The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-31

and there she remained until she was
16 years of age. In the convent her I'M
governable temper and many eccentric
tiles early displayed themselves, and she
made life miserable for the sisters. In
1861 she would stay no longer; she left
the convent and decided to fit herself for
the stage. She entered the National Con-
servatory and studied under such
masters as Provost and Samson, and
two years later took the first prize in
tragedy. This gave her admission to the
Theater- Francois, and there she made
her debut. Her appearance was not
marked by any particular manifestation
of genius, but she remained on the stage,
all the time growing in power and ris-
ing in the estimation of the people and
the critics. In 1867, in one of her unac-
countable freaks, she disappeared, and
for some time nobody knew where she
was or what she was doing. When she
returned to the stage she quit the Com
edie-Francaise and went to the Odeon.
There she appeared in long succession
of different characters, such as Anna
Dandy, CQrdelia, Zanette and others
of like nature, and by 1863 her fame had
begun to spread and she was looked upon
as a worthy successor of the great
Rachel. People were awed by the in
tensity of her genius, and Victor Hugo,
Dumas fills, and Sarcey chanted her
praises. She was known now through
out France as a great actress, but her
reputation had not spread abroad as it
did when she dazzled the world by some
of her subsequent performances.
During the war and the siege of Paris
she left the stage. Indeed all the thea
ters and public buildings were turned into
hospitals. She left the stage only to don
the gown of the nurse, and she devoted
herself to caring for the sick and wound
ed In this new character she displayed
some of those qualities of heart for
which the French people like her and
which the outside world does not know
she possesses.
"In 1872 she was given the part of Marie
de Newburg in Ruy-Blas by Victor Hugo
and then she made the triumph that gave
her an unapproachable position among the
great tragediennes of the world. Her per-
formances were a wonderful, magnih-
cent one, and she returned to the Theater-
Francois to be made an associate, that is
to share in the profits of the institution.
Here she was cast in parts that enabled
her to show the unrivaled scope of her
genius and to develop all her latest power.
In the great play, THE Sphinx" she did
wonderful work, and it was then that
by everybody she was assigned to a, place
in the front rank amongst the great trag-
ediepnes of the country. She ranks with
Adrienne Lecouvecur and Rachel. As
"Phedre' she played a part in which
Rachel made one of her great successes.
In. speaking of this impersonation Victor
Hugo said: Rachel gives the fourth act
with more energy than did Bernhardt, but
in the first three acts she is Incompatible,
greater than Rachel. wonderful, magnifi-
cent. She acted all the plays of Sardou
and many of those of Dumas fills. AS we
have seen Sarah is not gifted with an
angelic disposition. During her reign at
the Comedie-Francaise her ungovernable
temper made things very unpleasant for
everybody. She was naughty and over
hearing to those beneath her and absolute
Nv Indifferent to those equal with her in po-
sition. if not in talent. She could not be
controlled, and finally, in 1879, she grew
tired and quit the Theater-Francais, in
spite Of her contract She was sued and
compelled to pay a fine of $4,000, but did
not care for this, for money to her has no
value and she has made and spent enor-
nous sums In 1850 and 1892 she made an
American tour and since that time has
produced Sardou's plays and some or
Dumas at other theaters, principally
at the Porte ST. Martin. Now she Is play
ing at the Renaissance. one OF the finest
theaters Of Paris
Bernhard has made millions In her
life and spent them with a lavish hand.
She gave and stii gives her money TO
whomsoeyer applies for aid. She does not