The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-24
SARAH BERNHARDT.
An Interesting Interview With
The Great Actress.
HER ESTIMATE OF HENRY IRVING.
She Talks About Mrs. james Brown Potter
Her Mourning Dress-Where She Ii YES
-FaVorite Characters.


Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch.]
New YORK, Sept. %. - The H,rald's
special cable says: Mime Bernhardt is at
home'' was the reply yesterday in answer to
the Herdld's correspondents call at Sarah's
residence in Boulevard Pereire.
From the moment the visitor enters the
porte cochere of Sarah's residence he is
charmed with the novelty of the surround
ings. At the doorway there is a large mat
which bears the word ''salve." The door.
bell is a curious wrought iron, ivy garland
suspended from the top of the door frame.
Both in the studio and inner room, which
looks into the dining room, there is an air
OF domestic felicity surrounding all. Sarah
has the faculty of keeping her visitors wait
ing long time before she descends, but
she has amply provided for their amuse-
ment while waiting
1t is weird sort of amusement that she
has provided, such strange, odd looking
things Animal skins hang from all cor
ners and sides of the studio walls, which
have background of red, but they are
draped with tiger skins and adorned with
armor, sketches and several paintings. A
large pastel portrait of Sarah in a la
tosca' gown, bearing the salon No 2,622,
stands on an easel in one corner On
small Louis Fifteenth sofa is carelessIy
placed beautiful bit of street lands cape by
Augusta Joliet.
The correspondents reflections were at
last disturbed by the approach of Sarah in
Widows weeds from behind some Japanese
hangings. She wore long and plain black
crepe gown made after her own design
Her waist was encircled by black Jet belt;
her loosely arranged sleeves were full, but
finished at the wrists by close fitting cuffs
OF black jet, designed with marguerites
These sleeves are long, reaching almost to
the knuckles and finished in points over the
back of the hand. Such is the striking
mourning garb designed by Nine. Bern
hardt for herself and which will be the style
in vogue during the coming season.
You are welcome said Nine Bern
hardt-Damala, extending both hands Il
am sorry have kept you waiting, but you
must come to the table with me and chat
while we are eating" After greeting her
other waiting visitors, our hostess pre-
sented her guests to her family circle,
among whom were Maurice Bernhardt,
Nine. Jerka- Bernhardt and Mile. Bern
hardt a niece of Sarah's.
The table was a marvel of beauty with
white roses and delicate sprays of white
blossoms AT each plate was tiny glass,
the holder embossed with forget me-nots
and containing white rose.
sit on my right" said Sarah to the
Herald correspondent as she took her place
at the head of the table in straight, high
backed, black walnut chair which. She
said, had been used by her at the Coincide
Franchise when she was playing La File
de Rolante."
The conversation at once turned upon the
why and wherefore of Mrs. James Brown
Potter's temporary retirement from the
stage. at is not good thing'' said Sarah.
'Mrs. Potter will lose prestige. for she will
be greatly out of practice OF course if she
is i'll, she cannot play, but | think it is
pity she should be obliged to break away
from regular work which will hinder pro
gresS. She IS very pretty woman" con
tinued Sarah, land l shall be sorry if she
gives up altogether, although l have never
seen her play"
"WhOi is your favorite among the profess
sionals!"
"Ah, Henry Irving, replied Sarah. ''He
is the greatest actor of the day. | always
keep his photograph on the table in my
writing room. Ellen Terry is also charm
ing, but lacks strength of voice"
After breakfast the Herald correspondent
was permitted to go through the house,
first into the bureau, a small COSY room on
the second floor adorned with family pho
tographs, including that of the fair Sarah's
late husband, NJ. Damala. There were
also photographs of Sarah Bernhardt and
Mrs. Langtry taken together, of Mrs.
Potter, Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. a
SumptuOuS bath room connects the bureau
with the dressing room, which is com
pletely upholstered in ecru creton The
dressing table was Uttered with an
abundance of handsome toilet articles,
many OF them being o IvenirsIOf artists and
admirers.
Leading from her room to the front of
the house is Sarah's sleeping room. It
beggars description, for it is a gorgeous
a artment, hung with helOtrope velvet
and plush, and regal enough for queen
The ceiling, painted by Clairin, is a mass of
gold and purple flowers. The carpet is OF
velvet of the same color, Figured with
gold tieurs de lis. The bed Is a superb
antique piece of furniture, canopied aud cur
tanned with heliotrOpe plush and gold. The
white bed cover is of rich velvet, elab-
orately embroidered with gold. There are
no tournaments or lietures. save small
sized oil portrait of Damala, recently
painted by Louise Abbear
On returning to the studio, Sarah said:
''WOuld you like to see what l am doing
nOw!'' at the same time uncovering her
clay model of the head of Damala, which,
though still unfinished, is stril Jag work
1uere IS Il ring Ol real paGnOS III oarah' s
voice when speaking, as she did frequently,
of Damala, of his good qualities and charm
ing disposition.
"Will you remain in Paris all winter}"
ayes, am very happy here and like my
home and do not care about travelling. I
shall play at the Porte Saint Martin all
winter and go to America in March,
Which is your favorite playa
81 like all my roles. but especially Theo-
dora, Fedora and LaTosci. In eight days
we begin Theodore