The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-06

At Her Own Iheater and Among Her Own
People

alter, the Renaissance, among her own
people. All me! Time does take wings
unto itself and fly! One short year ago
and now / am back in dear old New
Haven anXiously awaiting the appear"
ance of this great and eccentric act
ress at the Hyperion ON Thursday even
ing, March 10, for Mr.. Bunnell, with his
usual promptitude, has assured mad
ame's manager the fixed sum demanded
for her appearance in this city.
Bernhardt, the undisputed queen CT
the French stage; Bernhardtwho, Duse
excepted, might be called the queen OF
every stage, for her fame is as broad as
her matchless art; Bernhard, who OPP
pressed by the limitations of the Fran
Gals, broke away and has succeeded in
making her marvellous magnetism felt
in both hemispheres; Bernhard to-
day over fifty, yet seemingly but hali
that age, for her face is as smooth and
fair as at thirty and speak of Bern
hardt without her stage makeup ana
the glare of the footlights, of Bernhardt
as she may be seen any bright after
noon in the Bots de Boulogne or upon
the boulevards. 1t was at the Renals-
sance, to return to my story the pretty
Renaissance, one of the best known
and most popular theaters on the grand
boulevards, that 1 had the pleasure of
seeing Bernhardts superb protrayal 9t
Camille, her wonderful representation
of Dumas heroine, Mademoiselle Gau-
tier, character that has become al
most part of this wonderful woman
1t was on Sunday afternoon, and long
before 2 o'clock p. m, the hour set for
the performance, every seat was tax
en-. Handsome French officers in the
becoming uniform of the French army
We're scattered about the house, their
richly ornamented uniforms adding To
the gorgeous sea of color Fashiona-
BILE Paris IN smart spring attire was
out en- masse, for Sunday Is always
fete day after morning service at the
Madeleine or Notre Dame, 1t was but
few minutes after that the pound
ing upon he stage announced that the
first act was about to begin. The peo-
Pile, chattering like magpies, fixed their
eyes upon the stage and at the parting
OF the heavy velvet curtains became 81
lent and attentive. Bernhard, their
IDOL was to appear and, bettel1 still,
Coquelin fills as CASTOR. Suddenly
shout, cry of La VOLTA! and Sarah en-
tered, clad in one of those indescribable
creations that Bernhard alone can de-
sign and wear Silence followed--si-
lence that became painfully impressive
as Bernhard stood there smiling out
at the sea of upturned. eager faces. At
last she spoke and oh! the music o.
that voice--it would silence all animate
nature. so enchanting, so sweet Withal
Immediately the actress was forgotten,
for she had merged herself into the
character of the poor, misunderstood
Camille, and for three hours her audi
ence lived, suffered and died with Du-
mas creation.
The French people, 50 quick to APP
preciate art so alive to each subtle
gesture and movement, so thoroughly
in touch and sympathy with their
queen. recognized each succeeding
emotion and at the end of the first act
an act full of shadings, the most deli
cate and artistic, rose to their feet, and
amid shouts and applause, fairly deaf
ening, called Bernhard again and again
before the curtain. But if she was sub
lime in the first act, If she was fascinat-
ingly voluptuous in her impassioned
love scenes with Armand. it was in the
following acts that madame rose to the
true height of her mighty genius, a gem
us whose field seems to be limitless.
With what consummate art, with what
realism did she portray the noble traits
of this woman OF the demi-monde who
was yet not of it, her self -sacrifice, her
generosity, her noble impulses and her
DEATH Oh, the memory of that scene
where Armand, forced to believe Ca
mile but an abandoned creature offers
her money in payment for her charms.
oh! the look, the gesture and above all
the pronunciation of that dear name.
Yes, those three words told the story,
for rising to the full height OF her gen
ius Bernhardt threw into that name q
world of remorse, ingratitude and de-
spair, crying out in her shame and
anguish, Armand! Armand! Armand.
The audience with hands closely locked
together and eyes suffused with tears
were aWed into reyerential silence,
swayed by all the conquering power of
her magnetism the irresistible force of
her mighty genius-and so on until the
end, Wnen sweet, pa1leNI Canllie uleS-~
or rather fades away like beautiful,
crushed flower. 1t was death so real,
so pathetic. 80 simple and impressive
that men burying their faces wept like
children. From the most distant parts
Of the theater came the deep sobs of the
men, the hysterical cries of the women
as Camille fought for life struggling
against that fatal disease, consumption.
There was no hacking cough and affect
ed use of the handkerchief, as with
most of our Camiles-there was no APP
parent suffering as the light of life
faded from the thin, blanched face, and
the big, soulful eyes grew dim. No! Ca
miles strength gradually left her at
tenuated body and with a sweet smile
of love, her head pillowed upon Ar
mand's breast, she died. The curtain
fell and again that impressive silence
that marks the true appreciation of
genius. 1t lasted fully five minutes.
then with bowed heads the usually gay
and happy Parisians left the theater,
their eyes filled with tears. 1t was
glorious and merited tribute. a fitting
close to memorable performance.
JANE MARLIN,