Memories of My Life: Being My Personal, Professional, and Social Recollections as Woman and ArtistBernhardt, Sarah
General
Memories of My Life: Being My Personal, Professional, and Social Recollections as Woman and Artist
Bernhardt, Sarah
Actors -- Biography; Bernhardt, Sarah, 1844-1923; Women -- Biography
She came forward with outstretched arms, her eyes open, in an ecstatic
attitude, and the whole little assembly, so simple-minded and loving,
wept.
All the actors except old _Toby_ and the _Angel_ sank on their knees and
gave praise to God, and at the close of this thanksgiving the public,
moved by religious sentiment and discipline, repeated, Amen!
_Toby’s_ mother then approached the _Angel_ and said:
“Oh, noble stranger, take up your abode from henceforth with us; you
shall be our guest, our son, our brother!”
I then advanced, and in a long speech of at least thirty lines, made
known that I was the messenger of God, that I was the _Angel Raphael_. I
then gathered up quickly the pale blue tarlatan, which was being
concealed for a final effect, and veiled myself in cloudy tissue which
was intended to simulate my flight heavenward. The little green serge
curtain was then closed on this apotheosis.
Finally the solemn day arrived. I was so feverish with expectation that
I could not sleep the last three nights. The dressing bell was rung for
us earlier than usual, but I was already up and trying to smooth my
rebellious hair, which I brushed with a wet brush by way of making it
behave better.
Monseigneur was to arrive at eleven o’clock in the morning. We therefore
lunched at ten and were then drawn up in the principal courtyard. Only
Mother Ste. Alexis, the eldest of the nuns, was in the front and Mother
Ste. Sophie just behind her. The almoner was a little distance away from
the two Superiors. Then came the other nuns, and behind them the girls,
and then all the little children. The lay Sisters and the servants were
also there. We were all dressed in white with the respective colors of
our various classes.
The bell rang out a peal. The large carriage entered the first
courtyard. The gate of the principal courtyard was then opened and
Monseigneur appeared on the carriage steps, which the footman lowered
for him. Mother Ste. Alexis advanced, and bending down, kissed the
episcopal ring. Mother Ste. Sophie, the Superior, who was younger, knelt
down to kiss the ring. The signal was then given to us and we all knelt
to receive the benediction of Monseigneur. When we looked up again the
big gate was closed and Monseigneur had disappeared, conducted by the
Mother Superior. Mother Ste. Alexis was exhausted, and went back to her
cell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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