The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-18

20 ne asking for . part IN Cleopatra Ia
eadeavo-inx 20 ind-es ne 10 grsat her r@-
rnest she assured me TIA: shs had snaps
means 70 get the most elegant 81 dresses
Then said TO her: In s'Clsopaira- nv
dear. IL Is nor 50 much matter OF dress As
OF undress' This IL really true ihere
are only q few yards OF material in the six
gayrnents-tasy eza hardly oe csAseo
dress~s-fkzs I wear IN The pseee.
The rst costume in which | appear
continued Misc Davenport, II had maae
IN London IL Is OF white six gs1zs, en-
hrosdered in silver lotus The ooiice- o.
rather the eessus. for IL is really that ana
nothing rzscre. l. Of silver cloth sIa61e1
Sgta t1rguo-se.
The second costume I wear in Cleo
patra' Is Simply I've yards Of shrimp pax
creme. with q hand on one edge OF cAoseiy
ses sapphire. snd cismosds. Ga my head
wear the sacred IBIS Of the Egyptians
composed Of jewels On each Of my tn
gers and my thumbs I wezr great barbara
rings Of gold ses with gems.
sSThe third costume in which appear Is
purple crepe slip thickly embroidered
With lotn. blooms ia seed pearls. Win
this wear only diamond jeweiry and no
hesi-iress. next appear IN slip OF red
crepe xith belt and hesd-dress OF tiger
skin and wearing ornaments Of gold IN
barbsric forms.
The next costume in which make my
Appearance. 4" said Miss Davenport, Us Of
itself one Of The most beautiful have. IL
is white crepe hand embroidered in an all
over-yiue design This / had followed IN
the tiniest spangIes that are made. With
tais wear a jeweIIed IBIS on my breast
and another a heat-dress. The last
costume in which ! make my appearance
is a white aruure six with crystal beads
intsrsoven The skirt and cestus, which
is al there n Of il, weighs fifteen pounds.
With this wear sapphIres, erneraIds and
diamonds
''fou see" continued Miss Davenport,
"that what said about the dressing is
quite true--it Is really more jewels than
gowns. However. little as there i. Of il,
| have given great deal OF time 10 study.
10 enable me 70 design IT. | believe have
read everything that has been published
on the subject OF Egypt | have. with all
the rest had the benefit Of Sardou's books
On the subject"
Indeed, yes" said Miss Davenport in
answer 10 q question in regard to her ac-
gaaintanee With Sariou, II know him
well. | was his guest at his country home.
| shall never forget any of the incidents
connected with my arrival there. He
sent his carriage for me, and IS We drove
up he came down TO the gate TO welcome
me. On either side OF the broad walk
leading to the entrance of the house are
great stone sphinxes which were brought
from Egypt. Leaning on his arm, | went
fCF ssrH basVr zfra~ HSr
OF remote civilization, and at the door
was greeted by his charming wife. He has
three children and his domestic relations
are very happy.
"sardou is now something more than 50
years of age. His hair is black. slightly
tinged with gray, and il is so long that it
reaches well down on his shoulders. His
eyes are dark and as bright as jewels. His
hands are particularly noticeable. being
white. slender and shapely. lie is very
intense and dramatic, and when he talks
he becomes so earnest and vehement that
he gesticulates with his head as well as his
hands until his long hair flies about like
name.
"He is really wonderful man and do
not think that be has been given the credit
he deserves in connection with Cleopatra.
III - ulsitEnit 10 take SUBJECT So hack
neyed and bring anything satisfactory out
OF 1t. Sardoa has, however. ennohled
Cleopatra has made her consistent
character that can be portrayed. The
Cleopatra OF Shakespeare is wholly incon-
sstent, she Is everything and nothing.
No living woman could adequately inter
pref Shakespeare's Cleopatra. Sardou
shows US grand and wonderful woman
that is quite trne TO the possible. 4
friend Of mine living in Paris. who is also
friend of Sardou. when she knew THAI
l was preparing TO appear in the play.
wrote me: Whatever you do. make her
a grand creation, even as are the pyramids
OF her native Egypt. | have borne this
charge in mind and have also given es-
pecial attention to each part OF the play to
make IL historically correct. As, for In
stance, those who were bondmen in Egypt
were required TO keep their hair closely
sheven, with the execution of the mu-
slcians. dancers and cup bearers, who were
encouraged to display all their charms.
This is but one of many things I have OBJ
served in making the play as near rs is
possible a coordinate, complete and cor
rect Interpretation"