DUPED GREAT SARAH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1645, 2 December 1916, Page 4

DUPED GREAT SARAH.

ACTRESS AND “TOUCHING LETTER.” “HAD HIS LEGS CUT OFF.” Mine. Sarah Bernhardt, the great tragedienne, has been the victim of a common swindler, whose name is Charles Chatelain. In 1913 Chafelain, according to his own story, was the victim of a mountain accident. AA nile climbing Mount Blanc lie had both his feet frozen, and his logs had to he amputated. Some time ago he dressed in the uniform of a soldier in the 2nd Regiment of French Infantry, decorating himself with a military medal and a war cross. Ho wrote a touching letter to Aline. Sarah Bernhardt, explaining that he had been wounded “while defending his country village in (he Marne.” He told how he had his legs cut oil by a German “marmile,” and begged her to ho his “marraine” (godmother). The greal tragedienne accepted, and wrote to her now protege. She sent him money, gave him presents, and visited him on several ocacsions. Recently, Chatelain was admitted to a special hospital at Lyons. During his absence the police at Lyons made inquiries concerning the identity of Chalelain, who on being found io he a swindler, was arrested in Paris.

It is no! unlikely 11ml llu* kindly licnrt of the greet aelress was lonehed by the feel (he! she herself knew what the loss of a limh meenl. It will ho rooallod (hat she had a log ampntatod some linio ego. Her spirit was so strong', however, and her love of (he stage so ardent, that, she appeared not only afterwards, in Paris in “Les (’ethedreles,” taking a powerful part. A envious little story is told of Madame; Sarah Bernhardt. The divine Bernhardt's Scottish appearances have not been numerous, so that it should not he diflieult to locale the theatre in which the incident occurred, it was in one of the biggest Scottish cities, and Sarah was playing a part wherein the villain had to threaten her with an attack of personal violence. Suddenly a hig, brawny, Scots scene-shifter, who in the intervals of helping himself to “wee drappies" of whisky had beep watching Sarah and growing more and mure tearful the while, pulled himself together, and, dashing on to the stage, swung the “villain” round and, holding his huge fist in the villain’s face, exclaimed, “Back, ye villain! Ye’ll no he hurting the puir French lassie while I’m by!” Madame Sarah Bernhard! was horn of -Jewish parents, hut was baptised into the Christian faith by her parents’ desire. She was then taken to a convent near Versailles, where she received her early education. Entering the Paris Conservatoire she gained prizes for both tragedy and comedy. In 1802 she made her debut as Iphigenie at the Theatre Francais, but attracted so little notice that she soon left the theatre, only to meet with still less success in burlesque. She has written a drama, and is acknowledged to be the greatest living tragedienne.