Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-16
BATTLING WITH BERNHARDT.
Nine. Noirmont's Amazonian En-
counter with the Divine Sarah.


Pdris Letter in the NeaD York World.
PARIS, July 31.-Every body in Paris is
gossiping at present about the Bernnardt-
Noirmont scandal in Rio Janeiro. There
are various versions of the affair, but two
points are clear from the mass or cores
-p0ndence on the incident-that Sarah
found it necessary to horsewhip one OF
her artistes, and that she denounced In
language more expressive than polite the
| Brazilian Magistrate for refusing TO con-
sign Mime. Noirmont to dungeon with
out trial or hearing.
Nine. Noirmont was a member OF Sa.
rains troupe and engaged at the rather
slender salary Of 500 month. She had
never played in public previous to this
engagement, and she was better known In
Paris for her remarkable beauty than for
her dramatic qualities. While perform
ing in the theatre of San Pedro di Aloan-
tara, Rio, she found her role too fatigu-
ing and resolved to leave the company.
On the morning of July 20 Nine. Bern
hardt, on entering the theatre, foundiM me.
Noirmont engaged in packing her trunks.
Sarah upbraided her for her ''treason" in
thus deserving her in a strange country,
and NOirmont replied In language that
the Paris journals could not print. Two
days afterwards Nine. NoirmOnt was
stopped on leaving the theatre by one OF
the employees of the company, who in
formed her that he could not allow any
thing to be taken out without an order
| from his superiors. Nine. N0irmont re-
entered the theatre with the porter
and asked him who had issued
| such an order. Sarah Bernhardt,
who was standing on the peristyle with
| GARNER, the director OF the company, and
several artists, stepped forward and de-
clared that she had given the order, "be-
cause she, Nine. Noirmont, mad slowed
away in her trunks things which did not
belong to her." Nine. NolrmOnt replied
to this accusation by Shaping Sarah's
cheeks. The other artistes Immediately
rushed in, secured Nine. Noirmont
and led her first to the police station
and then to the sub-delegado. For an hour
the magistrate listened to the accusa-
tions and explanations of both parties
and to the dispositions of the witnesses.
The Judge then, through an interpreter,
requested Sarah, who was vehemently
denouncIng every body, to wait an instant
in order to attach her signature to the
document he was drawing up, when the
great artistic leaned forward and shrieked
in his face: ''You are only an old fool, an
old imbecile, and l will have no more to
do with you"
Nine. Noirmont was dismissed on bail
of 1000. That night she was to appear
The scandal had meantime spread
throughout the city, and the theatre was
| crowded with an eKpectant audience.
Sarah acted superbly, though at times, 1t
is SAID, she appeared convulsed with an
ger, and whenever she caught glimpse
OF Noirmont her eyes shot fire. On the
fall OF the curtain Sarah started precIpi-
lately for her lodge, but unhappily, as she
stepped into the coulisse, she met her
hated enemy face to face. "Que fditeS-
UOus iciF' shrieked the ''divine Sarah"
"Je ne ueur pas de CHEM"
This polite sentence was interrupted by
| NoirmOnt, who aimed a slap at Bern
hardts face. Meantime NJ. GARNER and
Maurice Bernhardt seized Nine. Noir-
mont and held her arms pinioned, while
| Sarah, who had procured a whip, admin
istered seven or eight Dging lashes on
her enemy's face, each one leaving an
ugly red mark. Nine. NoirmOnt rushed
out OF the theatre screaming with rage
and pain and hurried towards her hotel.
On reaching the Ruas do Teatro she
| was met by Maurice Bernhard and his
cousin, who grossly insulted her in pres
ence of a large tbrong of people. This
last act of aggression aroused general IN
dignatiOn, and was denounced by the
editor of Rio journal, who Glanced to be
a witness OF the scene. Young Bernhard
sent the editor a challenge to mortal COM
bat next morning, and the editor replied
| by sending pair OF rattle-boXes to the
two beardless braves.
The day after the horse-whipping Incl
cidept Nine. Noirmont lodged a complaint
against Nine. Bernhardt and her friends
for assault and for contempt Of court.
Meantime NJ. GARNER served notice on
Nine. NOirmOnt TO appear at the theatre
and sign the annulment of her contract.
This Nine. Noirmont refused to do, but
as she had some personal business to at
tend to in the theatre she Went there, ac-
companied by two policemen for her pro-
lection. Sarah and her companions were
served with summOnses to appear in court,
and both artists chose their lawyers for
the trial.
The affair created a sensation among
all classes of society in Rio and every
body took sides. The entire staff of the
Italia-an Italian journal published in
Rio-issued notice declaring that if
Nine. Noirmont could not find defender
among her own companions, or
among the aristocracy of Rio, "she could
come at any hour and choose a defender
from among the staff of the Italia"
1t appears from recent dispatch from
Rio that the affair was settled without
legal proceedings. At all events Sarah
escaped Imprisonment, as she is now in
Buenos Ayres performing with extraor-
ulnary eclat ana success. Her RiO scan
DIAL only adds piquancy to her attrao-
tions, and, as appears from the benefit
accorded her in that city on Aug. 8, be-
fore leaving, only heightened her popu-
larity. A hundred students came
down from San Paulo to present the great
artistic with an album and numberless
floral tributes, and all the schools of Rio
turned out to do her honor. There were.
SAYS Rio dispatch, oratlons and poems
and congratulations illimitable and in
imitable, and Sarah was called every
thing sweet, good and great that the crazy
poets could imagine.
Even poor old Emperor Dom Pedro lost
his mental equilibrium in the delirium of
general rejoicing, and sent for Saran and
presented her with costly bracelet set
in brllliants. The series of honors was
crowned by high society journal, the
aesthetic Semana, issuing special edition
containing Sarah's praises, printed on
silk and inclosed IN rich covers of plush.
The Hotel at Buffalo Lithia Springs,
! Virginia, under the new management
BIDS fair TO become noted as the finest of
all Southern resorts. The water has long
been acknowledged as the most beneficial
OF all the Virginia waters.
I