The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-02-05
Mrs. Sarah Bernhard
THE Divine"


heights in emotional acting never
dreamed OF by others of the most
sanguine members of her profession.
She has created hundreds of stage
characters with predominating
characteristic Of love, hate or jeal.
ousy and developed them as no 9th.
er woman OF any age has done. While
there are other women who in their
native country have received the re.
cQgnition Of the great tragedienne
there is no other and never yet has
Teen that has met with the world
wide reclamation that has greeted
Nine. Bernhard.
Although she has always used her
native French On the stage, people of
al nations, many of whom could not
understand her language have .been
among her most ardent admirers.
She has surpassed, too. in that she
has held the center Of the stages
throughout three generations. She is
the first actress upon whom for stage
merits alone has been conferred the
cross OF the Legion Of Honor. This
was bestowed in February, 1914, af-
ter thirty years Of contention.
The life Of Sarah Bernhard is
woven full of dramatic incidents.
The day Of her birth is recognized
as October %, 1874. She is the
daughter of Dutch Jewish mother
and French official father. When a
very small child she was sent to
Paris where she spent much time
with relatives. At twelve years of
age she went to Grand Camp Con-
vent, Versailles, where she made her
first public appearance in a little mi
racle play.
The effect Of this play was to in
spire in the supersensitive child a
desire to become a nun. Her mother
fatty opposed the idea and Bern
hardt was taken to the theater in.
stead, and her stage career began.
One year later at the age Of 10 she
had won the second prize for TRACE
dy. A subscription was taken among
the stage folk which enabled her to
remain in the conservatory another
year and at the end Of that time she
had won the second prize in come
dy.
Her debut came in 1862 when she
appeared in minor part and with
out any marked success. Five years
later she won her first definite sue
| cess as Cordelia in a French trans
lation OF King Lear. With the COM
ing OF the Franco-Prussian war soon
after, Bernhard turned her theater
into hospital for the nursing of
wounded soldiers and won wide.
spread approval.
Some time later she began life
member of the Coincide Franchise
After repeated clashes with the man
agement of the institution and in.
curing. forfeit Of $4,000 she left
the stage and plunged into sculpture
winning considerable recognition.
At length she returned to the stage
going first to England then TO Den
mark, Russia and at length Ameri
ca. Her combined temper and tenn
permanent brought her to break
with theatrical arrangements and she
was refused the use of theaters. She
then appeared in circus tents, arm
cries and concert halls but never at
the sacrifice of her dignity. AS late
as 1905 Bernhard was the victim OF
an egg and stone throwing in Que
bee, where her company was driven
from town by body of 200 men and
boys. She later received an official
apology for the act from Sir Wilfred
Laurier, and she dismissed the Incl
dent by taking out 100000 acci
dent insurance.
The gross receipts Of Bernhardts
| performances have aggregated mil
lions of dollars. She has, however
saved nothing. She has often lived
SO close to the margin that 1t has
been necessary to advance her on
her salary, with her life insurance
policy as security. Much Of her
money she has expended in theatre
cal ventures and upon her grand
child.
The recognition that she has re
ceived has been almost limitless. In
Vienna the men from her audience
loosed her horses from her carriage
and drew her through the streets
crying "vive Bernhard. Demonstra
tions almost as great have met hei
| in all sections of the world.
Bernhard has expressed wish &c
act until overtaken by death, and
when a year ago she was obliged tc