Cheryl Libby, age 16, of Las Vegas, Nev., for her question:

WHO WAS SARAH BERNHARDT?

One of the world greatest actresses of all time was a French woman named Sarah Bernhardt. She lived for 79 years from 1844 until 1923.

The actress gained fame for her dramatic roles that were presented in Paris and other European cities in the late 1800s.

Late in the century she formed her own company and toured regularly. She made successful appearances in New York and other North American cities in 1887 and again in 1889 and between 1891 and 1893 she traveled around the world.

Bernhardt played everything from Shakespeare to contemporary writers of the day. The critics said she was the greatest actress of her time.

At the age of 70 one of Bernhardt's legs was amputated but the actress refused to allow this to interrupt her acting career. Also, she took up writing, sculpturing and painting.

In 1914 Bernhardt was made a member of the prestigious French Legion of Honor for her long career in the arts.