The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-28

her haggard, nearly transparent Iace:
framed in gray hair, wore an e4press-oii Va
classic calmness, heightened by the white
of her eyeballs, a murmur OF aoHiif@'io
passed through the audience ~
Her role was short and tragic. She Ilau
to defend the virtue of her granddaughter;
vestale. against convinced accusers anu
afterward XIII her with her own manu- on
learning that the prIestess was leaS
guilty. Notning can be compared 10 the
fear trembling in her voice when she Con-
jured the judges to acouit her gFanu-
daughterl And when, pressing the yes
tale for the last time passlonately IN heI
arms, she searched with trembling mana
for the spot TO deal the fatal blow, oIu
blase, skeptic critics felt tear rolIlng
down their cheeks. After the old Roman
matron had left the stage there was a loud
murmuring in the theater for q minute.
Rachel" was the word passed from NOUN
to mouth.
The end of her career is universally
known. She has only need 10 don cos
tune with some startling combination Oh
cOlors and drive TO the Bots, ana soon al
ter it is wired to the remotest parts OF the
earth. She has created fashions-the
Swedish gloves reaching to the shoulders,
the directoire costume, etc. We ali kno"
her peculiar habit of wrapping herseu IN
a tight lifting dress draped IN stralght
vertical lines, and her long trains, the
strange scatfolding Of her hair, etc.
To her the actresses craze for dressing
is due.
Madame Doche, who created Camille"
wore dresses which altogether cost only
10000 francs, surely enough, but Bern
hardt's outfit cost 5000 francs. ;.
The only time | met Sarah Bernharde
personally was under very strange cir
cumstances.
My uncle, having married cousin OF
Rachel, enjoyed quite an extensive ac-
quaintanceship in theatrical circles. 90 IL
came to pass that on New ears Eve,
about 8 p. IN, a company OF about twenty
four people met by invitation at my uncle
villa. near Longlumeau, in the park OF
which stands the town where Adolphe
Adam composed his Position"
Sarah Bernhard was the hostess, my
relatives having placed the grounds at her
disposal for the evening. She arrived
accompanied by her son, Monsieur klVa
Bernhardt, a handsome but ettemlnate-
looking man, who spends his mother 5
income as quickly as she earns 1t. Inc
suppleness and nervous grace OF his mother
had been bequeathed TO him.
| watched her descend from the car
riage. Simply the way in which she man
aged her skirts breathed an atmosphere OF
the French theater and Partisan salon.
Entering the parlor she threw OF the
domino. She was. dressed IN so-called
Bernhardt gown, a loose dark blue CASH
mere with high collar and two rows OF
black fur down the front and V shaped
belt.
That exquisite touch of grace and light
ness she displayed in each of her move
ments. She moved as il she was playing 3
new role, having invested it with hum
dred cunning and original beguilements.
Her conversation, sparkling as champagne,
RI oiay nj T.
able draws of satire at the expense of
others. Her speech is emphasized by
pathetic accents and expressive mimicry,
but only a few gestures. If silent she
has always an air of being slightly bold.
Despite her genuine Partisan extravaganza
she behaves like the most refined society
lady, and all her intimate acquaintance
say that she is sedate aud even reticent,
The cause of our assembly was secret, but
We knew there was surprise in store for US.
In the courtyard heavy wagon was stand
ing and several footmen were busy carry
ing its mysterious contents to the sloping
lawn before the villa.
The time passed quickly in a gay con-
versation around the dinner table. To-
wards midnight We were requested to don
our outdoor garbs to take walk in the
park. Some of US could not help shaking
our heads at the prospect of leaving a
warm room for the snow-covered park.
Yet we wrapped up as best as we could.
Outside an unexpected spectacle awaited
US. A large number of logs were heaped
in huge pile and set fire to. A number
of camp chairs were spread out on the
ground. Several large silver bowls, half
filled with ice and rum, were placed at
random; they were waiting to be filled
with champagne.
1t was now few minutes to midnight.
We all waited breathless silence for the
stroke of - from the clock of the village
church. The champagne was uncorked
and poured into the bowls, and at the
same time very strange drinking vessels
were handed to us-human skulls plated
inside with silver. 4 murmur of aston
ishment mingled with the night wind.
Even Sarah Bernhardt's most intimate
friends were surprised, though it is gener-
ally known that she has ornamented her
rooms with dozen of skulls.
The drinking vessels were filled to the
brim, and now Nine. Bernhardt raised
hers high above her yellow head. At
this moment the clock began TO strike y;
lit rang out clearly in the frosty New
Years morning, and then our hostess
cried, Ladies and gentlemen, may all OF
you enjoy life in the new yeari"
We all shook hands wishing one another
a happy New Year.
Having overcome our first aversion to
drinking from human skulls, the strange
vessels were filled again and again, and
conversation waxed louder and more
boisterous. The flames rising from the
burning pile filled the grounds with the
quaint shadows of the surrounding trees
and threw ruddy light on our animated
| faces. At last, when the bowls were empty,
all mounted the old-fashioned staircase OF
the tower.
There lay the country wrapped in snow
in the dusk OF night, white plain under
a starlit SKY, dotted here and there with q
stretch of dark forest land, hghtened here
and there by a touch of color, the lights OF
a neighboring village. and at the horizon
the reelection of the innumerable illumin.
atoms of Paris.
Then the party broke up, mounted their
carriages and started Off at full gallon
over the deserted country roads to the
nearest depot. from where a special train
took them to Paris.
The HeaIthiest Section in the World.
CHICAGO, Oct "a public meeting of tbs