The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-26
SARaB BERNBaRDT'S
STORY OF Her Own LIFE

my mother ana aunt ana inc l"O Hlell
approached me.
WHY do you cry?' asked my mother,
caressing me tenderly. Don't you want to
be an actress"
want to be a num- I whispered
through my sobs.
" You are a fool exclaimed my aunt,
shaking me by the shoulder. Girls nova
days arc really very stupid remarked
my godfather
Go and dress yourself said my
mother, and don't cry
II kissed my mother tenderly, without
being able to utter word, and as I left
the drawing room 1 somewhat regained
my composure.
ION the following day was introduced
to NJ. Girardin, who found me nice and
charming and a little like Rachel He
promised to take care Of me, and he kept
his word In fact two days later my
mother received letter from him asking
her to be at the Conservatorium on such
p date Then came the dressmaker, and
instructions were given to have black
silk dress ready for me to wear on the
eyentful day. On the same day hair
dresser was called in, and he curled and
twisted my hair as much as possible, the
result being that when the task was
over my godfather declared that l
looked like a grown girl and no more
like a mad dog The short skirt showed
my embroidered underwear, and in the
sleeves which were made expressly large,
my very thin arms swung loosely. a cor
al necklace attempted to cover in some
measure the thinness and length Of my
neck.
az have not forgotten the powder, of
which my eyebrows and ears were full.
Tricked out in this fashion I was simply
horrible and when I was introduced to
Auber in company with many other girls,
who were white and pink and nice, he
shook his shoulders, and, muttering
why, Girardin is a fool he did not
deign to give me another look.
my nurse let me understand that the
ceremony of introduction was finished and
we went away. The usher put down my
name and informed Mile. de Brandeber,
nv nurse, that the examination for ,ad-
mission would take place in few days.
" What lessons shall I prepare for it?'
asked him.
Whatever you like was the reply.
GAS soon as 1 reached home discus
sion began as to the subject which should
| mother, being a foreigner, was unable to
| select anything. My piano teacher, be-
| ing the daughter of a theatrical celebrity,
suggested that I should learn some
verses My godfather, on the other hand.
| suggested a fable. The discussion grew
/
to recite a fable. yet my godfather's ad
vice prevailed. He had heard Rachel re-
| cite La Fontaine's Fable of Two Pig
cons, and this was finally selected.
'At once a search was made for the
| book of fables and. while my mother was
| embroidering and my friends were play
| ing, while my plano teacher was whis-
pering to the Count de X, and my god
father was coughing, 1 began to study
! the Fable of the Two Pigeons
THAT was one of the most dreadful
| evenings of my whole life.
| "At last the great day arrived. My hair
on this occasion was not arranged by
the hair dresser, and L appeared at the
! Conservatortum in my usual style, with
my little girlish face and my customary
| childish self-possessiOn. Many other
young girls were there, handsome, nice
| and charming, some talking with ANNA
| ton, others pale and trembling Each
| had hope in the heart and fear in the
eyes
when I was called upon I was fright
ened, and 1 felt a strong desire to run
away. 1 went into the room more dead
than alive. All around a large table sat
| several gentlemen, talking and arguing.
At the end of the room was a young man
dressed in black and with two large black
eyes. This was Leotand.
What are you going to recite?' he
asked.
1.-The Fable of Two Pigeons muir
INJURED in a very low voice.
| This is not the place in which to re-
| cite fables he replied, with a laugh.
Then, as bell rang, he whispered
Make a bow and I looked around among
! those who were facing me In search OF
! some one who might inspire me with con-
| fidence. For a second L hoped that An
Der would be the one, but his hooking
smile deferred me. He saw how 7 fell
| and he pointed me out to M AuRusta
Brohan, who began to laugh Tears filled
| my eyes, and only a gentle look OF Ca
mile Domet gave me a little courage.
! began the fable and 1 went through II
| in one breath
Little one said Auber do Won know,
anything else?'
Yes, 1 replied. I know the scene
| from "Agnese," but not too we'll
Well, recite what you know
When L was through and about 10
| leave the room Auber turned to the other
gentlemen and said, She's a very nice
| little girl Another gentleman said. Il
| will take her in my class and make some
thing or her. The speaker was NJ Pro-
vost. L kissed him and ran away, very
happy. 1 was accepted
THE first time 1 went to nv course NJ
the Conservatorium NJ. Provost made first
the boys and then the girls recite some
thing. When my turn came L was trem-
ping with Shame. 1 had learned the role
of Junia in 'Brltannicus' and immedia+oI,,
L became for Provost a subject of sad
mockery. l could not vibrate or nro-
nounce with such emphasis as to give me
a German accent. After I had recIted
lew verses Provost made me sit down
ana oeclared he would not give me anv
more lessons until L had learned how to
vibrate. was consoled by Mile de ~ ~
deber' and tried hard to succeed.
was continually chewing rubber halls
IN the nope of thus learning how to vi
prate. My mouth was horribly omen and
from morning until evening and often
from evening till morning l did nothing
put pronounce alone in my room ii, di. ii,
di, Il, di. Oh, what low was mine VIA he -,