New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-20
BUSY MNE. BERNHARDT.
She Relates Experiences Of Crovcded
Day-WQRted To BE Nan.
Parts. March A.

Sorctere.' with matiuees on Thursdays and sun
| days. she Is rehearsing NJ Henri Lavedan's his
I tOrical drama, "Varsnnes I'm which she wiz I'M
/ persOnate Marie Antoinette. IL was after re-
hearsal Of this play from which great things are
expected. that the great tragedIenue described to
NJ Joseph Galtier. an editor of the Temps" the
/ way in which she spends her days.
! At her handsome theatre on the Boulevard
( Nine. Bernhardt receives her visitors I'm the
I most comfortable lose II is possible 20 imagine.
| Arranged in exquisite taste. the clear yellow
/ walls Of the salon form harmonious back
/ ground 20 the soft cushions Of the cosey divan.
/ the dainty writing table in Louis XVI style.
| and the book shelves filed with masterpieces OF
/ the French and English tongues. on the fine
\ white bearskin which covers the floor the two
/ favorite dogs Of the diva. Cyrano. a magnificent
greyhound and Spot. lap dog lie at the feet OF
/ their mistress. while pair Of parrots lift their
voices and shrek in unison at the newcomer.
out, Ouil QUIZ Leaning against the cushions
/ in her long white dress and gray chinchnla
coat. with a pink rose in her buttonhole. Sarah
the Sorceress'' told the story OF one day In her
busy life
Il working just now harder than ever be-
fore. and have known some busy times. too.
1t Is true like 10 have plenty on hand. but II
would not be possible even for me- 20 go on long
at the present strain. Imagine a day OF this
sort; While was preparing for my revival OF
La Samaritaiue' with Hahn's music rose each
morning at 7:3O O'Clock. As soon as I was
dressed take nothing whatever 70 eat or drink
in the mornins-I came down TO the theatre ar
/ irving not later than Q O'Clock. and devote the
whole morning to rehearsing At L O'Clock I
breakfasted with friend or two without leav-
ing the house. for I have fitted up a dining room
downstairs and get food sent I'm from neighbour
ing restaurant The meal over. set to work
upon Farennes.' rehearsals lasting TIL or even
8 O'Clock Then came the turn Of the scene
painters and decorators: all sketches have TO be
carefully examined. do the designs OF the
costumes and all the thousand and one access
series OK a spectacular play. None Of thess
things be left 70 chance: every detail re-
quires my special attention and thus every min
ute OF my time until the evenings performances
IS taken up with the preparations for the new
play. Fortunately for me. I do not dine-I
merely eat egg or two broken up IN beer
and so am quickly ready to go on the stage IS
la SOrCiere' When the curtain finally falls
that piece my cashier joins me here and presents
his accounts. and by the time Z have gone
through them and reached home 10 is generally
quite o'clock in the morning. Then comes
supper What do you think ate last night.
Mile. Seylor and I? one hundred uusseIsr'
At that moment the door opened and n SER
want entered. bearing q menu. which he pre-
scented to Nine. BernbIrit. when she had dis
missed him with her orders Sarah said. Did
you notice Antonio? Everybody L employ has
something interesting or picturesque about
him picked up that man in Chill and he is
most valuable TO me. Apart from the fact that
he speaks several IanEu1ges he is q past master
in the art Of preparinE cocktails and invents
for my special deIectatfor the most wonderful
drinks It IS he who beats up my eggs IN beer
and Ike all my STAFF. he serves me- davoted1y
Pitou Is another who is as precious to me in his
IN the wings; he tunes my pianos winds my
clocks and engraves the collars for my eleven
dogs He AS one speciality. When 7 am tour
ing with my company he always c0utrives to
make us lose our trains. RE insists on our all
getting out at certain stopping places and going
to the buffet. and while we are ordering our
coffee the train quietly slips out Of the station.
You may imagine the wrath Of the company-I
am convinced they win have his blood some day.
As rule he acts as my secretary. but he has
another talent. He inprovises exceedingly well
on the piano. having been. On fact a pupil at the
COuservatoire and member Of the chorus OF
the Opera Comiqus. took him my prOmptes
after the great fire IN that house and little BY
little he won my confidence. But a sketch OF
my immediate surroundings would be fncom-
plete without a mention OF Domingo. my maid.
She started life the best dressmaker In
Buenos Ayres. where she made dress for
Ruy Bias made so great an Impression on
her that she forsooll her husband and her BUSH
ness to follow me to Europe IN the capacity OF
sewing maid: but finding she could not see
enough OF me in that way. she begged me TO
make her my maid. And I have kept for the
last my dear companion and friend Mile SeyIor.
whom brought from America. She Is also my
pupil. for she. too. acts. and are always to-
gether and the best OF friends.
You wonder how I find time TO look through
my manuscripts2 Well. keep them for the
holidays at Belle Isle sur DIer As for ny own
roles. I only need TO read them through once or
twice. and that I do while dressing driving or
anywhere. II they are IN verse repeat them to
Mile. SeyIor. but have an extraordinary mem
Org.
AS for my painting and sculpture. I have
been forced TO put them aside for the present.
"Of course. such day al have described In
an exceptional one. As a rule do not rise be-
fore 10 o'clock. and then give about an hour to
writing. going 70 the theatre about midday.
am under a contract with an English magazine
10 send It every month an article OF five
thousand words which IS published simulta-
nsously IN England and America. I am also
writing my memoirs. the material for which
get partly from friends and partly from the
press notices which have appeared about me.
OF these have something like FIVE large vol
uues. Lately have been doing the part OF my
life which preceded my appearance upon the 4.
stage. when I was living at Versailles IN the
Convent Of Grandchamp. 1t viii surprise you
perhaps TO hear that then wanted % become a
num-
NUM- Certainly anything less nuuIike than
the strenuous life led by the tragedieune could
har9Iy ha ed