The Washington times., 1923-03-19

SHSo6SN va CAAS last nL9uIsA1tG ~
pearance Of her life--in the
movies. Day by day Madame
Bernhardt is weakening her VIE
tally is ebbing under the rayages
Of the illness which Is claiming
her life.
But Madame Bernhard does not
worry over her own physical con-
dition. She merely shrugs her
shoulders and naurmure:
1T cannot be helped.
Hopes 70 Aid Son.
Her hopes are borne up By the
fact that perhaps the film which
she IN leaving TO her son Maurice
viii go q long ways towards assist
ING him financially and towards
paying off the debts which she
herself contracted through bad
business ventures.
Even Madame Bernharglt herself
has the presentment of death and
she bids her attendants hurry e.
though she feared that the dread
black winged angel might appear
before the picture II finished.
The projection room" as the
moving picture Photographic cham
Der IL called, has been installed in
Madame Bernhardt's own home. She
choose Leon Abrams Of New York
TO organize and direct the company
which win exhibit her Farewell.
Work il Rushed.
Abrams 10 Fastening the filming
OF the picture at break.neck speed
~ order TO get IL completed before
Madame Berrhardt's health gets 90
bad she cannot appear 1t all, even
In the movies"
The doctors are most secrstfye
about Madame Bernhardk's condi.
ton. Only the parking Of two motor
trucks with cinema parapherualia
revealed the fact that moving pic
lures were being taken In an i'm.
provtsed studio In her home.
A reporter for international News
Service managed to gain entrance
to the house. There he found Mad
anne Bernhardt acting with ali her
OLD time verve beneath the glass top
bright. her cheeks flushed with
feverish interest.
But the most interesting thing
OF all was the awe with which the
stage hands and conservatory
laborerg beheld her.
The word was whispered around:
fhe madame comes.'
instantly cigarettes were cast
under foot and trampled into the
ground. Coats were flung into the
air to carry off the tobacco smoke
and hats were held in hand.
With the regal afr OF kingdom.
Madame Bernhard neared.
Only the perfume OF roses and vfo-
lets FILLED the air as Madame Bern
hardt began on the final fare.
welP' OF her life. On her appear.
ance Friday she wore a blue morn.
ing wrap with long sleeves, the
dainty ruffies covering long. white
hands with blue veins showing on
the surface. There was a visible
tremble as she began.
Admits Age.
The face was yellow with crack
ed, parchment.like skin. Madame
BernhaFdt is old and she does not
attempt to cheat nature by max.
ing up.
at is too much to lie; too much
exertion," declared the famous act
ress when some friend asked her
why she did not cover her face
with grease paint.
Madame Bernhard, even a year
as she does today, because Of the
illness which has drawn, her skin.
But her eyes are as bright as ever,
and their keeness shows the un-
bending spirit behind them. Her
hair is white and she does not dye
it. Sometimes she held a handker-
chief before her mouth as though
to stifle a cough.
Her profile had something in it Of
the appearance OF George Wash
lngton, with the white hair tied at
her neck with big black ribbon.
Has Difficult Role.
The farewell play in which Sarah
appears is called "Lavoyante." It
is the story of a paralyzed fortune
attic with only a trained chimpan-
zee for companion and Jacquelin.
a woman servant who cares for the
apartment and feeds the monkey.
The scenes are most difficult,
requiring constant repetition, but
never once has Madame Bernhard
shown any signs of irritation.
When the director would tell her,
probably for the third or fourth
time, that a scene must be por-
trayed once again, Madame Bern
hardt with a smile would reply:
IT feared for it. I always do"
The deafness Of the actress re.
quired much additional work and
she seemed worried over the an
noyance it caused her director. But
signs of annoyance were short
lived as she was usually smiling
at the New York accent Of Abrams
French.
Madame Normand, her secretary,
proved a walking drug store. She
carried bottles Of smelling salts, a
thermos bottle. sanitary cups,
small bottle of milk, an eyewash
cup, and a thermometer. When
the glare Of the blue lights was
turned directly upon Madame Bern
hardt she would call:
"Normand. my glasses"
And Normand would fix upon
her mistress a large pair of blue
tinted spectacles such as are worn
by auto drivers in the sunshine.
It was during intermission for
tea that the International News
Service correspondent revealed his
identity.
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