The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-04-05
The Tragedy Of
- Two Hearts.
EARS ago a friendship was
formed between Sara Bernhardt
and Catulle Mendes, which

"~~S0 oSA1CA IIldA WdHGu until
Few weeks ago, when it came
to an abrupt end. The cause was pri-
marty play, but at the bottom it was
money. The play is called Santa Te-
fesa, drama in five acts and nine
scenes, the beauty of which, so Nine,
Bernhardt said in subsequent letter,
was almost enough to still her righteous
Indignation against the poet 1t was fin
ished year ago and offered to Claretie
OF the Coincide Franchise. The date was
set for it's reading when one morning
Edmond Rostanu, another of Nine. Bern
zsZdt,s poet friends, came to NJ. Mendes
and asked him If he did not want go let
the great actress see it. Mendes was all
out sure OF its acceptance at the Coincide
and he hesitated for having gone so far
It would have been a serious thing to dis.
appoint M. CIaretie, who might refuse
ever TO allow him to present q play
again. This he told M Rostand, and the
messenger returned with the news to the
actress. The next morning. however, NJ
Mendes received this telegram from Lon
don, signed Sara
Dear and Beloved Poet: I should like
ito know before mapping out my season
whether I shall have a chance to act
your drama"
To this Mendes replied:
""Despotic Sovereign: Here is the situa-
ton: have asked the Comeore Franchise
for reading. Nevertheless, If you do
me the priceless joy and honor of taking
Teresa for next seaosn, please order
by telegraph. Teresa will belong to you.
But the Coincide Franchise will be
closed to me forever after. You decide
Faithful alteration.
-'tCatulle Mendes."
The same day Nine. Rernhardt replied: :
Darling Friend-I thank Won with
heart overlooking with tenderness and
gratitude. Situation this: I return with
IL I
win your Teresa to follow. This bring:
us TO March ], a splendid moment Wha1
say you! A thousand joys, Sara
M Mendes answered: ''Everything is
settled dear Therese. The play and au-
thor are yours
santa Teresa was put into rehearsal
ana all went well until one day M.
Mendes learned that Nine Bernhardt was
TO give up her theater on April / and no
10 London, where she would make $50, 600.
Inc play could not possibly be produced
until the middle of March, and there was
1elt 1or 1t only two weeks in which it
could run in Paris He went to his be-
loved friend and demanded his play.
NINE. Bcrnhardt gave it up and wept,
and when he saw her tears he relented
and let her have it again Rehearsals
were resumed, but the poet was again
seized with misgivings and once more.
this time by a trick, he got his mann,
AN
Sara-Is it not absurd to quarrel TINS
when one loves one another? Do but
phone me now that you will not go to
London and let your theater to Novell1
until Teresa has ceased to draw. and
we Will begin to rehearse again after
lunch" - .-..~. ~. p.
To this she replied: Friend, Poet and
Torturer-I will do the impossible.
promise vou.' But she didn't Instead
she resorted to the interviewer, who
asked her if the trouble, could not possi
bly, be settled. She replied:
NO, 1t is over; it is all over NV grief
is indeed deep, but my mind is made up.
L Will not return to the subject. I dis
miss the topic from my mind There can
be-there will be-no communion hence
forth between the poet and the actress.
All is dead and buried. I drowned in a.
ut or despair and Illusion my hopes. nv
admiration, my friendship for that man.
I have come out of this crisis physically
almost a wreck, my brain giddy, but my
will safe and sound. AS long as I live I
will never see NJ. Catulle Mendes.'
When M. Mendes heard this he wrote
a long letter to d friend, in which ne
said:
II try to smile. The hours go by
Sara has not replied to my wire. Doubt
less she will not reply, / am not like the
nightingale which has q light heart Not
Wv ho'9N
heroine mpersonated by the most ad-
mrabie of actresses, but am deprived of
a friend fervently beloved. Those who
have not lived in the intimacy of Nine
Sara Bernhardt, who have not basked in
the light which she diffuses about her.
know not the lovable, penetrating charm
of her friendship And Sara says she
will never see me more 1t is the same
tragic situation as that between Harace
and Curiace. Sara me connait plus"
But sic la COMMAS encore, ct cest ce que
me tuo." But though she may no longer
see me. she cannot prevent me from gar
ing on her. When she acts I shall be in
a corner OF the theater, and she will have
10 power to prevent me from being daz-
zlec by her beauty, her grace her
omIipotence of tragic expression. her
genius. And writing the next day. 4 will
sing her praises with Justly excessive
enthusiasm. Who knows but that some
Gay the obstinate persistence OF nay zvor-
ship the unalterabIe stubbornness of INV
Prevent alteration, may move her royal..
cruel heart to repententance ?'-N@w work
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