to remain, and that their money would be returned. As for those who
desired to see _L’Etrangère_, their tickets would be available for a
special _matinée_, which would be given on the Wednesday following.
[Illustration: Mme. Sarah Bernhardt in 1877.]
Here was a pretty kettle of fish! M. Sarcey, who had, as usual,
accompanied the Comédie Française troupe, observed--
Another affair of this kind would be more than enough to make the
Comédie Française unpopular in England. Those persons who, through
caprice or a desire to show off, or, to put it differently, through
a mistaken estimate of their own physical powers, place their
_confrères_ in such difficulties, are greatly to blame, and they
may be sure that a day will come when they will have to atone for
such conduct. Spoilt children are amusing until some friend of the
family wants to know at what time they are put to bed.
[Illustration: Sarah Bernhardt and F. Sarcey. By Caran d’Ache.]
The whole of the French Press rose in wrath. M. Albert Wolff, in
the _Figaro_, was particularly aggressive. He raked up all the old
grievances against the actress, and accused her of having gone about
in male attire, and having organized an exhibition of her sculpture and
paintings in London. Sarah sent him the following reply by telegraph--
_London, June 28._
MONSIEUR ALBERT WOLFF, _Figaro_ Office.
Do you really believe these insane stories, Monsieur Wolff? Who
could have given you such information? In spite of all the infamous
slanders that must have been poured into your ear, I still think
you a friend with a little kindness for me. I give you my word
of honour that I have never worn man’s clothes here in London; I
did not even bring my suit with me. I absolutely deny the story.
I went once, and only once, to the little exhibition I organized,
and that was the day on which admission was by invitation only.
Consequently it is false to say that a single shilling was paid
on purpose for any one to see me. It is true that I give private
performances, but you are aware that I am one of the worst paid
_sociétaires_ of the Comédie Française, and I am entitled to make
up the difference. That I am exhibiting sixteen pictures and eight
pieces of sculpture is perfectly true, but as I brought them here
to sell them I must let them be seen. With regard to the respect
due to the House of Molière, my dear M. Wolff, I maintain that I
uphold it better than anybody, because I am incapable of inventing
such slanders on one of its standard-bearers. If the silly stories
told about me have wearied the Parisians and decided them, as you
lead me to fear, to give me a bad reception, I will not expose any
one to the possibility of having to commit an act of cowardice, and
I will hand in my resignation. If the London public is incensed
against me by the rumours in circulation, and has decided to change
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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