Who is this lady?

[RJNorton]

(06-23-2014 08:33 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  During Mary's journey back to the USA from her second trip to Europe aboard the steamer "L'Amerique", Sarah Bernardt saved Mary from falling headfirst down a stairway. "You might have been killed, Madame," Bernhardt said. Mary replied: "Yes, but it was not God's will." Bernhardt later remarked: "I had just done this unhappy woman the only service I ought not to habe done her - I saved her from death." Mary disembarked almost unnoticed when huge crowds met Bernhardt on the docks upon the ship's arrival in NY.

Eva, thank you for mentioning this incident. After reading your terrific post I tried to find the entirety of what Sarah Bernhardt wrote about saving Mary. Here it is:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"On the fourth day I dressed at seven o'clock and went on deck to have some fresh air. It was icy cold, and as I walked up and down I met a lady dressed in black with a sad resigned face. The sea looked gloomy and colourless, and there were no waves. Suddenly a wild billow dashed so violently against the ship that we were both thrown down. I immediately clutched hold of the leg of one of the benches, but the unfortunate lady was flung forward. Springing to my feet with a bound, I was just in time to seize hold of the skirt of her dress, and with the help of my maid and a sailor managed to prevent the poor woman from falling head first down the staircase. Very much hurt though she was, and a trifle confused, she thanked me in such a gentle dreamy voice that my heart began to beat with emotion.

"You might have been killed, Madame," I said, "down that horrible staircase."

"Yes," she answered, with a sigh of regret; "but it was not God's will."

"Are you not Madame Hessler?" she continued, looking earnestly at me.

"No, Madame," I answered; "my name is Sarah Bernhardt."

She stepped back and drawing herself up, her face very pale and her brows knitted, she said in a mournful voice, a voice that was scarcely audible, "I am the widow of President Lincoln."

I too stepped back, and a thrill of anguish ran through me, for I had just done this unhappy woman the only service that I ought not to have done her--I had saved her from death. Her husband had been assassinated by an actor, Booth, and it was an actress who had now prevented her from joining her beloved husband."