New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15

,.ne Sarah. or. more commonly
which she herself prefers Who
ssvs Madame Felix. or even
s.ne Rachel Felix. or anything hut
-, To herself YOU would use the
.s.re as a prefix TO the Sarah. I'm
rrench press the prefix is generally
-,,ed. not from haste or familiarity
=, les from the slovenlincss which
-. many i'm private life 90 suppress
c,nyentional terms OF courtesy in
ling and IN print Not for any Of
reasons. none Of which prevail
r-ance. but from a yccognition Of
1, supreme position TO which the
.,.s, has attained.
ne red ribbon Of the Legion Of
,,.,o- IS tho official recognition 81 that
..,oo late and TO the last "a re-
s~s,t recognition. We may almost
note Dr. Johnson's lines.
=, nations slowly wise and mcanly
just
r. buried merit raise the tardy bust
N,ssme Sarah is SO far from being
,,,e5 that i'm spite Of the Psalmist,
=, almost think Of her as immortal:
-bcauty's ensign yet
crimson in thy lips and.n thy checks
ss, she has waited near forty years
- ,he tribute so freely flung to celeb
.aiss and 10 ucdiocriucs IN every other
,.,fession than hers. Il has long been
,,,pr that Sarah wanted 10. For
-,rr years past Minister after Min
.,.s- has been asked % award her
.,s distinction. These Ministers have
,.,r content 90 shelter themselves be-
And the Chancclicre OF the Legion Of
poror. and the Chanccliere TOOK
..f,se behind traditions. precedents
cad screen ~ red tape. Every such
hsr becomes sooner or later incrusted
,th harnaclcs. This is no confusion
= metaphors Earnaclcs are nature $
"A tspe. Tile tendency Of all public
ssmi-pubIc Offices is to become Cir
-mlocuiion Offices. and the Legion of
so,or was no exception. To no actress.
s actress. had ever been given this
sricular bit Of red ribbon Madame
Rret for many years the leading lady
9 the Theatre Francois, received it
NJ because she was an actress. but
s.eause she was a lecturer al the con-
snaioire
Soeiai as we'll as official prejudices
rood IN the way. An actress has i'm
Pak no social position She was
sometimes 10 Dee seen. bat not met. i'm
great houses She was there only in
her Professional capacity Between her
md re company was drawn that other
.el rbbon which Grisi once tore down
before she would sing. The women
ssrred The way: and so did the men in
rspert Of their wives if not Of them
Sizes one Of the greatest scandals
s'r known in Paris swept that city
am end % end when the wife Of
Ffish Ambassador asked certain great
sies II the Faubourg 10 luncheon, and
ag found Madame Bartet a guest
y they had been warned not one Of
nfm would have gone. In the earlier
sls o. Sarah's rcnown. her salon
teller in the Avenue dc Nilhers was
afonged In the afternoon by men
shose distinction was social as well
s miliisry, political diplomatic, liter
~ Or artistic. OF their wives not one
ser came. You met in that delightful
ron women who would have been or
nnsnis anywhere but they were in
sa ornaments Of the stage only. or
y circles even more remote from So
a''y' or Of the studios.
he state Of things which exists in
lahdon has never existed in Paris nor
Mink ir any other Continental CAPT
al Actresses have long had a foothold
zee IN good houses-sOme Of them on
rms u intimacy Titles have for a
s'nefaiion and more been conferred on
Si7rs. By which their wives profited.
noe the knlghting Of the husband
Raos his wife Lady So and So. They
'sa 10 Court Royalty especially in
a' person OF the late King Edward,
20 long smiled on them When queen
'N'oFia summoned "a theatrical COM
ty 10 play before her at Windsor.
sehief members Of il were presented
Ter II Is on record in her Journal
-A she welcomed Rachel and thought
Innocent" manner attractive.
'lsn Sarah came 10 London as a
fnber OF the Coincide FRANCHISE
'ag doors opened TO her. and inside
etm some Of the sumest women in
~aoon greeted her II provoked only
N-'fment in Paris. and in no respect
vowed her position there. The story
- been too often told 20 need re-
FNung. am not sure that New York
rs al that time much less obdurate
hsa Paris
maitered little 20 Madame Sarah.
g" ame, her career. her life were
"piete without H. Nor need IL con-
'a 10 20 ask whether her admission
7" me Legion Of Honor is likely 10
"r The siringency Of that social ex-
Noh which is still the lot Of the
'h actress. nor does II concern
She is being apart. She has
her own life I'm her own way; IN
Private ana l., ....stt M ohio ,boser