The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-29
LOW MASS SUNG
1T BERNHARDT
FUNERAL
Police Unable "a Hold Back
Crowds That Throng
Church in Paris.
NY FRANK =. MASON,
international News Service.

PARIS, March 29.--Amidst almost
unprecedented scenes Of grief and
lanentation, Madame Sarah Bern.
hardt-.'the Divine Sarah was
buried today. 1t had been an
nounced that there would be no
sermon, no mass and no music, but
at the last minute this program
was changed. There was q low
mass In the Church Of st. Francois
De Sales, which lasted an hour. A.
funeral chant was sung and IN or
chestra played ''Asa's Death" from
Peer Gynt'
The police lines were unable to
hold back the enormous crowd
which gathered about the church.
Persons brushed past the gen
darmes and entered the church
amidst great confusion. The s0lem-
the trampling OF feet and the scrap
ing of chairs. Men and women
crowded close to the eatafalque In
an effort to see the coffin, which
was hidden beneath = mass ct
flowers.
Hats 1t Theater.
The cortege, after the church
service. passed in front Of the
Sarah Bernhardt Theater. where II
halted for d minute.
Among the wreaths were three
from the Lambs Club, the Players
Club and the Actors Equity, Of
New York. Many Americans were
among the mourners.
An unconventional touch was IN
troduced in the church service
when an usher raped loudly three
times, the signal in French theateTs
that the curtain is about to be
raised. This opened the brief
church service, The paHbeareTa
were actors from the Sarah Bern
haFdt TheateF.
ME funeral eortege was mors.
than half a mile long. There We're
about fifty carriages. The rest Of
the mourners were on foot.
Four cabinet members represents
Berard, M. Rebel, M. Strauss, and
M. Pate.
Million View CoFtege.
The Paris Midi estimated that
40, 900 persons from all parts Of the
world signed the mourning register
in the hallway Of Madame Bern
hardt's home,
The streets In the vicinity Of her
such activity since the armietice
celebration. It was estimated that
/, 900, 900 persons saw the eortege.
Miss Mary Dugan. who described
herself to the police as twenty-five
years of age, of Boston, declared
that valuable sable neck pieee
had been stolen. from her while she
was passing before Madame Bern
hardt's coffin 1E'aEs n sse.a
The funeral cortege formed short
~ before o'clock. owing to delays
caused, by the vast crowds. tt
moved at a snaiI's pace. The coffin
was covered with white lilacs and
lilies Of the valley Wreat1ls almost
covered the hearse. 3sf y7gl73
/ Five Wagons Of Flowers. 81
Nine. Bernhardt's coffin rested
upon an immense catafaIque erected
in the center OF the nave.
Five great, flat topped wagons
were waiting in front of the church
to carry the flowers after the cere,
mony, According to French custom,
the floats conveying the floral trl-
butes travel ahead of the hearse.
The mouners walk behind the hearae.
Strict police orders were given to
prevent efforts to Conmercialize the
death of Nine Bearnhardt, but they
were not successfully enforced. DOG.
ems of persons were in the streets
near the church selling post cards
with the picture of Mime Bernhard.
books about her and other souvenirs
having an association with the world
renowned actress.
Sacha Guitry. playwright, who
wrote a play especially for Nine
Bernhard last autumn when sha
was stricken with her final illness.
proposed that all of the Paris
theaters give benefit performance
tonight to erect a monument for
Nine Bernhard.
HnErs CrpXYE WOLF YYIEYR