The performance furnished a fruitful harvest for the life savers. As for me, I played “La Dame aux Camélias” for the first time in France. God had come. I affirm that those who were present at that performance experienced the quintessence of what my personal art can give.
I spent the night at my place at Ste. Addresse. The day following I left for Paris. A most flattering ovation was awaiting me on my arrival. Then, three days afterwards, installed in my hotel in the Avenue de Villiers, I received Victorien Sardou in order to hear the reading of his magnificent piece “Fédora.”
Ah, what a great artist! What an admirable actor! What a marvelous author! He read that play to me right off, playing every rôle, giving me in one second the vision of what I should do.
“Ah!” I exclaimed after the reading was over. “Ah, dear master, thanks for this beautiful part! Thanks for the fine lesson you have just given me!”
That night left me without sleep, for I wished to catch a glimpse in the darkness of the small star in which I had faith. I saw it as dawn was breaking, and fell asleep thinking over the new era that it was going to lighten up.
My artistic journey lasted seven months. I visited fifty cities and gave 156 representations as follows:
| “La Dame aux Camélias” | 65 | performances |
| “Adrienne Lecouvreur” | 17 | „ |
| “Froufrou” | 41 | „ |
| “La Princesse Georges” | 3 | „ |
| “Hernani” | 14 | „ |
| “L’Etrangère” | 3 | „ |
| “Phèdre” | 6 | „ |
| “Le Sphinx” | 7 | „ |
| Total receipts | 2,667,600 | francs |
| Average receipts | 17,100 | „ |
I conclude these memories of mine here, for this is really the first halting place in my life; the real evolution of my physical and moral being.
I had run away from the Comédie Française, from Paris, from France, from my family, and from my friends.
I had thought of having a wild ride across mountains, seas, and space, and I came back in love with the vast horizon, but calmed down by the feeling of responsibility which for seven months had been weighing on my shoulders.