The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-12
ale SntflLioellter.
once Nos. 20 and "a Fourteenth Street
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SARAH.
a Charming Description Of tho BernhaFdt

A Charming Description of tho Bernhardt
from Vienna Paper.
81. Jame, Gazette.
A lady contributor to Vienna news
paper gives an interesting account OF q
pleasant little interview which she has
had with Sarah Bernhardt, who is now
delighting by her performances the gay
inhabitants OF the Austrian capital.
Nine. Bernhard, we are told, likes, Of.
ter the French fashion, to receive and to
chat with visitors behind the scenes in
the intervals between the acts. st re-
freshes me" she says. In this, remarks
the writer, she differs from Austrian
actresses. The majority OF these are 80
nervous that when they are engaged
to play an important part in the evening
they never receive a visit during the day
nor converse with any stranger. Nine.
Barnhardt "does the honors" with the
utmost amiability.
She instantly surrendets the only
chair which her private room contains.
Approaching the mirror, which she has
surrounded with half q dozen candles III
order 10 study the effects OF light, she
quietly finishes her toilet. 1t never &C.
ours to her to make secret OF any one
OF its thousand little arts, and laugh
ingly replies to the visitors anxious
question whether her presence dfsturbs:
dWhat an idea! There arc no secrets
here. Everybody knows that we paint
o,,l ,,ou,ln. fos Tho uNoVa " Meantime
she chats away about all sorts OF things,
and willingly coniesses that she is flat
tered when any one praises her dresses.
~ love my dresses" she says; II take
such interest in them, it makes me glad
to think Of them and to arrange them"
Nine. Bernhard relates that she lin this
how unlike most other women) has Tor
years remained true to the same dress
maker, and has never had aQuarrel with
her.
Here the business manager arrives
and informs the artistic OF the distin.
guished persons who orc to be found
among the audience in the theatre.
Nine. Bernhardt had requested this in
formation, for on the occasion OF her
debut in "The Lady Of the Camellias'
she was in despair because, through
Ignorance Of their presence she had not
made special bow to the Crown Prince
and Princess, who had honored the per,
forlnance by their attendance. She in"
qnired carefully each evening whether
any actor is present from the Imperial
Theatre, and always asks TO be informed
where the artists OF that establishment,
when present, are seated, as also MS to
the whereabouts OF the newspaper
critics, so that she may bring them
beneath her glGnces during the progress
OF the play. And now comes the stage
manager, to announce that the stage is
all ready to begin, The interviewer has
still time to ask the actress what she
thinks OF the toilets Of the Vienna ladies'.
The answer was crushing. Nine. Bern.
hardt found that the Austrian ladies'
style of dress was bold and startling.
"But," she added, automatically, sit
suits them; and, moreover they seldom
exceed the bounds OF good taste"
The actress here left the stage, her
maid supporting her train and an at
tendant following with q small glass
glycerine, which Sarah de"
clares an unfailing means OF strengthen
ing and clearing the voice. 1T is really
not bad" she says, as in friendly fashion
she offers few drops to those around
to taste, an offer which no one seems
disposed TO avail himself OF. Here the
actress catches her stage cue, and has.
tens forward after hearty Eau revolr."
She plays without the aid OF n
who nevertheless is ut his
post, but only for the assistance of the
others. A quarter of an hour later the
actress returns 80 her dressing room
deathly pale, real tearseours'
ing down her cheeks, and says family:
Like the Lady of the CamelIias, l have
often wept whole nights" But her
weakness soon disappears, and five min.
utes later Nine. Bernhardt is again the
pleasant hostess in her room amid her
dresses.