davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Through Her Own Glasses
Sarah Bernhardt Seen by Herself-The Faithful
Priestess of Poetry.

There was great celebration In Paris
in honor of Sarah Bernhardt and it oc-
CURED TO the legion of her worshipeTs
that an interesting feature of the cere-
monial would be a declaration OF her
personality and her ideals by the divine
Serah'' herself.
The columns of lie Figaro were thrown
open to Nine. Bernhardt. who addressed
the remarkable writing which follows to
her dear friend the public OF Paris
and the people of France:
1T is an examination Of conscience
that you ask OF me. dear friend, and yet
i do not hesitate a second i'm replying.
Yes, am proud, happy. and that to the
depths of my heart at the manner in
which 1 am about to be honored- You
ask me. my friend, whether L conscien-
tfously believe that / deserve this honor.
II answer yes. you will believe that /
am very arrogant; II l say no. that I
am very guilty.
II rather prefer to tell you the why
OF this because. 1t is now twenty
nine years that l have been exposing -
the public the vibrations OF my soul,
the throbbings of my heart. the tears OF
my eyes. i have Interpreted ll2 parts,
/ have created thirty eight personalities.
OF which sixteen are the work OF poets.
'f have struggled as no human being
ever struggled. Independent by nature.
detesting falsehood. 1 have raised up
against myself bitter enemies Those
that / have deigned to fight against I
have laid low and conquered. They
have become my friends. The mud
which the others threw at me fell in
dust. dried up by the burning sunlight
of my faith and nay will.
II have willed. / have wiIled ardent
ly. to reach the highest point In art.
have not yet attained it; / have less
time to live than / have already lived.
but what matters that2 Every step
brings me closer TO my ideal, The
hours that have swept by. taking with
them my youth, have left me my cour-
age and my cheerfulness; for my aim
remains the same. and toward il / am
tending
II have crossed the seas bearing my
dream OF art within me. ard the genius
of my nation has triumphed / have
planted the French word i'm the heart Of
foreign literature: that is the deed of
which am most proud Thanks TO the
propaganda of my art. the French Ian
stiage is today the natural tongue of
the young generation. / know this be-
cause teachers over there have told me
so. New York ladies have assured me
Of IT, the public has proved il to me-
and nave been blamed ia the lecture
room Dy a Chicago German professor
for this iasclent ururpation. In South
America. In Brazil. the students fought
with swords because people tried 10
prevent them f%Gfsi shouting 'Vive Ia
France while they dragged my ear
riaee.
In the Argentine Republic tEe stu
dents, TO honor my country. had learn
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Arnold Days Diplomatic Roast

Arnold DAILY, who viii introduce this
week 10 Washington theatergoers the
Bernard Shaw plays. which he has made
40 successful theatrically. has devel-
oPed capacity for speech-malSing
which has added materially TO the en-
joyment of the audiences in the vari-
Gus cities in which he has appeared this
season. Mr.. DAILY has strong convictions
about the Shaw plays and what is more
to the point is that he has the courage
OF his convictions and is not afraid 10
express them IL terse, keen and caustic
language when occasion requires Such
an opportunity presented itself in New
Haven. The ending was far different,
however. than Mr. DAILY. the audience.
CT the manager of the theater could
have anticipated The last named was
an a dreadful condition. OF nervousness
as he had an inkling OF Mr. Daly's
speech and also knew that the MAYOR OF
the city was present in one of the boxes.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Da-
ly said. among other things:
Il appreciate New HaVen's Kindness
10 me in the past. For the benefit OF
those who do not know, before going
further I must explain. On my last
visit here | did a play called Mrs.
Warren's Profession. Ii was allowed
one performance here and one in New
York for the simple reason that the city
officials. policemen and reporters consti-
tuted themselves dramatic censors- In
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
A Triumph of Stage Craft.

