Arizona republican., 1891-05-03
OUR FRISCO LETTER Graphic Description of the Presidents Visit. All Was In a Blaze of Glory
 There. Mir. Merritt Talks on Actresses and ActOrs-His Opinion of
 Bernhardt.
Regular Correspondence of THE REPUBLICAN.

Wltu llSut. ENSiy ohiP was ouehhSN with Chinese lanterns or bright with colored lights. Bonfres blazed on the hill tops, the city front sprang into light, rockets and bombs formed network of fire across the sky, paling the stars, the search light of the Charleston flashed hither and thither, while the guns of the big, white war ship boomed the Presidential salute.
 It was a glorious welcome for the Lead of the greatest nation of all the nations of the earth.
 The arrangements were perfect and were perfectly carried out. The Pied mont left the Oakland mole at a quarter of eight last evening with the Presiden- tlal party on board. The harbor was dark, and seen from the boat the city presented no unusual appearance. But just as the Piedmont rounded Goat island three rockets were sent up from the bow which, bursting, sprayed the sky with red, white and blue fires. It was the signal for the welcome to begin, and the response was magical. So thor oughly had every detail been perfected, the illumination was complete almost in an instant, and the Piedmont carried the President between two lines of ves- sels like lines of fire, while the bay was alive with brilliantly illuminated small craft bearing sight seers cheering them selves hoarse.
 At the ferry house, at the foot of Mar ket street, the President was met by Mayor Sanderson, who presented the distinguished guest with the freedom of the city engraved on gold card. Then the carriages were entered and the line of march through the densely crowded street was taken up.
 Market street, from the ferry to the pavilion, was so densely packed at s o'clock that it caused one to wonder how the procession would get through. Peo- pie on the sidewalks, people on the housetops, people on telegraph poles, and people at the windows. Everything submerged in sea of humanity. Build ings were illuminated in every conceiv- able manner. Every telegraph pole was made to carry two electric lights. At every street corner was a stand burning red fire. Wagons moved slowly up the street through the crowd, discharging bombs and rockets and mines of Roman candles. It was magnificent display.
 Now cheers are heard far down the street and the rockets shoot thicker and faster and the colored fire shines bright CT. Nearer and nearer sound the cheers and then came the mounted police pushing the crowd back to the side walks. It is a hard task, for the people are wedged closer than the proverbial oysters in a barrel, but the full width of the street is cleared. Then come the military, horse and foot, the fires gleam- ing brightly on gold lace, bayonet and sabre. The street is light as day. The people just below us are cheering now. We see troop of Uncle Sans cavalry and now, surrounded by the veteran guard, we see the chosen chief magls- trate of over sixty millions of people standing in his carriage uncovered, lowing right and left to the cheering thousands. And such cheering, the very air shivers with the glorious strain. There are no Democrats here now, no Republicans, all are patriotic Ameri- cans, proud to do honor to the man whom they have elevated to the noblest office in the wide world, at once the greatest servant and the greatest ruler.
 Then comes line of carriages, two and three abreast. Governor Markham is riding modestly along, but he is recog- niZed, and he, too, has to rise and bow in response to the cheers with which he is greeted.
 After the carriages, came more troops, and the numbering artillery, guns and cassions. Then the crowd closes Tn and the street is once more filled from wall to wall.
 The President was taken to the pavil. ion, where, for two hours, the people marched past him, between two lines of troops, entering at one end and leaving at the other. The people were kept constantly moving, and fully 15,0O0 passed in review. At Il o'clock the President was driven to his hotel, escorted by a volunteer guard of honor of several hundred, running beside, be fore and behind. The streets were not empty yet and the President was almost as loudly cheered as earlIer in the even- ing.
 They are coming our way now. Be- sides the President, we have with us the greatest living actress, Sarah Bern hardt. She is playing at the Grand Opera House, and is crowding the thea tre at every performance. She has given us La Tosca," and tonight pre- sents "Jeanne d'Arc." Next week "Cleopatra." She is wonderful ac- tress, and without peer. She expresses emotions in her face with an almost painful realism. No one else has her marvellous power. She is the queen of the stage.
 It is pity that her plays should be of such unhealthy quality. But it is true that no other plays at present existing could give such scope for her magnificent art. They were written for her, with scenes beyond the power of any other actress, by the greatest living dramatist, Sardou; perhaps may Say the greatest emotional dram atist that ever lived. Of course l do not mean to rank Sardou as superior to Shakespeare, the man who probed every well of the human soul, on general prin- ciples, but as the creator of intense and sustained dramatic situations, do not think the equal of Sardou has ever lived. If he would only apply his powers to the production of works with out the unhealthy, immoral taint.
 A week ago last night the Powell street theatre was reopened, under the management of Mark Thall and Ali Ellinghouse, with a production by the new stock company of an intensely high-colored melodrama entitled Mas. ter and Man." Richard Mansfield pro. duced this play in New York, and now
 have seen the piece am compelled tC FsHpnder-what for. The play has one gery strong character, Humpy Logan leformed in body and mind, and this i, Y. &3lp na ri which Mansfield nlayad Rut