Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-01
work them only six hours on Sunday, but
the government thus far has refused to ac-
cept their proposition.
Story Of Two Actresses.

Forty-four years ago last June Mile Ro-
seAe Rousseil and Mile. Rosine Bernard
appeared upon the stage of the Paris con-
servatoire to compete for prizes in tragedy
and comedy. The first prize was awarded
Mile. Roussei the second prize to Mile
Bernard. The rivalry between these two
young women was so intense that they did
Nile Bernard refused to accept the second
prize because the jury had awarded the
first to a woman she deteSted.
Mile. Rousseil obtained position at the
Coincide Franchise, where she earned hon
BILE but not eminent distinction. She
never reached the grade Of star. She
was content to remain In the ranks of the
satellites. Season after season she was as
signed modest parts in the different plays
that were presented and performed them
well. She has now reached an age when
her profession requires her services no long
err, and having little means, but slender
pension received from the government, she
applied to the minister of the interior for
a bureau de tabac,'' that is. a license to
sell tobacco and cigars which are a mo-
nopoly Of the government
If you want to buy cigar in Paris you
must go to government shop. Private
persons are not allowed to sell tobacco
The proprietors Of hotels and restaurants
can serve their guests from boxes, but are
not permitted to sell to the public The
central government tobacco store Is on the
Boulevard des Capuchines. under the
Grand Hotel. Other ''bureaux de tabac"
are to be found In different parts Of the
city, usually kept by women or old SOL
diers. Their stock in trade is furnished
by the government, and they are allowed a
small commission upon whatever they sell.
Roselie Rousseil, being well recommended,
the Path of June last, and my friend told
me her story after we had purchased our
cigars over her counter.
Bernard's Plea Denied.
BY the irony Of fate Rosine Bernard. the
girl who refused the second prize at the
conservatory forty-two years ago, was de-
MED the Grand Cross OF the Legion of
Honor on the very day that Resale Rous-
sell was given a commission to sell tobacco
for the government. Her stage name was
Sarah Bernhardt. She obtained a place
in the Coincide Franchise after graduating
at the conservatoire and her career has
been a succession of triumphs ever since,
in almost every civilized country on the
globe. She is now sixty-eight years of age.
She has reached the summit of her fame
and is ambitious to complete her career by
obtaining the Grand Cross of the Legion
OF Honor. which has been granted to very
few women. 1t was refused her.
There has been an intense and exciting
struggle over the matter. The contro-
versy has agitated the entire professional
population Of Paris. and the chamber Of
deputies has been dragged into It, 1t is
likely to become political issue, for
Bernhard declares that she will never
give up the fight. She considers herself
entitled to the honor, and hundreds Of in
f1uential people have interested them
selves in her behalf, because they believe
the same. The fight will be renewed in
the fall.
In the meantime Bernhardt's first rival
is selling cigars.
Paris doctor named Chaulin has IN
vented novel idea for the destruction of
mosquitoes and claims that 1T is abSo-
lutely successful. 1t is rather an ex-
pensive affair, however and quite eiab-
crate He makes a net of fine metal wire
of the shape of cylinder, about six or
eight inches in diameter and eight or ten
inches long, and hangs an electric light
bulb in the center The wires which feed
the light are connected with the lantern
and when the current is turned on the
entire network of wire is charged with
electricity. The light within attracts the
mosquitoes and other insects. which i'm