The morning times., 1897-02-10
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Memoirs of Bernhardt 9
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Nine. Sarah Bernhardt, says the Herald.
has written the memoirs of her life. The
work consists of several chapters, all of
which are very interesting. There is one,
however, which is in many respectsthe most
interesting of all, and of this one free
learn from it how the great actress made
her debut on the stage
Nine. Bernhardt loquitor:
one of my mothers old friends, who was
then minister, agreed with her that 1
would have chance of succeeding on the
stage 1 was not ugly 1 had sweet
voice, and 10Y teeth We're so fine that was
at full liberty to smile whenever / pleased
L was growing fast. and would i'll time have
fine figure. C never thought then that
my lean figure would amuse so many jour
nalists) Finally this old friend decided
that | should be introduced to NJ. Auber.
NJ. de Girardin, who came next day to my
aunt's house. was to make arrangements
for the Introduction.
Asmy mother was foreigner. and knew
nothing about theatrical matters, my aunt
explained everything to her in Dutch. Ny
godfather and Nj X. stood at somedistance,
whispering together. / was alone at one
end of the great salon; dread of the un-
known filled my heart What could my
future be? Dreams OF happiness danced
before me. The laughter Of my two young
sisters in the adjoining room filled me with
anguish. The harsh Dutch words hurt me,
/ and the mysterious voices of the men dis
turbed my imagination. l was unhappy,
and began TO cry. The others approached
me.
Why do you cry?" asked my mother,
tenderly. Are you not satisfied to be
come an actress?"
Il want to enter a convent" / said,
weeping.
You are a stupid girl replied my
aunt, struggling her shoulders.
Come, go and dress yourself" said
mamma, land don't spoil your eyes with
crying" / embraced her warmly and
left the salon
on the next day was presented to NJ.
de Girardin, who found me charming and
declared that L was some W hat like Rachel
He promised to do his best for me, and he
kept his word. Two days afterw ard my
mother received little note telling her TO
be at the conser ervatory on a certain date
black silk dress for me, and ON the great
day q hairdresser was summoned To eXer-
else his skill OH me. When he had finished
l thought that had never looked so ugly
This was mammals opinion also, but my
godfather declared that at least L looked
like a young girl, and not like mad dog.
My dress was short, and my slender arms
were lost in inordinately large sleeves.
Around my long neck was ent wined string
of corals, and my face was covered with
rice pOwdeT,~my eyelashes, eyebrows and
ears being full OF it.
l was hideous and whe n I W waspresented 70
| Auber, who was surrounded by several
handsome girls, all older than L, since they
| were destined for the opera, he shrugged
his shoulders and murmured. "Girardn
must be mad!" And with these words he
turned his back on me. on nay return
home told how hadbecn received, and a
| lively discussion then arose as to what
task should prepare for REORGANIZATION.
My music teacher said that | ought TO
learn some verses. But what verses? At
| the whist table the discussion was contin-
! ued. My godfather declared that ought
| to learn a fable but he was quickly cried
down a fable? How stupid! But in a
| convincing tone he declared that he had
| heard Rachel recite the fable of The Two
| Pigeons" at the Theater Francais
Learn that fable, little one, was his
i advice, and finally all agreed that should
| do as ne said,
Finally the great day arrived. This tim(
1 was not put in the hands of a hair
! dresser, and l presented myself at the
| conservatory with my hair dressed in the
| simple style Of n young girl. Many hand
! some girls were there, some laughing anC
! chatting, others sad and trembling. AL
! had hope in their hearts and fear in theil
| eyes Some of the girls were poorly clad
| and hid themselves in the gloomy waiting
| room.
| At Constants call I entered the hall
| more dead than alive. In this hall was 6
! large table, at which several men were
| chatting and arguing, while at the enc
stood a tall, very dark young man, whose
| large eyes were rolling under his bushy
| eyebrows.
| What do you recite?' asked this man
| whose name was Leotard.
The fable OF The Two Pigeons
| replied, family.
| III mi This is not the place to recite 6
| fable" he said, with a laugh.
| Yet | began To reciJe, and so moved waSl
| that I breathed into La Fontaine's flint
verses many involuntary intonations ani
| much tenderness The bell rang; stopped
| ..Do you know any other piece. my girl?
| asked Auber.