In the race scene in Bedford =
Hope Lincoln J. Carter. the inventive
genius OF stage craft has overcome
the obstacle which for years has pre-
sented itself TO dramatic writer's who
nave attempted 20 produce an effect
wherein the whole country is seen TO be
moving IN ail erdles chain. The CYCLIC
rama effect in this play has overcome
this C~stacle. The grooves are of steel
construction, and work one within
another causing the drops 20 move at
ulfiereht speed: IL would take at least
Iorty minutes before the same picture
~ouic De presented TO the auditor and
requires a stage crew OF thirty-five ex-
pert mechanics The whole is worked
Dy ten horsepower -ynano and
there Is no noise sUcu as grinding OF
cogs and the tbrashing Of treade as
heretofore, which has been one great
drawback In scenes or this description
The whole country in this great effect
is seen TO be moving at the rate of
ihirty-hVe miles an hour with the an
tomobile in the foreground with its two
passengers tearing along 10 beat th..
express train In the distance. and an for
a woman's love and mans happiness
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

( The Importance OF the coming en-
gagement OF Nine. Sarah Bernhardt
icannot be overestir ated because The
great French actress is the last OF he
/ lire. and her farewell 20 America means
( the closing of the door upon the repre-
sentative of the greatest school OF act
( ing that the stage has ever known, and.
/ from present appearances. ever VIII
know.
! Her appearances in Washington VIII
be limited to eight. They will consist OF
six evening performances and TWO mat
inees Wednesday and Saturday. The
Pernhardt engagement will be played
at the Belasco Theater under the man
agement % s 5. and Lee Shubert and
w. f. Connor. who are conducting her
transcontinental tour. The advance sale
OF reserved seats indicates an attend
ance that Will quite eclipse the record
OF any dramatic engagement played
here in years,
Sarah Bernhardt will have no sue
cessor when she passes from the con-
temporary stage She IL indeed some
ynlng OF a survival today Il - the
school OF acting which grew up along
vita and IN close connection with the
playwri2 hting school Of Sardou. His La
Sorciere." the latest specimen Of his
tragic craft, and fully the equal Of
many Of his masterpieces. was accept
ed a the hands Of Sarah Bernhardt be
cause Of her art rather than his.
Rernhardt'S extraordinary mental
elasticity has enabled her to reach con-
siderably beyond the bounds OF a Sar-
dOu o. q Dumas hls. for she has come
quite near 10 the significance of the Ib-
sen and Sudermann drama. and q seems
likely from foreign criticisms that her
own version Of 'Adrienne Lccouvrcur''
is conceived considerably more i'm the
modern spirit than most OF the works
by great living dr3matists in her rep
ertOire
Mime. BcrnhardCs supporting company
viii include some of the foremost ex-
ponents Of the art or the French stage.
Among the principal members may be
mentioned NM. de Max. Decoeur. Cha
mercy, DeneubourS, Krauss, Rebel.
Cauroy. Pircn. Guide. PuyIagarde.
I:ary, Brumicre. Gavarry. Habory. Ger
main. Mathillon. Angelo. and Neville.
and Mines. Jane Mea. Barber. SeyIor
Boulanger. Cerda. Sesuart. Simon. Ger
main. Allison. Due. Roger, Msclean,
Du Bois. Boyer. Rosye. and Rettier.
The repertoire Of the week is as fol-
lows,
Monday night. January /, La Sor-
ciere." drama in FIVE acts. by NJ Vic
tOrien Sardou. with incidental music by
NJ. Xavier Leroux.
Tuesday night, January =. Camille n
drama In five acts, by Alexander Dumas
fils.
Wednesday matinee January 3. nd
rienne Lecouvreur.' a new play i'm six
acts. by Nine. Sarah Bernhard
Wednesday night. January 3. Angelo. -
a drama In five acts. by NJ. Victor Hugo.
with pavane and madrIga by Reynando
Hahn.
Thursday ngh,. January T. ''Sappho :"
comedy In five act". by NJ. Alphonse
Daudet.
Friday night. January !, La Tosca,
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

persons OF Baron Sparta Harry
Fisher, the bibulous Prince George
or Neblea (Harry Davenport). and the
Duke of Token (Demman MaIIey). and
their meditations are rudely inter
rupted by the explosion OF a she'll
from Captain Gatlings flagship. the
commander Of the American feet hav-
ing had his patience too severely tried.
When Rear Admirals Evans and Davis
fleets were anchored in North river.
New York. awaiting the arrival OF Rear
Admiral Prince Louis of Battenburg. ar
Annapolis, all the captains of that Amer
ioan feet of battleships and cruisers at
tended the Lew Fields Theater. And on
che occasion the midshipmen of the
combined American forces attended in a
body. with the result that Tdr Fields and
mis- confreres in the board OF strategy
received so many valuable suggestions
from young men just out of Annapolis
that the curtain was lowered even be-
fore Victor Herbert's -Baadanna Land
had Seen sung oy Mr.. Fields four score
Of choristers.
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Yale Glee and Banjo Clubs

