These extracts, which might be multiplied ad infinitum, show Sarah Bernhardt at her apogee. From this point her supremacy was undisputed, and any show of criticism was always tempered by admiring reservations. This was the attitude henceforth adopted by the entire Press in regard to her creations. Fédora was revived on the 3rd April, 1894. M. Lemaître remarks on it—
I am not quite sure whether Mme. Sarah Bernhardt can say “How do you do?” like any ordinary mortal. To be herself she must be extraordinary, and then she is incomparable.
Off to London in June, she played Izeïl with tremendous success. On her return she gave La Femme de Claude on the 19th September. Gismonda, which she produced on the 1st November, elicited another poetical outburst of admiration in the Press. The Figaro speaks of her as attaining the perfection of her art. M. Bauer, in the Echo de Paris, calls Gismonda the most wonderful of all her creations. M. Lemaître, in the Journal des Débats, says that “as all the laudatory adjectives have already been used up in her service, it is difficult to express the adoration evoked by every fresh appearance of this extraordinary woman.” M. Sarcey alone was rather reserved in his praise, and described her as having been applauded with more Italian than French exaggeration; but he amply atoned for this when Sarah revived Phèdre on the 24th December of the same year (1894).
What can I tell you of Sarah that you do not know already? Her acting is the summit of art. Our grandfathers used to speak with emotion of Talma and Mlle. Mars. I never saw either the one or the other, and I have barely any recollection of Rachel, but I do not believe that anything more original and more perfect than Mme. Sarah Bernhardt’s performance on Wednesday has ever been seen in any theatre.
On the 11th February, 1895, came the revival of Amphitryon, with Coquelin, who unfortunately remained with her for only a brief period. M. Sarcey considered the performance wanting in life. The other critics treated it as a success for Sarah and Coquelin, but there was no enthusiasm. On the 15th February, Magda, by the German writer Sudermann, was produced. All the critics described her as admirable. On the 5th April, La Princesse Lointaine, by M. Edmond Rostand, proved an equally great success for poet and actress. To London and Scotland again, with Gismonda, Izeïl, La Princesse Lointaine, La Tosca, Magda, and La Femme de Claude. Then she made arrangements to produce Amants, by M. Maurice Donnay, for which she engaged Mme. Jeanne Granier. In the meantime what does Sarah do? Rest? Not at all. On the 5th January the Figaro announced her departure on that day for America, where she was to give a series of performances. She was back on the 4th July, 1896. She took two months’ rest at Belle-Isle, and on the 30th September she revived La Dame aux Camélias with phenomenal success. On the 8th October she recited before the Tsar and Tsaritsa at Versailles. Lorenzaccio, adapted by M. Armand Dartois from Musset’s poem, was produced on the 3rd December, and enabled Sarah to score yet another triumph.
The Fort-aux-Poulains, Belle-Isle, Mme. Sarah Bernhardt’s country residence.
“SARAH BERNHARDT’S DAY”
On the 8th February she brought out a piece by M. Sardou, Spiritisme. It was a failure. Sarah’s talents were extolled to the skies as usual, but in comparison with her previous appearances the reception of the play was cold. After twenty-five indifferent performances she was obliged to revive La Tosca, and then bring out a piece, Snob, by M. Gustave Guiches, in which there was no part for her. Easter week arrived, and she took advantage of it to give a series of performances of M. Rostand’s religious drama, La Samaritaine, which met with triumphal success. Says M. Sarcey—“Sarah, transfigured and drinking in the life-giving Word, and repeating the words ‘I am listening, I am listening’ with all a neophyte’s ardour, is a sight to be seen. Her personality completely fills the second act. Full of the divine fire, she evangelizes the crowd wherever she goes. Her success was very great.”