The Springdale news., 1898-07-08
RFRNHARDT'S SEASIDE HOME.
On a Lonely Island the Tragedy queen
 Seeks Health and Rest.

Seeks Health and Rest.
 Hundreds of miles from Paris, at tbe most lonely end of the rock-bound island of Belle-Isle- -Mer, near Brit tany stands the extremely unpretend- ing but romantic summer home to which Sara Bernhardt flies each year for health and rest. The savage, sea oirt shores to which the tragedienne has transferred her rural household goods are So remote that Paris IS for- gotten there. Al Le Fort des Pou- Ioins Cor. as 1t is usually called, Lies Poulains") artifcc andsometimes even art gives place to nature The charm inc woman who welcomes her guests so prettily and eflusiyely on their ar rival at BeAe-Isle has, for the time being, put the footlights out of her mind and transformed herself by some miracle into an idealized peas ant.
 Driving, fishing, shooting and crab catching barofootcd among the gl- gantic rocks piled UP around Ter house are the chief pleasures lndulged in at Les Poulars by the thcatrlc queen She varies them from time to time by taking long tramps over the cliffs and through the hamlets which are scattered here and there between Les Palais and the seaport at which you land after ten miles tossing rp and down in the preposter- aus little steamboat plying between Belle Isle and Quiberon, on the main- land, in Brittany The peasants with in several miles Of her diminutiye and barren estate all know and speak in glowing terms of the belle dame who is so fond of distributing sweet meats and apples and cakes to the children who may cross her path. Monsieur le Cure. over at Le Palais, and Monsieur le Maire Che also priest) speak even more highly of the deyout and generous lady who is so constant an attendant at mass on Sundays. Notwithstanding her Ser mitic origin, Sara Bernhardt is a sin cere, if sometimes rather careless, Catholic. The rude fishermen and fshwivcs who make UP the greater part of Monsieur Ie Cures congrega- ton were slightly startled at first by the strange costumes and the curious ease of the Dame dos Pou!ains But they soon got used to her.
 Mmc, Sara's chateau is very prim- itiyc affair; plain two-storicd oblong building, with a parapet (once lined with frowning guns)- Until some years ago il was genuine fort, occu- pied by 10 men and few officers. There are Algerian suggestions in lhe white stone walls and brown brick fac- ings of the editlcc II front of thc fort, which lies iL q deep hollow near the wcather-beatcn, stormy Point les Poulains, stand. like twin scntinels, two mighty porcelain storks. The waves rage cc&sclcs>ly about the base of this strange residence. Enormous bowlder1, molded into the rough like ness of monsters grim and horrible, surround the house. NO human hab- itations can hc scGn from anY corner of the building, with the exception of a melancholy lighthouse and d small cottage owned by the rustic If whom Sara bought the five or ten dosolate acres which adjcin hcrrocks.
 The interior of tue fort, although less Spartan and severe than the cx- terior, is simple One long, broad, lofty-vanltcd hall formerly the Sale du Corpcs des Gardes-serycs the tragcdicnne as dining-room and Stu dio combined N is warscoted bv pine wood and adorned bv ten or twelve by no means valuable paint ihTs. On buffet near the dining table is an array of the quaint Breton faienco exclusively affected by the fair chatclalnc at Lc> PonlainS. A huge fireplace and thcindispensabIe chairs, few lounges and ore or two artistic couchos draped with soft oriental stuifs make MP the furniture. Tens of millions of francs have been earned by the great actress since old Auber heard her recije the fable of the "Deux Pigeons" who flowed so ten der!y." Yet at this moment all the property she owns on earth is prob ably this one rude storm-swept dwell ing on the remote shore of a small Breton island.-St. James Budget.