The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-26

be barred from the syndicate houses
in Texas, her managers at once
opened negotiations for a tent-One of
the old BaFnum canVaseS. But it was
soon realized that the canvas selected
would not do for stage purposes, and
it was decided to build one An agent
Of the MANAGEMENT went to Kansas city
and supervised the construction Of q tent
of the $50 foot round top variety, with
two sixty foot middle pieces. giving
dimensions over all OF $50 by ESQ feet
a small army of men went to work on
the big canvas, and another army con-
structed canvas chair benches which
could be folded and carried in one Of
the ears of the special train in which
the tour is being made Completed.
the tent was shipped to Dallas and
pitched on the fair ground site at Clyde
Park-a point within easy connection
with all the street cars, and accessible
from the railroad stations With the
c0lors of the United States and France
floating proudly from its Flagstaff, the
canvas presented q brave appearance
AMI commanded attention from every
point.
In the meantime the railroads, real
izing the significance and unusual
character of the event announced eX-
cursion rates from all directions. and
several special trains We're arranged
for. The Postal Telegra phi company
ran q wire to the tent and the AssO-
ciated Press installed an office on the
ELOllllSr 10 IlclSu LllE news 10 IAtG
world All day Sunday curious crowds
gathered about the grounds with as
much eagerness as is exhibited by the
small boy in circus time In the even
ing correspondents began to arrive
from the larger cities, and dramatic
critics come in to handle the strange
dramatic event for their publications.
At midnight Sunday the practical men
Of the management took a last round
before the day Of production.
Madame Bernhardt's special train ar
rived with her company from Paris on
board, and carrying all the scenery Of
her repertoire, with 300 pieces Of per-
sOnal and property baggage, and all
the incidental equipment of such a
correspondents at the train to greet
her, but she refused to see anyone on
account of the lateness Of the hour.
With morning the grounds assumed
lively hustle and hustle aspect. BY 10
O'Clock there was a crowd on the
grounds impelled by curiosity
Madame Bernhardt's train had been
run to the fair grounds and stood with
in q stones throw of the tent and all
day long the crowd stood about,
watching for the slightest glimpse Of
the great tragedienne. Now and then
as womans head appeared near a
window. some one started a shout:
There she is, and there was cram
ing of necks.
The telegraph Office on the grounds
opened for business early in the day
and the first message was from
1 Madame Bernhardt to her son
! Maurice, who is MANAGING the Theater
Sarah Bernhardt in Paris. The wire
went by the most direct route and was
/ cabled ahead. and before the curtain
was UP Maurice Bernhardt knew that
his mother was facing one of the
greatest audiences of her life, under
I the strangest conditions of her strange
career.
one Of the incidents of the day was
! the visit Of photographer, who took
a picture with Madame Bernhardts
train at the side and the great actress
standing ON the observation platform
! There were scores of smaller cam
eras there and the instant she ap-
peared there was a rattle as if of ar
tillery as all the shutters clicked in
scattering vouey. Madame Bernhard
bowed gaily to the battery of lenses
and then returned to her rolling
boudoir.
Director William r. Conner. who
with the Shuberts is conducting the
farewell American tour of the cele-
brated actress and who is personally
with the company on this importan-
section of the trip, was the busies
man on earth There were a thousanc