The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-03-16
POETS HEART BROKEN
cATULLE MENDEs Defends THE
DIVINE SARAH.
Perfervid Epistles are Replaced by
Formal Business Notes, Then
the Correspondents Ceases Al
together-At Outs.

Paris, March 15.-Paris are keenly
Interested in the developments of petty
quarrel between Sara Bernhard and Ca
Julie Mendes the author and poet, about
the PRODUCTION Of the iatters p, p9e nsa,l
promised to the Coincide Franchise. Nine
Bernhard heard of the drama and beg
ged to be allowed to produce 1t, and Men
ies withdrew 1t from the Comedie Fran
caise and gave it to her, under stipula-
lions ipsuring a good run. NJ. Mendes
subsequently took 1t back, when in full
rehearsal. on the ground that Nine.
Bernhard had made arrangements to go
to London which precluded6, satisfactory
The story has been told in series or
remarkable letters exchanged between
Nine. Bernhard and M. Mendes which
the latter published. Nine Bernhardt
beloved poet" asking to be allowed to
produce ''Sainte Therese," and M. Men
des responded to his "Despotic Sover-
eign." offering the piece for the coming
season. Nine dto tnsn replied 9a
luce it March i. NJ. Mendes fhereupon
elegraphed as a reply: Dear Therese:
Fhe play and the author are yours;
But later he heard that Mime, Bernhardt
was making conflicting arrangements ano
elegraphed for explanations. This time
Nine. Bernhard addressed him as
Friend" and explained that her arrange
ments did not affect the production OF the
piece. NJ Mendes was not satished but
was induced to leave the play with Nine.
3ernhardt. The rehearsals were begun,
gut M. Mendes says he found Nine. Bern
1ardt had let her theatre to an Italian
company for a period which rendered the
promised run impossible. He realized that
I'll was not plain sailing for "Sainte The
reese" and got back his manuscript which
he wrote. he would place In a drawer
strewn with red roses, symbols of his ad-
fnr Go PnrnhQrdf
riolets. emblems Of her fick1eness."
The last communication of NJ. Mendes
was written in the third person and was
addressed to Madame Sarah Bernhardt.
Nine. Bernhardt replied to the .publica.
ton of these letters by explaining that
NJ. Mendes was wrong about the arrange
ments which he thought would interfere
with his play. She intended to give 1t a
run Of twenty nights and could not ar
'ange for a longer run. because OF the
.isk of losing her London season which
brings a large sum of money, ana COM
planned that NJ. Mendes resorted to a
rick to- get back the manuscript which,
ne said was only needed for few cor
'ections. Nine. Bernhard concluded her
etter as follows:
I'm a terrible fit Of despair and tears
drowned nv illusions, hopes. admiration
md my friendship for that man. | came
out of this crisis a physical wreck with
my brain in whirl but my VIII SAFE
and sound. AS long as live l will never
zee CaJulld MeHQeS dBdlH
Mr.. Mendes on reading this. telegraph
ed as follows to Nine. Bernhardt: rs Il
not silly for us to quarrel when in reality
we love one another The author-poe,
then offered to give "Sainte Therese" tt
Nine. Bernhard, If she would only prom
lse to run 1t while it was drawing money
Nine Bernhard did not even reply tc
this communication. whereupon M. Men.
des wrote to The Temps replying to al
the points of Nine. Be-nhardts letter
and concluding. after a fervid outburs
of admiration for her. that he woult
await repentance in her dear, royal
cruel heart" The matter thus remain:
without hope of a reconciliation.