Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-14

0 other-is TO be at the Brandeis
- next Sunday night Ii is an
nounced as positively her last
- appearance" and in this case
there does not appear to be much chance
TO discount the announcement. Nine
Bernharut has, up to this time, succeeded
most admirably in defeating the natural
encroaohments of Time, and has laughed
OF scorned away all his assaults that make
the ordinary woman old when she tells
only a fairly long tale of years Madame
SARA II now, as for two generations al
most, In class peculiarly alone, not only
as an actress, but as a woman. Expend-
ing boundless energy in her arduous pro-
reseion since very young womanhood-
Sesadying like a fiend and acting like an
angel; directing, managing, passing artls-
Ito Judgment on each smallest detail; liv-
ing to the highest limit the few hours Of
daylight she has been willing to enjoy,
and burning the candle without stint when
not sleeping, she is reported to be still
the embodiment Of high-power acting,
graceful. vimful. unsparing of SELF incom-
parable in her technique
Fifth Time Here.
This win be the fifth appearance of the
really great F'renchwoman in Omaha. She
came first in the sos, appearing at the old
Boyd Opera house. Her second appear
ance was at the new, Boyd in the season
Of 's0-'s1. She appeared In the new Boyd
again on February s. 1901. when she pre-
sented La Tosca," the play in which
Sardou has played on all the keys of hui
man passion" as The Bee critic wrote at
that time. Her last stop in Omaha was
on February q, 1906, when she played
a tlat 81 he. mi
II was set forth frankly that this was
Nine. Bernhardt's FIRST farewell visit to
Omaha, and now she Is to give her last
farewell. "L'Aiglon" will be the play at
the Brandeis.
At her last performance in Omaha the
peerless exponent of the dramatic art was
greeted by an audience described as ''The
largest ever assembled in Omaha to wit
ness a dramatic performance"
Since she Is to be seen In Omaha for
the last time, something or Bernhardts
antecedents and career will be of interest
She was born in Paris in October, 1884, and
lacks but little OF touching the Biblical
tapeline OF life's race. She is Jewess, as
history sets 1t down, of French and Dutch
parentage. The French element In her
makeup would account for her tremendous
temperament, and her wearing qualities,
and power of application, might be at
tributed to the Teutonic ancestor. BY her
fathers wish Rosine cher baptismal name)
was baptsed and brought up in the
Christian faith receiving her education in
a convent. Her cleverness was a thing OF
early growth, for at IA she entered the
Paris conservatoire. Shortly she had gained
prizes for both tragedy and comedy. and in
1852 at IS, made her debut at the Theater
u ~ "A. \.
gree, because she thought her merit was
not sufficiently recognized, and undertook
burlesque for a while That she had real
genius began TO appear when she under
took parts at the Odeon in 1867, and the
Theater Francois recalled her in 1872. She
achieved some triumphs and became a
regular member of the company, charging
her repertoire steadily.
First Visit 90 America.
Her first London appearance was in 1879.
and she won her way brilliantly among the
British lovers OF the drama. Then her
temperament boiled over and she severed
her connection with the premier French
playhouse The courts made her pay $4,000
for breach Of contract-and Bernhard soon
after undertook her first trip 10 the United
States, gathering In the amount Of the
fine and some street car fare besides. She
was received with acclaim, and became
enthusiastic over the American people.
Russia and other European countries then
had opportunity TO see her in various roles,
and in 1852 she committed matrimony, the
chosen mate being Jacques Damala, a
Greek He held her attention only until
the next year, when they separated.
Photographed by The Bee.
Nine Bernhardt soon after this acquired
a theater OF her own and produced sue
cessfully several plays, among them being
I 'I' Aiglon," her role for Omaha. In 1890
Bernhard became associated with Con-
slant Coquelin, the leading comedian Of
France. ana he was with her when she
appeared In Omaha in 1901. At that period
OF her career the great artistic was cher
ishing a hatred OF the camera, but The
Bee was able 10 present an excellent pic
ture of herself and Coquelin at dinner In
their private car. The taking OF this pic
ture was the result OF an earlier success
ful attempt TO photograph her when she
was driving away from the depot, and
whom she imagined she had defeated the
aim OF the photographer. Proofs OF the
first picture were shown Nine. Bernhardt
and she was pleased 10 express her de-
delight. You make re cheeks 50 full; l
like IT," she said. and then consented to
let the second picture be taken.
Bernhard was 81 at that time. and per
haps had very natural fear the camera
might make her appear as growing old