The Indianapolis journal., 1896-02-19
SARAH BERNHARDT.
A Remarkable Woman Who Has Suc.
cessfully Dehed Time.
+ ,eysc

cessfuliy Dened Time.
Harpers Weekly.
Again Is Madame Bernhardt with US. Is
ever the number Is or might be, her well
come is nothing IL not satisfactory TO her.
Whatever the Limitations i'm an actress's
artistic theory or practice, this great
French one still Is the most detached, the
most conspicuous dramatic figure OF the
day. However she has relinquished the most
classic and lofty ideafin her profession. yet
is she an imperial member of it. Stia is
she in the public eye the most dominant in
dividuality on the stage OF her own coun-
try, of Europe, OF any other continent. Few
players have come to be ranked as her
rivals and OF them none has managed to
eclipse her. fF
Time has been singularly amiable toward
this masterfui, restless, exceptional woman
For was il not as far back as 1874 that
Rosine Bernhardt, now known IN by the s firmer
busy world? No nearer date than 1852 was
it that saw her (as we see her in one por-
uilting from the Conservatoire. a slender.
romantic-looking young Jewess. green-eyed.
oval of face, lavish in her auburn chevelure-
ont seasIp ber real i personaty before Paris al
beit at Madame Agars side, when she
played Zannetto I'm lie Passant, to be the
towns sudden talk in 1863. In 1872 the
Theater Francais sets its new star in thot
noblest of environment. Some three years
later she is a societaire. And then comes
saof Moiiere; peiu the flight % so ~ passionate yet
shrewd: that scuttling away from a SUI
preme national theater to be the cynosure or
the world; the artist before the largest pub
lie that any player ever has known. Yes.
there needed to be gallant entente be-
tween Bernhardt and time. For; diminish
wears since the C0mede break has shs
acted managed. studied. traversed and re.
traversed half the world; been appiaudeo
from st. Petersburg TO San Franclsco'
placed before the non-French as well as
the French races notable things in Frances
drama, whether classic or romantic or meio-
cised. caricatured, Initiated. abused. pane
gryzed adored. No, decidedly, this is NOT
an affair of a season or SO; So, ss~., psrn-
hardt once met She laughed at MIN, look
away his scythe then detained the love
CONQUERED. SoIemnly he gave her flask.
II was filed from the Fountain or Youth.
1t is the only such bottle in existence FOR
a while she used IL. Now she mas misiald
II. II is no longer necessary.
In such connection. withal. IL Is interesting
to notice changes in her outer self-the more
star st The. excessive fragility. those gaunt
anguaritiess that were the bait or the satir-
ist they are no more 10 be seen. or drswn
and painted. The hemorrhages and nervous
exhaustions and long faintings that newt
ally accompanied her rehearsals ana per-
formances have passed away. Inc TOO thln
woman that was like an ivory carving that
was all profile and fragility. has gained a
robuster physique. Yet it still is one ever
0iStinguee. ever OF SluSuldF Ftllutulcnl dfisl
almost fluid grace. One might believe that
her steel will. her indomitable resolve to
live. TO triumph. had made her body recog-
nIze its subsection TO her mind and change
an ominous frailty OF habit TO reasonable
vigor.
Her golden voice. which ranges from q
treble OF crystal quality 10 almost bari-
tone organ. her purity of diction. be IL in Ra-
cine's verse or colloquial drama OF the
day-they are exceptional and vibrant
and skllfully maintained as ever. One TRADE
from Cornelle or Racine or DE Bornier or
Coppee is lesson when from her lips. Her
mastery Of stage art Is as entire. Her intel
lectual quickness and grasp OF the tneatricai
contents OF a scene are supreme. Her Tenn
in the present complete maturity OF her life.
her art is at its completest maturity sne
abdes as during past years, an artist hors
ing to French standards; creature OF her
world, for whose nearest parallel We must
call up not Pierson. not Bartet. not Tes-
sander, not even Nine. Agar that special
predecessor and protectress whom she has
Just honored so affectionately). but Ristori.
Rachel, Duchesnois. Georges and that mar
velous Adrienne Lecouvreur, legend or
whose theatrical career has given her an
appealing role OF contemporary COM
edennes. Signora Duse Is the only one that
wisely can be placed near her. But certain
traits and the national theaters scope ana
the repertory of the Italian actress DO not
maintain the comparison with much nicety.
Sarah Bernharct Is yet alone. save when
comma nioned by certain great shadows
stali.ing out of the past She is still apart.