The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-10-22
Sarah Bernhard
AT Last RetireS

PARIS. Oct 21.-Madame Sarah
Bernhardt, who is looked upon by mil
lions as the worlds greatest actress, is
today celebrating her 64th birthday.
Although she is yet far from the bro
ken down old woman that might be
expected from her age and her siren
uous career, her final retirement from
the stage she has SO long graced is at
hand. rheumatism has worked raw
ages that powder and rouge, the pana-
ceas of the aging actress, are power
less to cure. The many "retiremants
of Bernhard have been looked upon as
jokes, but this time it is no joke. 1t
is tragedy-as we'll for the public that
has so long applauded and admired
as for the proud old actress who has
at last been compelled to haul down
her colors and surrender to the infirm-
tiles of Father Time.
Sarah Bernhardt was born on Octo
Der %, 1874. Until within the last
Year or two she has been equally sue
cesSful in preserving both health and
yOutnfulneSS against the raVageS CT
time. In her Ions and triumphant life
Madame Bernhardt's unbrOken health
has seemed almost remarkable as he
finished art. Save for few fainting
spells. to which she is subject, her ca
reer has never been inter- Upted by i'll
ness Yet she has been known as the
busiest as well as the most gifted
woman in France.
The early years Of Sarah Bernhardts
life were spent in Amsterdam, in the
Of r,1f fail IN an
optician She was born in Paris, how
ever, and returned there with her
mother. entering the cOnservatOire at
the age OF fourteen.
Three years later she gained the
second prize for tragedy. and a prize
for comedy in the following year, and
made her first appearance as an act
ress at the thaater Francois, where
she attracted very little attention. Her
first successes were made at other
theateTs, where the attention she at
tracted compelled her recall to the
theater Francois.
She did not become worldwide
figure till she visited England in 1879,
and two years later made her first
tour of the United States.
a break between Bernhardt and the
Coincide Franchise. She has appeared
since under various arrangements. in
Guiding her own, and has sunk sever
al fortunes in productions.
Quite recently the famous actress
gave this description of one day in
her life:
while I was preparing for my re-
vival of La Samaritaine' with Hahn's
music, 1 rose each morning at 7:30
O'Clock. AS soon as l was dressed
I take nothing whatever to eat or
drink in the morning. came down
to the theater. arriving not later than
9 CLOCK and devoted the whole morn
ing to rehearsing. At II o'clock 1 had
nv breakfast with a friend or two
without leaving the house. for l have
fitted up dining room downstairs and
get food sent in from a neighbOring
restaurant.
THE meal over, l set to work upon
.VarennaS,' rehea-salS lasting until 5
O'Clock. or even o'clock. Then came
the turn of the scene painters and dec
orators; all sketches have to be care
fully examined, as do the designs OF
the costumes, and all the thousand
and one accessories of spectacular
play. None of these things can be left
to chance; every detail requires my
special attention, and thus every min
s ute of my time until the evenings
performance is taken UP with the pre-