The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-11
SARAH BERNHARDT.
The Celebrated Actress Received the
Homage of France.

Homage of France.
There is no doubt about the fact that
among the famous women that tho mod
ern stage has brought forth Sarah Bern
hardt is the most celebrated. Her name
Is familiar in every part of the civilized
world, and TO peoples taat have never
witnessed nor ever expect TO see her per-
formsnces, her achievements in art are
we'll known.
Who Is this wonderful woman that in
her old age Is still youthful. still beauti-
iul, still figure of universal interest and
applause? Her mother was a Dutch
Jewes her father French gentleman,ac
complisbed and OF taste for tne arts.
Nine. Bernhardt brought Is children into
the world, of whom only three. inherited
their fathers qualities. Regina Bern
hardt was dancer at the opera. Jano
Eernhardt was an actress at the Vaude-
Vile aud Odeon theatres. Ssrah Bern
hardt was baptized a Catholic, and spent
her early years In the Convent of Grand
champ Versailles. she ran away from
the convent, resolved to become an
Conservstcire and recited "Les Deux
Pigeons" She had not delivered half a
dCzen lines OF Ia Fontaine's faols before
nj. Auber enthusiastically welcomed her as
pupil In the Conservatoire. she won
prize that gave her the privilege of ap-
pearing on the famous stage OF the
Come1ie Francaise, wbs-e she made her
debut August IL, 1852, in the character
Of Ipbegnie. Her fiery temper asserted
itaolf even at that early age, for presently
she got into quarrel, slapped tho face
OF distingui,hci female societeire, lett
the company and went to the Gymnase.
From that thoater she went tc
the Porte-Scn. Martin, after which
she joined the Odeon company.
wi ere she rcmsined winning honots for
five years. La 1872, she returned TO the
hcaire Francnis with a samo t.. art
which even then was known throughout
Europs.
AT different pcriads this extraordinary
woman has been actustst by different
ambitions. Her first literary effort was
q comedy In foIr acts, named L'Epinglc
dor" ana since that production she has
written several plays. She became
sculptor und the Salon accepted her mar
plo bnsts o: Emile dc GirGrdin, Busnoch,
Regina Bernhardt and preten,ious
group In plaster entitled, "After the
Tempest" She became a painter and
formed gallery m her own cauvaHsex
She became an art critic and contributed
on regular salary TO n Paris journal. In
1873 she we1t un ina balloon, and after
ward published clever snd thoughtfrl
pamphlet on her experiences. Sho col
lectod q n,enagorie OF wild animals. An
tner ac.rsss wrote scurrilous saiire on
her. Sarah horse1hipped her trsducer,
carried her into court and imposed a
heavy line and term OF imprisonment
on her. When the Comedic trancsise
hardt became tho fashionable lion, her
salon was crowned by the best fols.
Bond street had an exhibition OF her |
'oupturcs and paintings aud Mr.. Glad
stone Iaid hes many visits. She got mar
rie .. haG a son, ard is row grand |
-ious fortunes and lost thom: but Ia now |
-ich again, owns an island OF the coast |
1f Brittany and theater in Paris. She |
has tho greatest genius, the shrowdest
head. the kindlisst heart, the most i'm
oetuous temper. the lsrg Eat celebrity and
.h- smallest hand of any woman OF
so times.
Every art must have it's head, and
here is consensus Of opinion ihst the
dramatic art has its highest development
n Sarah Bornhardt. Sns has stood for
many year In the ocuter OF the worlds
tsgc. with frSquent rivals coming out Of
he wings To dispute her ps sition, but
ione OF thcm su!iic iently powerful to dis
usb her supremacy.