The sun., 1890-01-26
BERNHARDrs OWN ACCOUNT OF IT.
The Actress Tells . Reporter All About
Her Joan OF Are.


Her Joan or Are.
A reporter OF the Paris Figaro recently
asked Sara Bernhardt: "Is there any truth In
the story that 1t was in consequence Of the
receipt OF q letter from lady. the mother OF Q
family. that you resolved to play Joan o.
Arcp" To which Sara replied:
There is some little truth In II, but 1t is moi
the whole truth. In tho month OF August last
when was In the country resting-you smile
because the word rest sounds strangely In
my mouth. and, in truth. 1t appears more
strange to me than to you-one OF your con-
fr1res. who is also friend Of mine, brought
me the letter OF q very amiable woman, the
mother Of three children, two daughters and a
son. She complained that her children had
never been able to see me play, because
my repertoire was composed Of pieces a
little too-how shall say 1t Pa little too fast.
Why can't Sarah Bernharut.' she said, play a
piece. even as an exception, that everybody
can see and 10 which we can bring our chill
dren who would wish to see her and applaud
herr pass all the laudatory formulas that
you can imagine. When people write to art
istes or for artistes, they have the habit OF
using what the Chinese coll golden ink. Let
ters OF that kind l have received, as you can
easily imagine. by the hundred. and that for
many years. / might carpet an entire room
with them. like the good old priest Of long ago
whose name have forgotten and who did pre-
cisely that with the bonds Of the first republic.
In reality. / rather agreed with that good
lady, for know that there is q certain public
that my repertoire cannot attract, and that
would be glad to know me, and with whom
am really too little acquainted. But where this
letter hit the mark, as We say familiarly. and
set in vibration the most sensitive notes OF the
keyboard. was when she added, Why can't
Sarah Bernhardt play Joan OF Arcr" Now. for
ten years or more l have been haunted by that
desire. The figure OF the great French heroine.
the great national saint, attracted me and fas-
cinated me. ! have studied it without truce.
that it suits me we'll and that it is one OF the
most complete creations that could rep
Bowen rsSSae as " l0SS Woman anus and al my ~ heart
say to you that have read and rereqd with
passion everything that has been published
about Joan OF Arc both In france and abroad;
and lately have stretched my scruples TO the
@ certaiN N German doctor. very ~ srouty gro % Gentle
man. who would prove to us that Joan OF Arc
never existed; Maybe in few hundred years
there will arise another doctor, more learned
than this one who will prove that Napoleon |.
never existed, and that the French army was
Jules BARRIERS piece was decided upon by
my director and myself IN the first place because
It is tneatricaL We iind in it the hand of
step by step the historical legend as one
should do Wien dealing With such 4 subject.
ny taste 20 at east fop it seems to me that What
the spectator demands above all is hat the
great he oine may be presented under her dit
witness the diverse phases Of her life; in word,
hat there may be materialiZed i?r him the
Ideal The i is too well
llumine II with useless colors, or to add any
hing to the simple story. 1t is so dramatic IN
imagine ma Would be far below the reality.
axe one exam lie; In BARRIERS play there
s a tabieau which in itself is marvel. reSel-
Ltion. l moan the prison scene whore loan
onirDnts her accusers; In this the author has
al elully collected all the replies OF tho heroine
oriane. 1t is not he who makes Joa1t speak.
nut 1t 10 Joan herself who speaks. And there
ursts IS SO eu Sublime In that defy any one s to wit wit
ess the scene with Warwick without feeling a
enuine emotion. For my part l can Dever
The author has endeayore4 to make a sort
( synthesis OF the life OF Joan OF Arc. and he
Se ts the 5ee
'hich, cover in rapid strides The astounding
.gend of La Purcelle AS TO the score. uounod |
hing that might give it AN operate turn and |
nhancing and.the melod ramatic music.
Now. II you wish to know why the role Of
oil you. / am somewhat Of a Chauviniste- |
obudy is perfect. adore my count y, and for |
10 Joan is it's purest pers"nitication. can
urselves ut the other side Of the world |
, know how we love this dear. dear old cor
lis beloved laud that We cannot carry with the
oles OF our shoes, but that Is ever present in
leir heroes. but they all resemble zach other
Dan Of Arc simply resem lies herself. She is
lrs and ours only. She Is the national hero
le i know no figure in history more beauti-
Il. more touching more heroic. l would be
ether an artist nor Frenchwoman II did
ea OF representing the great inspired one to
hom we owe the salvation and even the ex-
tence OF our country. Now aust listen TO this.
I'd consolation: l know nothing more beau
full or more patriotic"
ess arose and declaimed In that voice OF gold
I'd with n real emotion the beautiful lines in
10 iith tableau. which form nothing more nor
'dn to her Judges when they announced to
'r that she was going to be burned. When
enthusiasm her eyes were filled with tears.
. Bravow said the reporter. that Is splen-
d. But do you really weep?"
l wish to move others | must myself--you
low the iormu a.
: " o. One 81 more question: How DO you, under
.ht do you egard the character 2"
: ! am neither PHILOSOPHER nor historian.
gard Joan in theatrical aspect: For me She
Il mysterious figure aboye all Inspired and
ystic. She Is sort OF halIucinated creature.
ecstatic girl that goes on to q fatal destiny
ided by u will which she cannot resist. As q
lrrior she has a horror of bloc and never
Avs her sword. 1t is with q banner in her
nd that she leads her soldiers to victory.
ion, the aim attained. the divine mission ac-
she becomes a woman again. The
aracter Is TRANSFORMED and once more finds
human traits, 1t seems to me that J oan OF
c is personaRe Of mystery rather than tho
roine OF drama That is how Understand |
3 character and that is how endeavor to
present It."
PRETTY COLORED NURSE.