The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-16
M. .Mendez Withdrew His PoIiti.
cal Drama, Sainte Theresa.
is NOW SORRY he DID so
Correspondence Which Relaa With peetiesl
and Endearius Terms, but coldaess
Followed-Mad Sarah Is Of
iended Beyond Hope Of Re.
eouelllatlon and nesde.
Very Repentant
fBy Associated Press.)

PARIS. March 15.-The Parisians are
keenly interested in the developments OF
pretty quarrel between Sarah Bern
hardt and M. NIendez. the author and
poet. about the production of Sainte
Therese,. the latter's political drama.
which has been promised to the Comeuies
Francaise. Madame Bernhard heard OF
the drama, begged to be allowed to pro-
duce it, and NJ. NIendezs withdrew it from
the Comede Franchise and gave 1t to hee
under stipulations insurinG good run.
NJ. Nrendez subsequently, took it back
when III full rehearsal, on the ground that
Madame Bernhardt had made arrange
ments to go to LONDON. which precluded
satisfactory run for .Sainte Therese-
The story has been told in a series OF
remarkable letters exchanged between NJ.
Mendez and Madame Bernhardt. which NJ
NIendex published The letters are most
amusing with their mutual gushing COM
pliments and poetical forms Of address.
which. however. deteriorated into the
chillest expressions as the quarrel be-
came embittered. ,ss
ENDEARING TERMS.
Madame Bernhardt first addressed ~.
Mendez asl MY Dear Beloved Poet. ask
ing to be allowed to produce .Sainte THIS
rese.' and NJ. Mendez responded to- HIS
'Despotic Sovereign. Offering the piece
for the coming season. Madame Bern-
Friend promising to produce it March
ist. NJ. .alendez thereupon telegraphed as
"a reply: Dear Therese. the play: and the
author are yours. but later he Shsardf
that Madame Bernhardt was making eon-
flicting arrangements and ieiegrapheda
for explanations This time Madame
Bernhardt addressed him as Friend" :"
and explained that her arrangements did
not affect the production OF the piece.
NJ. N1endez was not satisfied. but was
induced to leave the play with Madame
Bernhardt. The zrehearsals were begun,
but NJ. N1endez says he found Madame
Bernhardt had let her theatre tosa Italian
company for a period which rendered the
promised run impossible. He realized that
all was not plain sailing for .'sainte The
rese,' and got back his manuscript. which
he wrote he "WilI place in a drawer.
strewn with red roses. symbols of his adj
miration for Sarah Bernhard rdt. and with
violets, embtems of her ftckleness.''
IN THIRD D@PERSON.
The last communica ton of NJ Mende7
was written in the third person and was
addressed to Madame Sarah Bern-
hardt." Nine. Bernhardt replied to the
publication of these letters by expIain-
irS that NJ. MendeS was wrong about
the arrangements which he thought
would interfere with his play She in-
tended to give it a run OF twenty
Fights and could not arrange for. q
longer run. because of the risk OF losing
her London season, which brings her
large sum of money, and complained
t..at NJ. NIendez resorted to a trick TO
go: back the manuscript which, he said,
vas only needed for a few corrections
Nine. Bernhardt concluded her letter
al follows: I'm a terrible tit Of despair
ard tears I drowned my Illusions. hopes,
admiration and my friendship for that
ran. I came out Of this crisis COM
r1ete wreck with my brain in a whiri.
hut my will safe and sound. AS long
as I live will never see NIendez again.
IS REPENTANT.
n. NIendez on reading this. tele.
,, cta phed as follows to Nine. Bernhardt:
rs it not silly for us to quarrel, when
il reality We love one anotfer?
trhe author-poct then offered to give
'Sainte Therese'' to Nine. Bernhardt ff
She would only promise to run it while
it was drawing money Nine. Bern.
Iardt did not even reply to this COM
n.unication. whereupon NJ 0Iendez wrote
to the Temps. replying to all the points
| OF Nine. BernFardt's letter and conclud-
ifg. after a fervid outburst of admira-s
tier for her. that he would await Re.
rsntance in her dear. royal. cruei5
heart.
The matter thus remains. without
Rope of a reconciliation.