CHAPTER XXIX FROM THE GULF TO CANADA AGAIN Cincinnati and then South—Crossing the Mississippi in flood-time—A brave engineer—The charm of New Orleans—The horrors of the flood—The hairdresser and the serpents—A strange reception at Mobile—“La Dame aux Camélias” under scenic difficulties—A round of smaller towns—Blocked by the snow—A snow ball fight—Pittsburg and a former friend—A long ride—A mistaken reporter 428–440 CHAPTER XXX END OF MY AMERICAN TOUR An outing at Niagara Falls—An icy excursion—I am presented with a miniature of the Falls—Vanity brings me to ridicule—A foolhardy escapade—A memorable performance at New York—I embark for home—The last of the whale man—A stowaway—The trip home—A glorious reception at Hâvre—A performance for the life savers—A turning-point 441–456 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Sarah Bernhardt as _Gismonda_, from a Painting by Chartran _Frontispiece_ Rear View of Grandchamps Convent, Versailles 20 Sarah Bernhardt and Her Mother 36 Le Conservatoire National de Musique et de Déclamation, Paris 80 Sarah Bernhardt in the Hands of her Coiffeur 86 Sarah Bernhardt when She Left the Conservatory 94 Sarah Bernhardt at the Time of Her Début in “Les Femmes Savantes” 104 Sarah Bernhardt in “François le Champi” 134 An Early Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt 170 Sarah Bernhardt in Riding Habit 232 Skull in Madame Bernhardt’s Library, with Autograph Verses by Victor Hugo 248 “Ophelia”—Sculpture by Sarah Bernhardt 258 Sarah Bernhardt in Her Coffin 270 Sarah Bernhardt Painting, 1878–9 280 Sarah Bernhardt at Work on Her “Mêdée” 288 Sarah Bernhardt, Portrait by Parrott, 1875—in the Comédie Française, Paris 296 Sarah Bernhardt, Portrait by Clairin 304 Sarah Bernhardt, from an Oil Painting by Mlle. Louise Abbéma 332 Sarah Bernhardt as the _Duc de Richelieu_ 338 Sarah Bernhardt, 1879 346