Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16

Bernhard received her visitors in an
exquisite tea gown of pink satin,
girdled loosely at the waist with flow
ing ribbons Of the same hue and
overlaid with Burger lace. Now re-
Ginning On the sofa and now perched
on a pile of cushions, she chatted
with enthusiastic animation of her
voyage, the plans of her tour, her
various plays, the fashions in Paris
and a hundred other subjects, while a
constant stream of visitors came ana
went Since her last visit madame
has changed not at all, unless it is
that she seems to be even more vi
vacious, more charming and younger
than ever The ever youthful Sara
has left her lion cubs and her tigers
in Paris with her pet python. The
only pet she brought with her is her
beautiful pet collie dog, Game.
Il have had a delightful voyage"
said Nine. Bernhard, and it is need
less to say | am glad to see my dear
America again. | am a splendid sail
or, and never enjoy myself more than
| do when | am at sea unless it is
when l find myself landed again in
New York. About my plans-well, l
shall play in my new play, Izeyl, La
Tosca, La Dame aux Camelias,
Phaedre, La Femme du Claude, Gis-
monda, L'Arlesienne, Magda and
Adirenne Lecouvreur [ had hoped
also to give my own play, La Ouch
esse Catherine, but on consideration
| have concluded that it is too diff
fcult-requires too much preparation
and therefore / shall have to post
pone it's production until | return
| home We shall remain here until
Feb. Is. Then l go to Canada for a
short season, and afterward [ shall
play in Boston, Philadelphia, Cleve-
land Chicago, New Orleans and all
the other principal cities of the west
and south, returning to New York,
whence I shall sail for England
Replying to the question whether
she had added cycling to her other
accomplishments madame replied:
"'Of course 1 have; all the world
wheels in Paris. 1t is even more the
rage there than here"
Nine. Bernhard appeared to be
much amused when asked whether
! Count de Castellane was squandering
the dowry of his wife, and declared
that he is a prudent manager, in
whose hands the Gould millions will
be perfectly safe. He is, she said,
disposed to be parsimonious rather
/ than liberal
At this particular time it is inter
esting to look back upon the early
stage career of Bernhardt. She was
/ fifteen years old when her mother
took her out of the convent of the
Grand Champ at Versailles and
placed her at the Conservatives.
Bernhardts mother wf,s not burdened
with riches at the time and the child
knew that she must earn her own
livelihood. She worked hard, but
trere were few indications in her
early life of the genius which was to
distinguish her later on. She man
aged to divide the second prize in elo-
cution with her chum, Marie Colum-
bier, although every one agreed at the
time that Columbier was entitled to it
in its entirety. 1t was Columbier
who in later years wrote the book
which caused Bernhard to chastise
her in public.
Of her first appearances Bernhardt
says: Il have never though l was
born to be an actress. | have always
known I was born to be a painter and
nothing else. If l had had my way
l should have been a painter. Of all
things in this world l love painting
best, and did love it best then, ard
always shall love it best. But cir
cumstances made an actress of me,
and at first a very bad actress, for all
the critics could not have been mis-
taken, and there was not one who did
not join in my condemnation. 1 sank
into complete obscurity, but I worked.
What was before me l did not like,
I but | would not consent to being a
failure I was forced to do something
/ which I did not want to do, but l