Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-23
SOME STARS.

Speaking of Bernhardt, Marcus Mayer,
who has managed many noted stars,
teIls some interesting stories of Dona
Sol. Mr.. Mayer. on his last visit, said
to a Washington Post man:
Her whims necessitated my ringing
down the curtain twice. during her first
American tour in 1SS0-Sl.
The first occasion was at the Opera
billed for the night. Mime. Cucumber,
her leading lady, had gone to New York
to spend Sunday, leaving that city to
return to Philadelphia by the 4 o'clock
train Monday afternoon, which, under
ordinary circumstances, would ave
time. But the elements interviewed. A
blizzard came up and the train got stuck
half way between the two cities. Nine.
Bernhardt kept the curtain waiting until
S:45, and then the Divine Sarah made
UP her mind to ppea in 'Phedre' in
stead of Camille
mime Columbier was fined 100 francs
when she arrived next day, and was SO
resentful that on her return to Paris
she lampooned BernAhardt in that notO-
riors book Nine. Barnun,' when as you
remember, the Divine Sarah who al
ways took matters into her own hands,
hursewhipped her publicly.
philadelphia seemed to be her hoo
doc. The next spring we were back
again, and when half way through the
first act of 'Frou Frou' Sarah. deliber-
ately walked off the stage and said to
me: It's too cold out there to act. Ring
down the curtain and give the people
back the money. I'm going ITO bed to
get warm and she did.
''Once in Mobile she cost me another
full house. In the dinner scene of Ca
mile she started in with knife and fork
on a papier mache chicken, believing IL
was real. She drove the carving fork sc
firmly into the birds chest that she
couldn't get it out again, and when she
discovered her predicament she burst
cut INTO the most hearty laughter. Tht
Laughter was SO Enthusiastically genuine
that I had the curtain rung down. Tha1
did not help matters, however; sat
ii was no use it was too funny, and /
she tried to go on she would be liable
to break loose at any moment, and sS
I had to return the money to the big
gest house ever assembled in a Mobile
theater.
Patti was probably the most kindl,
and even-tempered of all my stars. An,
story of restitution that came to he
ears was certain to affect her power
fully, and once she cost me a full hous'
from this cause. A poor woman told he
a sad story of her life, and 1T affectes
her to such an extent that the match
less prima donna broke into tears an
cried for a full hour. Then she told m
night and l had to do it. We told the aud
fence that the diva had a sore throat
AS a matter of fact, her throat was $
swollen from crying that she reall,
couldn't sing. You know the saying o
having a lump in ones throat? Wei
that was what the matter was.
Mrs. Langtry was the calmest Womal
I ever met; nothing would ruffle he
serenity. But l had one little tiff eve
with her. It was a mild one. We sup
piled her with a private car, and on on
occasion she invited Freddie Gebhar
TO be her guest in the car, violating a
unwritten rule of stageland which for
lids the inviting of guests by stars. A
politely as I could, reminded Mrs
I,angtry of the rule, and she fared u
al once. 1T is my car she flashed a
me. bowed and said: Pardon me;
is my car Gerhard saw the point q
once. like the gentleman that he wa:
withdrew Immediately. In a few me
ments she was all right again and exer
cising her charming personality, for sh
certainly had the most charming per
sonality I ever met, just as If nothin
had happened to ruffle her feelings"