SARAH BERNHARDT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1923, Page 1

SARAH BERNHARDT.

HER LOVE OF FRANCE

LONDON. July 21

Sir George Arthur. who knew Mine. Sarah Bernhardt well for many years, has written a. short sketch of Iter life, which, in the compass of fewer than 2<X) pages, narrates the outstanding features of her extraordinary life. Ho describes how, early in her career, she was saved from complete financial ruin by Mine. Adelina Patti consenting to sing at a benefit performance for her, and how Victor Hugo, on her playing in one of his dramas, “bent his knee anil with words of gratitude kissed the hands of the stage queen.” Her opinions on acting and actors arc freely quoted throughout. “Of Guitry site spoke—and spoke often —as a rare instance of a great artist who was also a great actor. Irving, she told the present writer, was far from n great actor, but perhaps the greatest artist in the world. Coquelin on ihe other hand, site considered as a comedian almost without- a peer, blit not iti its wider sense as a great artist.”

Her patriotism was always ardent. As Sir George Arthur says: Utter devotion to country was in grained in Sarah; she was patriot no

less than artist, and it thriled her to leant site was on the list of those whom the Kaiser would demand as hostages as soon as lie should have battered down the doors of Paris. This knowledge only spurred her to activity which neither ago nor accident could restrain. Sarah JJeruhardt had known many Royal personages, but it was Queen Alexandra whom site most admired. Of all the illustrious personages with whom she came in contact, one figure appealed to her perpetually and irresistibly. Jn far oil' days she had been presented at Copenhagen to the then Princess of "Wales. She spoke of Iter at the time as of having blinded her to everybody else present, and the friendship—for in spite of the social straits which lay between them, it was little else—extended to her by Queen Alexandra was admittedly one ol the happiest items in her life. -This short study brings out the impulsive, generous nature of the great French -actress anti makes us want to know still more about her.