The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-04
STORIES OF BERNHARDr.
The Wonderful Woman Who ID "Fin
de steele" in Everything.
Paris Letter 10 Savannah Nexs

The Wonderful Woman Who ID "Fin
de steele" in Everything.
Paris Letter to Savannah News
Bernhardt's little scheme for applying a
live snake to her barred breast in the death
scene Of cleopatra" excites laugh in
the city which has become quite used to
being freshly fooled by her on the produc-
ton OF each fresh play. When Bernhardt
puts her genius at the service of her char
latanry the result is such glorious and
unique humbugging as only the boulevards
could appreciate, but which they love her
for. Parisians will not soon forget how
Bernhardt advertised one piece by going
to horse fair, buying two splendid horses
for her son. returning to Paris after mid
night and stabbing the animals, for lack of
other accommodations, in her magnifi-
Gently fitted studio. Next morning all
Paris was agog.
"How could you allow such wanton de.
struction ?'
"Ah," said the Bernhardt, her ewes
alight with maternal devotion, 'how could
deny Maurice anything?"
Nor has Paris yet done talking of how
she posed as an angel at Maurice's we'd
ding. ray of light sifted through stained
glass falling softly on her uplifted face as
she kneit at the altar wrapped in religious
ecstasy. This was almost as good an adj.
vertisement as the news which not so very
long ago startled all France-Bernhardt
had become insane. No, said mon.
sieurs. the journalists and dramatic
critics. you have deceived us too
often; this time We positively re-
fnse to believe one syllable. NJ. -, of
Figaro. Was especially firm in his position.
by the great gods he had sworn, and he
would stand by his oath, that Bernhardt's
which he controlled. But private informa-
ton came to him from sources deemed in.
corruptible, and he was brought to call on
Bernhardt to see with his own eyes, In her
bondoir, with lights turned down, she
Kept him waiting, and then bounced into
the apartment like one of her
own tiger-cats and leaned against the man.
tel, hair dishevelled, face haggard. features
blank and uninteliigent. fingers tire mbling.
her complexion was ghaslly, her ewes
wandering. Not word did she answer TO
his questions, but numb led to herself in
undertones. After little she dropped to
the floor, and lay staring into the tire. bah
ping. NJ. - was convinced. Next day
ne came out with Lamentations: a great
lignt had gone out: Pernnardt had had her
faults, put II would be long ere they looked
on her like again.
This was the moment for which Bern.
hardt mad been waiting. In two hours a
caIu from ner was IN every newspaper
office in the city. She was not insane: she
could not imagine how such a canard
started; her head had never been clearer.
as she hoped to convince the public by her
production of -, in which she should
open the week following. But none OF
her recent performances have eoualed
a somewhat earlier achievement.
There are gossips who still laugh az thew
remember how, after her marriage with
Damaia, the rumor got about Paris that
owing to domestic duties Bernhardt would
be unable TO finish her season. Fashion
writers who visited Worth. discovered
that IN good truth Bernhardt had
ordered complete outfit of new stage
dresses designed with the view of hiding
her inquire. Ii became the fashion TO
go and see the actress in those
gowns. Bets were up as to how MANY more
nights she would play, when suddenly,
without warning. as the interest reached
IT'S climax. the special wardrobe was thrown
aside Bernhardt laughed and Paris
laughed with her as it saw how well il had
been fooled.
There is only one Bernhardt. She is
unique. unapproachable. But with all her
quackery Paris remembers TO her credit
that she sincerely loved Damala. She
pulled him out OF the gutter, ana. in spite
OF much, at the end she mourned him.