comedienne;
hand me your overcOat' He obeyed Then
she took from the dish before her shrimp
Nxbie cba cIya1d inf A 5Ofo ,,,i,,
ute she stopped eating, and again her teeth chat
tered. Angel, whose love killed his appetite,
had meanwhile fallen on his knees and clasped
her in his arms Dear angel Dear treasure!
returned You have nothing more to put on
meP He took off his Jacket and covered her
limbs with it. She took another shrimp. DO
you love me-! he repeated, still on his knees
DO love you' and she raised her glass to her
lips, but without tasting it she set it down. On
my word, | am freezing. my love. My feet are
benumed.' He took off her shoes and wrapped
her ankles in his vest Then he continued: DO
you love me truly, really, my SarahF Can you
ask meF And she gave a little SILVER, esconsed
herself in the angle of the wall and trembled
again.
HE tried to find something which he could
still strip from himself, but could find nothing
better than to make collar for her of his arms
She condescended to SMILE Then you mean it,
you -P He did not finish. A sudden sneez-
ing tickled his nostrs. God bless you pped
HIS companion discovering u new dlSn But
Angel was unwilling to feel the cold which crept
into his shoulders and back. Dsmayed, stop
ping his nose with his handkerchief, he remained
in shrtsleeves and in the same place. embracing
his adored one beneath his overcoat How madly
in love l am And the sneezng continued
Sarah was no longer cold. She kept on eating in
good humor and shaking with funny laugh
whenever Angel sneezed. The poorfellow mean
while spoke through his nose and shivered with
red eyes. My Sarah. Atchi My
beautiful Sarah. | adore atcli
The comedienne spent an
hour at supper Romeo paid for it, by a cold in
the head. They kept up their loving talk. Why
should she trouble herself. Marasky continued
blind and deaf"