The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-14
BERNHARDT ON HER BICYCLE.
DoDa She Meets with an Accident in the
Streets of Chicago.

Streets of Chicago.
| Sarah Bornhardt rides bicycle and
rides it we'll. She is just Us much the
queen of the wheel as she is the queen of
the stage. The divine Sarah, who has
seen over fifty years of life, has conquered
| the silent steed; she sits as lightly and
as erect in the saddle as maiden of
eighteen, and enjoys spin over we'll
paved boulevard just as much do her
younger sisters. She took her first run
over Chicago's streets yesterday. She
came back to her hotel slightly disfgured
but not at all discouraged-th sport is
too much to her liking for that. She
came in collision with divers and sundry
persons who DON'T know how to ride as
well rs she, but disentangled herself from
stage whisper Of disapproval of the
methods of Chicago riders.
Mich igan avenue has been ploughed I'D
by the queens of grand opera, but it was
different yesterday when Nine. Bernhardt
tripped lightly down the stairs of the
ole in the street. If any of the passers
expected to see some fun they were
doomed to disappointment. AS if she
had been born on a bicycle. Nine. Bern
hardt mounted hor magnificent wheel,
and, with light but still powerful push
on the pedals, she was off down tho AVE.
nue. with friend and guide as her cum
panions. The machine Nine Bernhardt
rides sparkled and shone in the morning
sun, which was at it's height over Lake
Michigan. Her costume is just like that
worn by wheelwomen of her age, only
that it may be made of better material,
and some new ideas may have crept into
| It's folds which other fair cyclists do not
wear, for the divine Sarah wears nothing
but the best. The cloth is brown, with
tlnge of red and green woven in the goods
The bodice has dark yellow silk front,
made after he style Of the front of a shirt
waist, with short coat made of the same
goods as her skirt. Large full sleeves
set 1t of. The skirt is longer than the
ordinary bicycle skirt, coming down be-
low the shoe tops. 1t is made in pleates,
which drop in graceful manner over the
tall form OF the actress. just a bit of
dark brown leggings can be seen above
dark tan shoes, Her hat is Fedora of
light color. A dark brown ribbon waist
belt, With bunch of green at the side,
held In place by jewelled buckle, made
her picture ON wheel that would at
tract more than ordinary attention.
Seated In an upright position. she pedals
along with an air of confidence that gives
one the impression that she is enjoying
the sport.
The stock yards was the objective point
OF Nine. Bernhardt and her two oompan-
ions. Theyswent south in Michigan ave-
nue. to Thirty fifth street and then west
to get a sight of Chicago's great industry.
When she returned to the hotel before
noon, flushed from her long ride, Nine
Bernhardt was the picture of health.
re peog, poor peeg, die; re cattle and
ze poor sheep die,'' said the madame. as
the long spin. "Oh. l was hurt; not
bad, but scared much. A bad boy. wee
tot. A big large horse, two, and carriag
es. Kill me-so near"
Nine. Bernhardt said she had narrow
escape from being seriously injured. On
the return trip from the stock yards she
was in advance of her companions. At
Thirty fifth street and Michigan avenue
she slowed up to ask If she should turn
down the avenue. A nod from her guide
and she made short turn into the boule-
ward. just then boy who was coming
south in Michigan avenue on wheel
gave yell for her to turn out. Only
thinking of not running into the boy,
she gave her bicycle mighty push and
shot out into the street, just in time to
let the boy go by in safety. but only to
get mixed up with three men who were
also going south. One of the wheelmen
struck her and she was hurled against
the curbstona directly in front of car
rage that was driving north. The driv-
er managed to pull his horses up, while
Nine. Bernhardt was lifted to her feet
for moment. One hand was slightly
bruised and cut and her wheel was badly
scratched. She insisted on riding back
to her hotel, and when she reached it she
was still nervous and excited from her
narrow escape.
The thing that impressed her most at
the stock yards was the men. She did
mensity Of the industry or the amount
of money invested. but the looks of tho
men caught her eye.
"Ze bootz, SO big. Re men, SO big and
nice. Fare faces, dark and, what you
say, healthy. III bootz smell bad" and
here the madame reached for her smelling
salts and gave a shudd or
shWhen asked il she would give up riding
she said no, but she hoped the Chicago
police would not let little boys ride on
the.street and cause her worry during her
stay in the city. She said she was glad
the boy was not hurt. The thing she
could not understand was that the boy
did not come back to see If she was hurt
after she had tried SO hard not to hurt
him.
1t is Nine. Bernhardt's intention to
take daily outings on her wheel during
Der engagement in Chiago. Chicago
Chronicle.