St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-05
BERNHARDT AS HOSTESS.
An American Journalist Oharmingly En-
tsrtalned by the Great Actress.
Souvenir Room in Which Each Object Has
an Interesting History.
sara Describes the Effect of Her Per-
sonality On Different People.
Her Favorite Audiences Found In the
Orient and Russia.


fnl professional tour OF this country it was
my pleasure TO do her service, which.
though slight, her kindness magni6ed.
She persisted in declaring herself under
deep and lasting obligations to me. Con-
sequently, when in Paris the following
summer sent brief note asking permits
sion to call upon her, sic claimed the right
to entertain me for Whole day.
found her in elegant apartments, charm
ingly dressed and in capital spirits. In less
than two minutes she was chatting like a
magpie. When the conversation turned upon
souvenirs. she said:
Come; must show you some of mine"
She threw open door and led me into a
fourth parlor. which was even more mag
nihcent and elaborate than the other three
which comprised her suite.
This. " she said. Il call my souvenir
room, Everything in it was given 10 me.
Carpets, rugs, hangings, furniture. engrav-
ingS. paintings, books, bric-a-brac all.
Thele is history To every piece you see,
and, to not few, a romano Ma foil l
will write book about them some day.
Poets, philosophers. cynics, preachers,
actors. lawyers. artists doctors. judges
there is no end TO the variety of occupations
represented. The chair you sit in was the
gift of the greatest man who ever lived
Victor Hugo. This sofa | lie upon re-
ceiyed one midsummer day from great
general. The world has linked his name
with mine unkindly-and falselv-so l will
not tell you who he is. The ottoman your
feet are on my mother made. Poor mother.
l have given her more cause for grief than
for joy!'
The moving associations of the souvenir
caf hal oil in q i'm xub oh
she was always careful to avoid. i hoped
that she wOnld say more.
How came you to adopt the stage as
profeSSion?" | asked.
She dashed the tears out of her eyes and
laughed.
Il had to-" she said; 81 could not help
playing. AS a child. if was denied bon
bOns | would feigh death, or illness, and so
IuniSh my nurse. My freaks and pranks
were all of the stage. Infant terrible was
a misnomer until | was born; made il
reality. think a demon came INTO the
world when | did. and sometimes he pos
seSes me. 1t is that which makes them
fear me sometimes when | am playing.
They need not tremble-mine is q good
natured Demon"
And then she laughed again.
Ibid you see me play in LondOn?"
No" | answered.
''NOr anywhere else except here and In
American"
Yes; once In Constantinople and once in
st. Petersburg"
'Ahl the players understand me In both
places. We get on well together. But in
England! They are positively afraid of me.
The first night it annoyed me; after that it
was fun
She clapped her hands and her eyes snap
ped with merriment.
Why scarcely dared looked at a man
sharply for fear that he would fall where
he should stand. There was one actor, all
old one. tOO-he told me he had been on the
stage for thirty years-whom l nearly
! frightened to death. IL was in a rage
scene. He had played the part a thousand
times before, but when drew my dagger
on him-ma fol he left the stage with
blOOdshOt eyes. The next night another
man was in his place. The poor veteran
was afraid would kill him, and he refused
to play with me again. Merci Dieu was
glad Of the change! The man who sue
ceeded him was young handsOme-and not
afraid of me-"
And then she rang for wine. Mile. Bern
hardt never talks very long without hel
wine.
1T burns out every other throat" she
said. ''but it strengthens mine"
Where, out of France, do you like play
ing best?"
''In the Orient"
"Why?"
'Parbleul it is the land of passion.
Company, audience, all are with me. No
one is terrified; no one repels me; nothing
restraints me. / show those fierce people
their lives. They recognize my art and
acknowledge my accuracy. We are all
content"
You like Russia, tOo?"
''YeS, but not so well. The people are
fierce enough, but theirs is a freezing
frenzy. 1t is PLAYING to ice rather than to
| fire. All is elaboration. Love, hate,
crime, religion, even revenge, lacks fervor
and impetuOsity. The Russians are in
tense enough and energetic enough, but
they have no spOntaneity. Like pendulums
| they swing-neyer slower, never faster
until they run down. Hard and pitiless,
they move like funeral trains. Half the
pleasure they get out of stage catastrophe
is in its prOlOngatiOn. No wonder. In
actual life they would have victim turn a
grindstOne while they whetted knife with
which to kill him. 1t is fiendish. 1t is ex-
asperating."
After stopping to drink a glass of wine.
she glanced at me and smiled.
"YOu must not look grave. / was not
speaking maliciously-I was drawing pic
ture of the Russians as they impressed me;
and l much doubt if my col0rs were laid on
too thick"
Il hope you did not find my country so
bad"
America? All! no. Now you touch a
tender spot and pleasant memories" she
said. kissing her hands to me. Next to
France and the Orient l love America
Nearly all Americans were kind TO me.
Some of them Tidiculed me. but so good
naturally that / could not get angry
Many of the souvenirs in this room were
given me in America. and if | told you the
names of some of the givers you would be
amazed. The Bible yonder with the gold
clasp was given me by a famous preacher.
He denounced me twice from his pulpit be-
fore seeing Inc. Finally some one urged
him to see me play one night. After that
ne watched my playing six times Of his own
accord, and one day he dined with me-.
When came away he gave me the Bible
He did not write his name in it, so you may
read his inscription on the fly leaf"
With more than ordinary curiosity I'M
clasped the book. / recognized the hand
VI no
American preacher. is better known.
You know who wrote itr' she ex-
claimed.
Il do"
''You must not mention it at home. 1
should be very sorry"
| assured her that my lips were sealed
upon that subject.
She thanked me, and asked if the writing
would be likely to betray the donor of the
book to other Americans.
informed her that it would