AN ECHO OF BERNHARDT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1307, 13 May 1915, Page 34

AN ECHO OF BERNHARDT.

The surgeons attending Madame Sarah Bernhardt attribute the trouble to an injury caused whilst falling upon her knees in the attitude of prayer in the final scene of “Jeanne D’Arc. ’ Australian p’aygoers (says the Sydney “Morning Herald”) will never forget the slight figure in armour with the standard in her hand who advanced to the footlights and declaimed in thrilling fashion: “Je connais mon pays.” The beautiful voice of 1891 rose and fell in a speech which signified “I know my country, and the French people, and though France shall swim in blood, they will drive the English out.” There had been some debate between the late J. C. Williamson and H. E. Abbey (New York) as to how our audiences would take Joan of Arc’s defiance. The diva, who hated speak ing English, but understood it perfectly, remarked with confidence and justifiable pride: “When I say it, I make them that they like it!” As a matter of fact, the whole audience cheered, and the ladies waved their pocket handkerchiefs. In Sydney Madame Bernhardt steadily declined to speak English. One of the London dailies tells a good story of an English journalist who persuaded the great actress to talk in his difficult language. Now, the diva, who had lived through the war of 1870, detested Germans, and for 30 years refused to act there. A German, who was in the group smi’ed offensively with the explanation, “Pardon, Madame, but your English makes me laugh.” “Let us speak French, then,” said Madame Bernhardt, and French was spoken. In a few seconds the great actress’ excessive features assumed an expression of intense anguish. “What is wrong, Madame?” said the English journalist, with genuine solicitude. Madame Bernhardt pointed to her uncouth German interlocutor. is this gentleman’s French,” she said, with a catch in the golden voice, “it makes me want to cry.” .