The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
PEN PICTURE OF BERNHARDT.
Most Graphic Description of the
Ever Written.

49, 1(f1o
In his preface to a life Of Nine. Sarah
Bernhardt. Edmond Rostand gives perhaps
the most remarkable portrait of Sarah Bern
hardt that has ever been renned, certainly
the most semblant picture of her as her
friends know her.
This woman is extraordinary" writes
Rostand, land yet even in thus exclaiming
one does not realize to what point one is
speaking the truth. And what a fashion
she has of being both legendary and mod
COLDER hair-do not words become pearls
and diamonds upon her lips? Has she not
II not b. her will that the immortal blue
bird sings? She may follow an impresario.
but she remains a star[faiien from the
trembling about her a fragment-detach-
ment from a mysterious realm But even
II the enchanted. castles OF old have given
place to transatlantic steamers, and her
chariot Is the wonderful agons-marv
Of ingenuity in which Sarah travels over
new l~ands-even If II Is by intelligence, In
ders recounted of her to-day replace the
miraculous inventions in the tales OF yore,
save herself. She is her own godmother.
No other magic wand owns she but her
own will. And to guide her TO traverse the
singular events toward the apotheose no
other genius than her own.
'"The existence of Mime. Sarah Bernhard
constitutes perhaps gsd the ZEN marvel heCem OF the the nine nine
All, when one wants to write the poem Of
these, Tours OF the World that is to say,
Ill the IeCOTdIiOuc, dl TIE pcfcOudB6S, the
beautifu. scenes, how she has made the loco
motives and the steamboats, talk, has
caused so many waves of the sea to move,
and to sing. and to hurl choirs of the poets
of savage lands, the kings, OF exotic animals
lit will need / do not know what Homer
composed Of g Gautier. a Jules Verne. and a
Her q~uarrels with managers and actors,
her outbursts of temper against imprudent
rivals with repeated handslapping and
horsewhipping episodes, her balloon ascen-
sions. her flights and fugues, her retorts to
critics. and the contemporaneous
OF the press are all set forth with a delight
full frankness.
Rostand's appreciation Of Sarah and his
description Of her activity are sufficiently
characteristic and extraordinary to warrant
A those voyages, those skies, those pre-
cious stones and flowers and embroideries,
all those millions and those lions. those hun
dred and twelve different parts she played,
those eighty trunks she took with her. that
harnessed by admire rs, that crocodile of hers
drinking champagle--al that, which / never
saw. moves me less, in reality. than some
"A cab stops In front Of a door; a woman
dressed in heavy furs descends quickly, goes
through the crowd that has assembled at
her approach, ascends a warm dressing room
adorned with flowers. losses into one corner
her coquettish handbag. which contains a
her feathered hat, discIoses a thin figure
suddenly by removing her furs, precipitates
herself upon a dimly lighted stage. inmates
by her arrival a crowd of people who were
yawning there in the obscurity, goes and
comes. putting life into everything and
everybody; takes the stage managers place
ana directs the rehearsal. illustrating ges-
lures and intonations; jumps up, orders 1t
all done over, roars with rage. sits down
sgain; smiles, drinks tea; begins to rehearse
herself and brings tears to the eyes of the
Old actors who peep out at her admiringly
from the wings; returns to her
her. cut I'M their m0dals with har
scissors In order 10 reconstruct them: is
quite exhausted and wipes her forehead
PUSHES up. all at once. to the fifth floor of
the building and appears before the star
TIED customer, rummaging among the bum
dies or stufs. designs costumes. Grapes and
crumples. descends again TO her dressing
room TO instruct the walking ladies' In the
art of dressing their hair; receives a visitor
letters TO read to her, is touched by some
OF the requests, opens freqle.tly the little
handbag which contains everything: con-
the stage In order to regulate a light effect
for a scene. finds fault with the electrician
pass by. remembers a mistake he made the
night before and upbraids him Indignantly:
goes back to her dressing room for dinner:
over plans; eats and laughs like a gypsy:
hasn't time to finish: dresses herself for
the evening performance, while the stage
manager talks to her through a curtain
about various things: acts her part with
great Intensity. discusses a thousand mat
tiers during the intermission; remains in
the theater after the performance TO decide
this and that. until 3 o'clock in the morn
ing; Is not willing TO leave until she sees
the employees falling asleep In spite of them
selves: gets into her cab again: stretches
herself IN her furs while thinking of the
JOY or rest which she is 20 have at last:
bursts out laughing as she recalls that an
author Is waiting at her house to read her
a nve-act play; arrives home. listens TO the
play, gets enthusiastic. cries over IL. accepts
III. Is no LONGER SlGGnV md maEaS raa - ~
fact TO study a new part.
- what seems 40 me most extraor-
binary OF all That is the Sarah whom 7
know, 1 never saw the other one-the one
occupied with collins and alligators. The
only Sarah know is the one who works.
She IL the greatest one"