Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-01
M(srelIaueouS.
THE UNKNOWN soNGsTREsS'

oil MALIBRAN. III o"
MUS, youth and beauty, to her nrst-ra'e
musical talents, and Incompatible voice.
this charming cantatrice possessed an
amiability Of disposition and kind
ness of heart, that peculiarly endeared
her 10 her friends, while it tended most
effectuaIIy to disarm the envy or pre-
;udice OF her enemies. An engaging
proof of this benevolence first intro
duccd her to our notice, and may not
be undressing TO our readers.
It was OH lovely morning in April,
ls-, that we started, in company with
our late lamented friend, the Cheya-
Iier-, on a tour to the South OF
France. Arriving one evening at Car
pentras, town beautifully situated at
the foot Of Mount Venten, we percei-
we'd by the general air Of galety and ex-
citement that something unusual occu-
pied the attention Of the inhabitants.
On inquiry, we learned that subscrip-
ton concert for the benefit Of the poor
was to take place that night at the thea
tre.-Several artists were expected to
perform: but the star of attraction APP
peared TO be the beautiful and talented
Countess OF Rossi.
At that time, nearly twenty years
since, the .furOre musicale, now so
generally pervading all classes Ito the
exclusion, perhaps, Of more valuable
pursuits had then scarcely began, so
that concert in provincial town was
an event Of rare occurrence, and OF pro-
portionate interest.
The Countess Of Rossi had been a
celebrated singer; her name is still re-
membered in the saloons of Paris, where
il resounded like an Eolian harp be-
tween those of Pasta and Catalani. I'm
mediately on her marriage, which took
place three years previous to the time
oi which we speak, she had retired with
her husband to their castle at Carpen-
tras, where they had remained in strict
seclusion. The rank, fortune, high
intellectual requirements, and polished
manners Of the Connt dc Ross render
ed him little understood or liked by
the good people Of "Carpentras.
Various were the rumors raised by
the idle and curious respecting him and
his bride, and it was in the hope oil SOL
wing those nrytcrios, of aSoortsinins if
indeed the countess had lost her voice
or her beauty, and also with her be-
neyoent intent OF notifying the count
by reminding him that the circumstan-
ces of his meSalHance were not forgot
ten, that dcputation arrived at the cas-
tie, soliciting tho countess to aid this
act of charity, by condescenaing to
perform at the concert To their sur
prise, the bearers of this petition were
politely received by the count, who,
on the part of his lady, graciously &C
ceded 10 their request.-News OF this
unexpected compliance spread far and
wide-and a crowded audience was
theresult.
The house was quite full when we
entered, and the performance had be-
gun. The star of attraction however,
had not vet arrived The piano des-
tined for the countess was placed in
front Of the stage; curiosity was on the
,iptoe-an hour elapsed; still she did
not appear-murmurs OF Impotence
arose-another hour of expectation,
and the tumult became general. At
that moment, there came a messenger
from the castle, bearing note from the
countess, expressing her regrets that
indispos,ion prevented her attendance,
and enclosing the sum Of one thousand
francs. This announcement was re-
celved with universal dissatisfaction;
vexation and disappointment were de-
picted in every countenance, mingled,
however, with certain air of triumph;
il was then true-the talents and beau
~ Of the countess had been Wanted
undeservedly; or the victim of unrea-
sonable jealousy, she wa, prisoner in
her own castle. Could it be that she
was proud? Could she, the humble
singer Of, presume to give herself
airs? Fired with the idea, some more
indignant than the rest, and utterly for
gettul Of the ostensibie purpose Of the
evenings entertainment, proposed that
her magnificent donation should be re-
turned. a few actuated by better feel
ings, combatted the proposal--an an
cry debate ensued. In the hope of APP
peasing the tumult, the orchestra struck
up popular overture; it was in vain,
all harmony was drowned in the crowd