The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
"Ia Divine Sarah" Lectures for
the First Time in
Her Life.
AGAIN HAS STAGE FRIGHT
The Great Tragrdicnme Con-
fcssrs Her Age. 20. With
Graceful MOdcsty.

PARIS, Jan. s..--Ihc IFtlstf anu III.
Srary worlds in Paris have had during the
Pas fcw days two of the greatest sur
prises Of years. Sarah. "La Divine
Sarah has been made a knight Of the
LEGION Of Honor and has appeared for the
hrst time on the lecture stage
The red ribbon had been expected. For
moro than twenty years ardent admirers
of NINE. B.rnhardt have fought bitter
battles with all the Premers who have
occupied In rapid succession the Ministry
in the Place Beauvau. just what the OBJ
lection was no one really knew For
many years IT was asserted that the
Legion OF Honor would never be granted
90 a woman and the statesmen who were
Asked TO make an exception In favor OF
The worlds greatest living actress sought
refuge behind that excuse. Later, how
ever, several exceptions were mad. TO the
rule. Mime. Paquln. the dressmaker re-
ccived the red ribbon and several women
teachers at the Conservatory OF Music
we're also decorated. but every appeal in
favor OF Sarah Bernhard proved vain.
II was said by some that Nine. Bern
hardt was barred by the chancellor of the
order OF the Legion of Honor OH account
OF an unfortunate love affair which she
had experienced In her youth with an
officer OF the German army and that the
latter had succeeded In procuring through
his acquaintance with the actress valuable
evidently merely legend.
Won't Bow To "L~s Prusses.''
Nine. Bernhardt Is perhaps to-day the
most patriotic woman in France. For
thirty years following the disastrous
Franco russian war she refused steadily
70 visit the country which had defeated
her beloved "patre." II has been said
On several occasions that the Kaiser re-
peatedly made personal appeals 10 the
actress. but that every one was cour-
teously declined
The real reason has never been given
cut but the refusal to honor Mime. Bern
hardt apparently originated in a mere
peccadllo which red tape and time worn
Pou''ne kept alive during all these Year,
~ tn. archives OF the palace az the cor
n-r Of the Rue de Soferno and the Qua
d'Drsay, which serves a. chancellory Of
The Legion OF Honor.
tn. chancellor himself ~ generally ~
Oil retired army General who occupies
'jc position for many years. and during
all t.. time that the irruhardt night has
iceu going uu there have been only two
occupants OF this post. To any one who
'rolliur with tho red tape OF every
'i'ag related to III. various departments
~ he t'r,rch Government II viii u. no
sYrDris. 10 learn that the applications
made 10y friends of the great actress for
her nomination to the Legion OF Honor
nav" been UigeonhOIeO Tor years anu
Yrohubly never consulted. at least during
thu last decade. Minister after Minister
ha. refused 70 consider any demand that
,hy ease l.. .eop-u-d for IN" simple res-
son that on. OF his predecessors had
closed u
Proudly wearing tn. red ribbon pinned
on her waist. Nine Beruhardt made her
debut this week as e. lecturer. and after
almost tftv years ~ uninterrupted tri-
uinphs on the dramatic stage the great
tragedienue was trembling like Ii child
when she entered the tniv-rsite DIES
Annales, whore large audience was
waiting.
Vas stage fright.
Before stepping up 10 the speakers
chair Sarah confided to the friends who
vere with her that for the second time
n her life she was actually experiencing
q bad attack OF 'ie trac," which describes
IN q more forceful manner what on the
American stage is known az stage fright
The first time she felt the pangs OF that
terrific ailment was almost nifty years
ago, when she first appeared on the stage
Of the National Conservatory of Music
And this led the actress to tell her audi
Ance few anecdotes OF those never for
gotten days.
With graceful modesty she claimed the
Indulgence OF her audience for a debu-
tent0. She WAS AFRAID, she eai0, that
there would be a good deal of egotism in
what she was going to tell them Of her
beginnings as an actress,
THE little girl OF 4 years old. OF whom
am going to speak 70 you seems another
person. second II not third--from the
one who fifty-nine years later addresses
you here"
Never did woman acknowledge with
more grace her three score and ten years.
The lecture had been announced as a
dissertation on the art of elocution and
the lecturer selected the very best topic
which could be found by relating Just how
she studied that art more than half a
century ago. She told OF friend OF her
family named Meydieu. who was the first
10 discover Sarah He induced her
parents to allow him to teach her the
elementary principles of elocution. and
elementary they were indeed. Day after
day. hour after hour. the poor child had
10 repeat dozens Of times:
"Combien ces six saucissons-ci? Cest
ak SOUS, ces six saucissons-ci. .
Sin sous ceux-ci, six sous ceux-la, six sous
cos six saucissons-la. ."
sorrow full Apprenticeship.
This was 10 accuston her to the correct
pronunciation VI the letter 49," and there
verc many others for tho rest Of the al
phabci. Tho only draw back, however,
Was that VI. Ne ydleu Was Il native Of the
Mid ana was AFFLICTED with the most ter
Far n IA. ~t.rL IA