The Yale Glee and Banjo Clubs. wlIcb
will give a concert III Washington The
night OF January J. at the New VII
lard, come here after an absence Of two
years.
While the musical clubs of the New
England university have always given
concerts well executed and the song
have been bright and amusing as well
as fun OF college spirit. IL is said .hat
this year the clubs are better than ever
before. They have been enthusiastically
received in every city IN which hey
gave concert on their present Western
trip. which extends as far West a. Min
neapolis and St Paul. Last night the
clubs were IN Cincinnati on their home
ward journey
Membership on the varsity musical
clubs is one Of the most coveted honoTs
III Yale and there is as much comneti-
ton TOR places in the lineup of the
Glee and Banjo Clubs, as there is on
the football Held. Candidates are called
out when college opens in the fall and
the wedding oJt process soon begins
The practice is iIsT6 anu long. only the
best men making" the clubs in the end
and ;he long Christmas trip is consid-
cred a sufficient irize for any amount
of hard work
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

lived abroad all this time. They all
happen 10 come together at a seashore
resort on The coast OF England The
mother Is an advanced woman" She
has written books about why women
should he up on the ladder of progress
with her feet on the face Of man She
is big-hearted and likable. however. and
her children are the most joyous sort.
There is a boy and strl whose frankness
and ingenuousness create irrepressible
fun with all with whom they come in
contact. And there's father. who
finally takes q tumble TO himself and
gets over his crustiness and bad temper
and is therefore permitted 10 become a
member OF his own family again.
And there's the dentist and his dem
tist chair Mr. DAILY is Mr. Valentine,
an American dentist. He pulls fathers =
tooth right there on the stage. He en-
Toys doing it and the audience enjoys
watching him-which. after all, is per-
haps a little Shaw slap at the innate
cruelty that sets us howliug with laugh
ter at the cOntorticns of a gentleman
losing a molar by forceps.
Ard last. but by no means least. there
is a dear old waiter. whose kindly anc
gentle philosophy spreads a leaven OF
Sweetness over thc dSDcFlNieS OF HIt.
Mr.. DAILY VIII be supported By
splendid company, which includes Miss
katherine Grey Miss Isabelle Urquhart.
Miss Hungerford, Miss Bruna. John
Findlay. George FarFen, Dodson Nit
chell. Fred Tyler. and Joseph Madden.
Besides The New Year matinee. You
Never Can Tell will be presented on
Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day, and Saturday nights and at the
SATURDAY. matinee.
At the Thursday matinee and on Fri
day night Shaws other brilliant come
dy, Candida viii be presented by re-
quest
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

the New York courtroom ] was afforded
the unique pleasure of listening to two
hundred and fifty pounds OF butchers
meat representing the New York police
force. whilst IT defined immorality-the
unfortunate creatures knowledge being
of course. limited to the bribes il ac-
cepted for protecting and maturing IL
The Constitution of the United States
provides free speech for the citizens.
and despite this fact I have been as
sured by tho manager of the house that
if l gave my opinion as to the honesty.
Intelligence and integrity of the officials
Of this town, they viii Immediately re-
woke the license of the theater This. 81
course. would not injure me. as I am
leaving town in the morning. The next
attraction. however. would be unable to
play. and the attaches of the theater
would lose their employment Under
these conditions I must refrain from
mentioning names and leave il to YOU
10 judge as TO how much 1 intend OF
my remarks for those officials believe
20 be present tonight. I think re may
now proceed without endangering the
future OF this theater and the anxiously
perspiring manager may pocket his
handkerchief
During the evening the mayor sent
Ny Daily an invitation to iOin him Al
supper afte, the performance. at which
they discussed Shaw and politics. and
the mayor expressed his regrets that
Daily did not play oftener in his city
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

