ACTRESS AND INVENTOR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2468, 15 February 1881, Page 4

ACTRESS AND INVENTOR.

Sarah Bernhardt (says the “ Home News ” has paid a visit to Edison, and has expressed her royal approval of the man who has given the world so much. The interview must have been affeeding if not embarrassing, for Sara, with the frank cordiality' of her profession, squeezed the great inventor’s hand, and exclaimed rapturously, “Yes. he is a great man ; his head is beautiful.” This compliment was followed by others more touching to the scientist, as she enlarged at length upon his various inventions, displaying an extraordinary knowledge of the details of all. As to the greatest, the electric light, she expressed her conviction that it was especially adapted for theatrical illumination. Its brilliancy and its powers in showing up natural color would render it unnecessary for actors to plaster themselves over with chalk and rouge ; hence it would be easier for the spectator to follow closely the emotions depicted upon an actor’s face. Sara then honored the phonograph by re citing through it several long passages from her more favorite plays, and it is said the instrument reproduced with marvellous urecision all the tones and inflections of her very telling voice. Last of all, she prophesied that Edison would certainly succeed in solving the great question of domestic lighting by electricity. In street lighting vast progress has no doubt been made already, and recent advices from New York report that it has at length been largely adopted in that city. Broadwa}' is thus illuminated, and so also Menlo Park. The lamps used are of yellow glass, which succeed in relieving the eyes from the intense glare, and diffuse everywhere a wonderfully steady mellow light.