The sun., 1916-12-16
SPOTLIGHT TAKEN;
BERNHARDT RAVES
Sarah Does a MOnOlogue That
Spells Laurette's Perfect
ly Good Party.
BOX SEAT THE CAUSE
Actress Breaks a String in
"The Harp Of
Life"

There was n party in honor Of Nine.
Sarah Bernhardt In Willie Newman's
Empire Theatre yesterday afternoon.
and for a few minutes everything ran
beautifully. But about two seconds after
Madame had arrived In the theatre, or
long enough for the honor guest to no.
t'cc that she had been assigned to the
second box from the stage instead of to
the box hugging the footlights, the
Divine Sarah began to say things In her
native tongue that for some moments
threatened TO put the rollers under the
whole function.
II seems that Laurette Taylor .and
Friend Husband J.. Hartley Manners,
and George G. Tyler and Marc Kiaw
and Abe Erlanger thought II would be a
lovely tribute to the only Bernhardt to
pack up the props. scenery and costumes
Of Miss Taylor's The Harp OF Life"
In the Globe Theatre. haul the whole
show down through the snow OF Broad-
way TO Willie Newman's show shop and
give a special performance OF THE Harp
o. Life for Nine. Berthardt's particular
pleasure.
All OF which was done. Furthermore.
the Messrs. Klaw. Erlanger and Tyler
had programmes printed in French for
Aadame's benefit. Also they had sent
out invitations only to the elect Of thea.
trodom. with the result that some min
utes before the curtain was scheduled to
rse upon the first act OF THE Harp OF
Life"--"La Harpe de Ia We on the
special programme yesterday-the En-
Dire was filled comfortably with the
starriest all star audience that even
Willie NORMAN AvAr had aaep
Everybody Gets Anxious
Fifteen minutes after the curtain
should have gone up but hadn't there
wasn't a meteor. comet or star OF the
nrst theatrical magnitude missing ex-
cept the Divine Sarah herself. Various
gentlemen connected with the mana
gerial end Of The Harp Of Life" were
pacing the lobby ~anxiously. sometimes
chewing up programmes printed on high
priced white paper. again tiptoeing into
the theatre to see II by any chance
Madame had arrived, and all the time
wondering how they ever were going to
run OF THE Harp Of Life In time TO
get the scenery. Props. costumes and
company back 10 the Globe Theatre for
the regular performance.
But some time before 8 o'clock-the
performance la been scheduled to begin
~ stlJ-tncTC was sOIucWTdt VI u u uO
IN the region of the Fortieth street en-
trance, on the north side OF the orches-
ira chairs. Even the voice Of De Wolf
Hopper, talking across four row OF
seats to Bill Clifton Crawford. became
subdued and every star and staress in
the house looked expectantly towsrd the
lone empty box.
But Of a udden an outrunner from
Madame's party entered the north door.
hurried back stage and spoke q word to
the electrician. Immediately out went
all the lights. leaving the theatre in pitch
darkness. A sound OF chairs being
moved amid the inkiness could be heard.
Then the lights were flashed on full
suddenly.
Seated In the second box from the
stage was the great Bernhardt. all sable
hat, great dark eyes. sable coat, orchids
and violets. 1t was some entrance. And
the mightiest of American and English
players NOW In New York. who com
posed the audience. rose to their feet
and cheered and waved handkerchief
and gloves and generally grew emo
tional In their tribute.
Vow IL starts.
Nine. B%ernhardt turned toward them
and waved her gloved hand back al
them happily. Slowly then. as the au-
diencc settled Itself for 1.-THE Harp OF
Life" to begin. Madame turned TOWARD
the dimming footlights. There wasn't
much ligh left. but there was enough
10 show that Madame or the instant
had begun to register extreme annoy.
ance.
In the box ahead Of her-ahead and
nearer the stage. rrrrrrememberrrr. -
sat somebody, anybody. and n party ol
friends, The somebody happened to h,
Mss Maggie Mitchell. who made hei
hTst appearance on the stage almos'
"'ghty-four years ago. Miss Mitchell
having made her debut as a baby 500,
.fer her birth In Manhattan In 1882
hut II wasn't because Miss Mitchell Il
? dozen years older thar Madame tina
ire American actress had the stage box
vas merely because the matinee man
'gers, who. Of course. would have giver
I'll eight boxes to Madame II she wanted
mem. thought that the Divine Saral
'puld see the performance better from
ne oox not so close to the foo,lights.
Even managers sometimes forget tina
u anybody Is TO have the star dressin,
room. the exclusive privilege Of havin,
)ewelry stolen. the name in ~clectri
lights and all the press notices it's tn
Ear, And when one has been "A star 10
moro b half a century ones llfetim
lrNileges cannot be lightly given up.
The curtain was up now and Mis-
Taylor had made her entrance and ha,
Kissed her hand toward Madame. Bu
Madame muffed It. As the applause 10
Miss Taylor died down those seate
within "A lengthy radius of MAZDA me
second cabin box had some trouble |
Tearing the dialogue on the stage be
,anse Of the monolgue in French comm
from the neighborhood OF Nine. Bcrr
hardt's chair.
Leaves the BOx Flat.
Name OF a name! Sacrebleu Whs
II II that 1t is that that? Qu'est-ce qu
"est que car Name Of "A dog PouI
Gui NATION iait ca? Why-,hat Is TIN
hat which II is that I should like
snow oh, que ca m'embete-nom d'u
chen!
Snnniin,an Mn. NInuaLo NiAnholI nu