| ed by heart Racine. Corneilie. Moliere.
and Jules Lemaitres criticisms and
they recited all this in the most cor
rect language, and with almost no for
eign accent. In Canada. deputies and
senators pushed my sleigh. amid cries
of Vive la France repeated a thou
sand times. while the students sang
La Marseillaise.' to which the Eng
Nsh listened. hat IN hand with tne
respect they have fer every noble man
Hesitation
Why. one of the most striking
facts is this: When l reached Aus
tralia the French colony had been
crossed by the German colony The
consul who represented our nation
was little liked. and even but little
respected. As soon as | arrived I
was received by the lord mayor in
full official costume; his wife and
children offered me flowers. and the
military band played the national
hymns of France and of England. I
owed this polite ovation to orders sent
from England. The effect was imme-
diate. The feelings aroused by this
almost royal reception was extended
10 our French colony settled in Sid
ney and in Melbourne
The plays acted by my company and
myself met with success that will never
be forgotten, and when the vessel which
bore us toward the Northern Hemi-
sphere had fred its three parting guns
more than 5000 people standing on the
wharves struck up our national hymn
assure you. my friend, that those who
were present al that thrilling and mag
nificent scene have not forgotten il. In
Hungary the towns where ] was TO act
were d-aped with French banners. In
spite of the orders sent out by the Aus
trian Government The Czeehs danced
their national dances for me, waving
the coiOrs of France.
Such. my friend are the little victo-
ries which have obtained for me so
much Indulgence. ! do not mention bat
ties which you IN common with the
whole public of Paris have witnessed
TO conclude. after having thus
searched my conscience. I find also this
little fact I'm my firvor: I refused five
months ago an offer OF 100000 francs
TO act in Germany If disgruntled pee
PIE think that the celebration that peo-
pie are kind enough 10 offer me is out
OF proportion TO my talent. tell them
that / am the lighting senior of mag
nificent art that inspires enthusiasm.
OF an art that improves morals
Il am the faithful priestess OF pO-
etry Tell them. my friend. that never
has French gallantry been more evi-
dent. since. desiring to honor the art
OF Interpretation and 10 raise the inter
prefer To the level or other creative art
lists. II has chosen for It's manifestation
a woman
SARAH BERNHARDT.
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Lew Fields Irreverent Parody
On Our Naval Board of Strategy

scene which has made an ad-
miral in the person OF Dewey, a prince
Of the blood royal in the person of
Louis Of Battenberg, and numerous
ther fighting sailormen laugh until
heir sides shook. as the burlesque OF
meeting OF the board OF strategy in
1T Happened in. Nordalnd"
Lew Fields, in this play is, by va
rious vicissitudes, changed from a
mere waif into the secretary CT the
navy of the mythical kingdom OF
Nordland 1t so happens in the book
that Nordland has no navy. but this
does not feaze the new secretary. who
Immediately sends to a department
store in kronenburg and purchases a
number Of toy ships, which he utilizes
to demonstrate how, with the aid, he
will repulse the threatened attack of
the American navy, under the com
mand Of Captain Calling. During
this demonstration Mr.. Fields is as
sisted by his cabinet ministers in the
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

role of Prince George of Nebula. is Har-
ry Davenport, son OF the late r. l..
Davenport. and brother of the late Fan
ny Davenport. Julia SteSer. a light opera
tenor. who first supported Miss Marie
Tempest i'm THE Fencing Master" and
was later seen in various romantic roles.
sir. Steger in 1T Happened in NorCi-
land plays and sings part entirely
different from anything in which he has
previously identified William Burress
was last seen i'm Washington as the en-
peror in ''rhe Chinese Honeymoon -
and also with this organization is Miss
Grace Field. 4 niece of the three famous
Field brothers-the late Stephen j.. JUS
tice of the United States Supreme Court
Cyrus w. layer Of the Atlantic cable.
and the Rev. David Dudley Field II
may also be interesting To note that Miss
Fieli's maternal great-grandfather was
the first editor Of the Overland Month
ly. IN which Mark Twain and Bret
Harte gained their first literary dis
tiEction
The mana cement announce that nine
performances win be gwen during the
week Of This wonderfully successful
musical comedy.
The Washington times., 1905-12-31

