The times., 1897-06-27


spent my time during the acts shedding
tears like a child, ard asking the opinion
OF everybody during the internissions.
After the first act, a few friends went
to Madame BUSES dressing-room. They
found the door closed No exception WAS
made for any one. Count PrimoH. who is
a friend Of fifteen years standing, re-
turned without being surprised at his He
is accustomed to the actress somew hat
odd manners
waited for her on the landing OF the
stairs When she came out from her
dressing room she took my arm, pressed it
tightly with her nervous fingers, and,
with the same gnef-stricken face She
was to show presently OH the stage, she
said:
mo, no, no-not now 1t is not right.
If you only knew the state amin. ~
She really looked terribly excited. Alto
O'Clock every one on the stage was Won
dering whether the curtain could be raised
or not. Duse was pacing up and down, un-
strung and excited. and she was saying TO
those VINO questioned her:
Il do not hold la fetei''
She meant that she was not mistress of
herself; that she was not sure OF herself
Yet she plsyed the first and second acts
to the satisfaction of her friends, and she
was not too tfispieased with herself
During the third act reaction came,
brought about doubtless, by the enormous
success and the reiterated thunders OF
applause of moved and defirious public
She admitted herself that she did not
play the third act as she plays 1t usually.
Monsieur Rochefort, seated in the Or
chestra, stamped enthusiastically.
II have seen her play in London" said
he. "she impressed me greatly then, but
tonight she outdoes herself F"
Next To him, Monsieur Claretie, the man
ager of the Comedie Francaise, shared his
opinion.
"She is the poem of love and sorrow"
Monsieur Jules Lemaitre appIa uded un-
ceasiugly
Monsieur sarcey did the same thing
Monsieur LIE Bargy expressed his great
admiration, but told me that he did not
think that in the third act Duse took as
nuch advantage as Madame Sarah Bern
| hardt did of the opportunity the writing
OF the letter to Armand Duval affords.
But he went into ecstasy about the con-
dense,I naturalness and violence OF Armand
! Duval
| it had a happy influence Oh the acting OF
French artists"
| Monsieur Henri Mayer, the intelligent
| actor of the vaudeville, was about OF the
same opinion He contended that the third
act was far less effective than when pIa yed
| by French companies, Sarah's company
| Included.
| Mime AIphons Daudet confessed that she
sas faftf NV ha st.rr rfxsp civ
| csting and belle physiognomy of Duse.
| NINE Heglon, OF the opera, admitted that
| she had gever wept SO much
| At the end of the play all eyes were wet
/ In the audience. and Nine Sarah BernharGt
! went with some friends into the dressing
roou OF her great colleague
she said TO me lots OF beautiful things
| repeated Duse several times Our great
| trasedienne left her photograph with this
! superscription:
| ITO EIestnoIa Duse. In all confidence, ten
deruess and admiration. Her friend, Sarah
( Bernhardt -
I Monsieur Claretie. accompanied by Mon
/ seur Hebert. the director OF the French
| school In Rome. went 10 congratulate the
! artist 10 ardent and enthusiastic words.
! And the other artists came also 20 take
! iedNe, Among tnefl S4onSeuF fIaNIO AIuD,
| the much-applau Armand Duval OF me
evening. who has the reputation Of being
( the best actor in ITALY.
BE left me five years ago" Duse told
| Ine. HE came expressly from Rome
| to Paris to play with ME. though It com
| peIied him 10 lay orr his company for a
/ week Isn't that nice?'
At 1870 in the morning found myself
stiH there. forgetrul OF the hours that
fitted by.
The tired actress was smiling on every
hody-as usual, very simple ard modest
| "AHons.' she said at Last. looking into
the glass before which she was sitting.
go TO bed, now, ETeanora. But beware
added she, threatening her with her fin
ger, beware If you do not play the third
act better next timer