Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-05

BALTIMORE, MD, January Sit Ii,
~" when an automobile stops Ut the
.heater. ana the hoy Ut the door an
houhccs that Madame Ecrnhardt l,;,.,
survived. Inside. tho manager and his
assistants mop perspirinc bruws and
emit. loud sghs OF relief For The
DIVINE Sarah though blessed with the
oi8nty OF scNcnty-two years and minus
l2it icH. IN still Honthfully uncer-
tam proposition. Finding her privut Q
ear irksomc and "stufy." she insists
upon motoring between towns when
ever possible. keeping her managers In
4 state % nervous pcsSiniiSm as to
brcaldowns and accidents that Will
prevent her from appearing and al
ways arriving just In time, pleased
with her trip and tho most energetic
ncmber Of her company.
This night she is in high humor, and
The celebrated voice may he heard talk :
ing Noiublo French before she liz in
the door Of the theutcr. Her entrance
Is absolutely unique. being more in
the nature OF Il court procession than
the passing OF an individual. First
comes ihc court physician. short,
stout iittle Frenchmnu with diSnificd
eyebrows aud neatly trimmed beard.
Next comes the great LADY herself al
most completely hidden in fur coat
ana many scurfs and seated on a
white chair taiso without lcgs), which
Is carried by two men servants. In
guard Of two more Ercnchmcn and
the English secretary and mauamc's
maid, leading by the leash tho newest
acquisition 10 the Bcrnhardt house
hol"-a large Aircdale answering to
the name OF Buster" a present from
her manager.
IN spite Of Sarah's historic thinpcss
Shc ~ evidently heavy, FOR tho French
nich rose no timo in getting her 10
lIcr dressing groom. but. alas, not bc-
corrected on the stage The set for
lleoDat ru Is in position. the stage car
pcnter and his assistants have finished
lneii work and gone out TO get some
'hilg TO eat; aud the stage is de-
serted except for the electrician who
mas ialleh asleep on Cleopatra's couch
al the the right center. ono leg propped
over the back and "a shaDeIAss felt hat
shtdinS his eyes Madame has him
ruaeiF awakened and told to get the
hshtS IN place. after which she points
out mat the couch and mushroom
tabarct are hairs breadth on NJ
position. and at last enters her dress
maroon TO prepare for the play.
Even mere she is by no means stilI
while drinking her evening portion or
lh'h ana looming her Clcopatra's
robes she Keeps up a continuous flow.
or animated chatter concerning last
nights terrible supers and the sur
priSinS incident which happenoa 81
route hE motor. Seeing a small bow
nursing an injured arm and crying
sarah, who is extremely homeslck for
her own little sreat-grandchildren
ordered the chauffeur Ia stop and in
luire into the ch!id's distress.
discovered lie Was belgian.
10 her surprise. he answered her
nues''ohs III french; curiously enough
lie was belgian More Than ,hIs
Madame Bernhardt could not ask TIL.
ooS WAS Immediately bundled into the
machine and taken TO the nearest doc
TOR $. where his arm was bound IN
and everything possible done for hin,
Here Madame left him and went on
her way. rejoicing that she had had
the good fortune to rescue Belgian.
ms IS the Rernhardt of to-day
oio, nut young with the enthusiasIns or
youth; crippled. hut dominated BY A
VIII that recognizes no obstacles In
the achievement Of her ends She is. in
Tact. the embodiment OF the sptrii of
FRANCE, which though wounded and
weakened. hSts on. with a tenacitv and
courage that command the admiration
Q. the world. For the eighth time.
Madame has come to America to re
coup her dwindling fortunes and 10
pursue the career which she has said
us my life" She was crossing ,ha
Atlantic at the time nine vessels were
lorpcdoed off the Americans coast. and
80 va " Jay i:F snip was pursued
by submarines. which rather enter
tanned than frightened her. 1T was
most charming" she said in comment
ing on the matter. Arriving in New
York, she was met by her manager and
large deputation OF artists writer's
and theatrical acquaintance VINO are
her enthusiastic admirers, while one or
me hrst visitors TO her hotel was "A little
girl who had copied the memoirs Of the
actress BY hand, and wanted the Mad
anne 10 sign II. which the Madame did
Ihen she went on, in her motor car
TO have a look at Broadway. with which
Sc had first made her acquaintance
thirty-hrc years before
Rehenrsed ut niagara.
The second week after her arrival
vas spent al Niagara. where the com
panN rehearscd all Of the repertoire
Madame Bcrnhard loves the rapids. II
was here that she hrst started her
remarkable publicity campaign during
her tour Of 1881 by falling into The
Niagara River. thereby gaining :. press
introduction TO the entire country.