was then only made up of three car
riages and the machine. / did not doubt
for single instant the success of that
criminal folly or inform any one ex-
cept my sister. my dear Guerard and
my faithful Claude and Felicie- The
comedian. Angelo. who slept in Jarrett''s
stateroom during this trip. knew wnat
he was in for. but he was brave and had
faith in his star. The money was paid
the chauffeur. who Immediately sent it
TO Mobile
only at the moment OF starting did
have a vision of the responsibility I
had taken for 1 risked. without their
consent. the lives OF twenty-seven peo-
pie. but was too late The train was
launched with a frfghtful rapidity upon
the bridge of boats. L was seated upon
the step; the bridge bent and swung
like a hammock under the dizzy force
OF our speed When we were part way
over 1t sunk so deeply that my sister
gripped my arm and closed her eyes.
clinging and nervous, but brave. In
fact. ike her / believed that our final
moment had come And il is an aocm-
Unable fact I did not think for a sec
ond Of all those who were so full OF
confidence and life. whom / was sacri-
icing. whom 1 was killing 1 only
thought of one young and cherished one
who would weep.
But it was not so inscribed for that
day in the Book OF Fate. The train
righted itself and. half bounding. half
rolling. we arrived upon the other shore.
Behind US a frightful tumult, a column
of water that fell back with a noisy
road-the bridge had collapsed
81 left that brave engineer his 1850
francs. but I did not have an easy con-
science, and for long afterward my
nights We're troubled with the most
awful nightmares. and when one or an
other artist spoke OF his or her baby.
mother or husband that IL would be so
sweet 10 see again l felt I went pale
and deep emotion tore me with agony
felt profound pity for the / that 1
was
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
Risked His Life for $500

Sarah Bernhardts memoirs have been
appearing In the French magazine, Je
Sois Tout. before coming out I'm boom
torm. They were ended in the latest
number. with a record of her first COM
ing TO America in her world-conquering
tour of twenty-five years ago. The la st
chapter has a characteristic Bernhar rdt-
esque touch that is of interest and
shows the perils OF American RAILWAYS
She says:
I'VE started for New Orleans. At last
we had sunshine. We could warm our
poor limbs. aching with three months
of deadly cold. We could breathe with
open windows and pure air in place CT
the suffocating and deb:litating warmth
of steam heat I slept. and warm and
perfHnled dreams came to cradle nv
sleep. A knock sounded az my door NY
dog pricked up his ears and bounded TO
the door, but he did not bark, for il
was enc of my own people. ] opened
It. and Jarrett. accompanied by Abbev.
made me sign not to speak. "Sh- He
entered on tiptoe and closed the door.
What is it? What's the natter
I'm sorry 10 say said Jarrett, that
the rains have so overhowed Lake Font-
chartrain that we cannot pass. 1t is
necessary that we make a detour that
VIII take five or six days.
'Why2 Has the bridge fallen?''
- Not yet. but 1t is tottering under
the terrible pressure of the water. The
engineer thinks that he can still pass
but he has only just been married and
he will only attempt TO pass on condi-
tion that you give him twenty-five hum
dred dollars TO send TO Mobile. where
his father and wife are living If we
arrive on the other side he will return
the money. otherwise it is to go TO his
family
Il VOW that l was stupefied with ad-
miration for the brave fellow. I cried:
Yes. yes; give him his twelve
thousand francs and go on
Il have already said that 1 generally
travelled in special train. Ny train
The Washington times., 1905-12-31
The Handcuff King" !"

Harry Houdn.. The Handcun King. d"
to b. At Chase's this week has all kinds
OF official, red-tdped documents TO prove
that he has broken out Of siXIy-one
prison cells in this country and Europe
In a few years time His most recent
delivery was from the Brooklyn Jail out
Of which he emerged after iucarcera-
ton in jail just seven minutes In COM
mitting HOudlni for the prison break
ing test Captain Baldwin. Of the Ber-
gen street precinct, nrst had him take
off all his clothing Then the king
was searched by the captain and his
assistants and by several newspaper
men. His mouth was examined and
even his hair. which ne wears rather
long. was combed To- prevent him from
concesling detached portions Of a sllele-
ton key in his locks. The cell was also
thoroughly searched, after which HoU-
DIM entered and the bolt was shot
Then 10 make him more secure two
padlocks were put ON the door The
captain. his assistants, and the news
paper men retired TO another part of
the corridor. out OF sight. and inside
OF seven minutes Houdini Joined them.
Meantime he had opened another cell
door and released a pain drunk, Just
10 show how easy IL was. Captain
Baldwin admitted that the stunt bafi-
ed him and gave Houdini written Ger
tihcate 10 that effect. Houoinl preserv-
cd the secret of his method OF operating
on the locks by making IL condition
OF mis- Test that none ar the spectators
be permitted 10 slhnC at any point
Of the jail corridors thGt would offer
view OF the bolts aid paClocAs.