Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-12-27
From the Courier des Flats unsl
The Poisoned Boquet--A Story Of the Ital-
ian Opera


debut on the stage with an eclat which gave am |
pie promise of the rich renown her name has since
borne. The second engagement she ever made in |
her lyric career was at Payia, where her youthful
talent completely eclipsed the reputation of RI
val songstress, engaged at the same time. Each |
representation was at once new triumph to her,
and new defeat for the lady who shared with |
her the personation of the leading parts. This |
overwhelming superiority against which there
was no remedy, lit up in the soul of the vanquish-
ed artistic of those jeaousies which, as it pro-
ceeds increases into bitterness and is transform
ed into furious thirst for vengeance, no matter
at what price or by what means.
"There are still furious passions in these Ital-
ian brains on which the sun casts its hot glance,
as on the Shunamite of sacred song. The prima
DONNA, whose name we refrain from giving, is a
proof of their existence.
"She was one of those dangerous syrens whose
well got up charms dazzle and fascinate the i'm
aginations of twenty. Now, Pavia, as we know,
is the seat of University, and it is not matter
OF much difficulty to find among the students ar
dent and ready for every daring folly a blind in
strument to associate in her dark designs The
youth whom she fixed on TO carry out her project
was native of Venice, a city celebrated for its
mysterious deeds of vengeance and of love indul-
ged at the point of the dagger. He was of high
birth and considerable fortune, allied by name and
blood not only to the nobility, who are but a men,
ethan Lombard provinces.
"Oh, she was clever oman, that She knew
how too choose her man, and having chosen him.
knew how to make him fulfil her purpose. The
young Venetian, eEveloped in her net lost all
conscience. He ended in having neither sight
nor sensation except what came thro her, and by
degrees reached that point OF madness in which
his passion would stay at no crime. The moment
COR actioH had come.
Now every evening OF representation, Madame
La Grange reaped her harvest of flowers and
wreaths, and among he boquets which fell at her
feet was one of small dimensions, but composed
OF moss roses, whose fragrance was to her an es-
peclal JOY. This faithful tribute was invariably
rendered TO her after the andante of the grand
eavatina Of Nabucco, an opera which then set the
crown, IN the all absorbing interest of novelty,
upon the growing fame of Verdi. Ordinarily, Ma
dame La Grange fixed the boquet in her girdle,
after having drawn from its perfume anew inspi-
ration, on which to sweep 10y all opposing feel
ings.
zone night it happened the boquet was more
volumlnous than usual. The moss roses, arran-
ged In circle, formed the ring round knot of
green leaves which occupied the heart This iln-
usual bulk rendering itditiicult to place the fow
ers in their accustomed spot in her grdle, MA
dame La Grange held them for an instant in her
hand, bowed her acknowledgment and passed
the boquet TO one of the attendants begging her
AT the fall of the curtain the triumphant pri-
ma donna descended to her little chamber and
rather astonished not to find her maid in waiting
behind the scene. She opens the door, she utter
ed cry OF terror. Stretched on the floor lay The
.o.s hearir.g sisa cry ~ Madame Va Grafpe
twenty persons ran at to the room, raised
ap the poor girl, who exhibited scarce a SIGN Of
life, and not knowing how to render assistance
began to discuss the possible catise OF snch an
fnaFe Nh. 4 .4s...
buqIet, which lay almost broken under foot in :,
corner OF the room, where it had rolled without
any one caring about it.
They al continued to hang for five or SIX
minutes round the unfortunate girl, already al
tackled by the insensbiiity whicls prccedcs death
when a man rushed into the little chamber his
features stern, his voice commanding and his
gestures irresistible. The bouquet the bouquet
he cried, sutfocated with emotion Those
around at once made way for him, and perceiv-
ed DIR. Marrozzi, the regular physician of The
prima donna 1t is Heaven which has hent you
here, ductor!' she CRIED see the state'- But
without attending to ought else, Marrozzi con-
tinued to call out THE bouquet! the bouquet
The moment he saw that Madame La Grange
had sustained no injury beyond the terror natu-
rally created by the condition al her attendent,
he fastened to give his attention to the dying
girl, but still repeating, The bouquet! the bou-
4uet!. This exclamation, so mysteIiously per-
severed in, and the meaning ut which one
present could understand, at last attracted mo-
lice to the bouquet, which up to this time had
been forgotten. Some one took it up and hand
ed it to him. He seized it with strange eager
ness. What possible significance, doctor, said
Madame LA Grange; can you attach to this
bouquet Alas he answered, it is poison
cdr
"A sensation of terror at cnce ran round, and
Madame La Grange. escaped by a miracle, from
a death which had been intended, for her, had
scarcely time fully to comprehend the horrible
truth when the signal for her appearance was
sounded The curtain rose and she had to APP
pear on the stage.
"She came out, pale even under her coating
OF rouge, her heart wounded by an inexpressibie
agony, and her mind haunted with the thought
that death, in passing by its intended victim, had
almost touched her with its wing. She sang
nevertheless; her voice full of brilliant treniu
lousness. Her eyes shone with an unaccustomed
lire, her gestures were almost wild, while the
the public, attributing these effects TO the nspi
ratie2 of the part, applaudcd with frenzy their
favorite Abigail. The curtain fell on an ovation
of enthusiasm, and the singer, who scarcely
knew what she had-been singing, or comprehend
ed her new success, rushed d.stractedly to her
reOm, and there learned in its funess the horrid
truth.
"Dr. Marrozzi, il seems, traversing one of the
lobbies in the excitement preceding, had obser.
whose expression seemed to him strange. On a
sudden the vanquished rival of Madame La
Grange opened the door of her box, and the
young man grasping her hand ina peculiar man.
ner, quickly passing, these sinister words spo-
ken in Italian: The deed is accomplished
she dies. The boquctf' asks the Italian song
stress The young man answered by an affirm
alive nod, and retired quickly. The doctor had
a sudden illumination. He understood ALL
rushed 90 the entrance behind the scenes, and
there found woman poisoned by a boquet.-
But it WAS not Madame La Grange.
THE deadly boquet was handed to the police;
the contents were analysed and found to contain
a subtle and implacable poison They arrested
the guilty Venetian, and fer a while il was
thought Justice woaid have had its course. But
in Italy If culprit is connected with the nebili
ty or the clergy, in the person ofany the high
est dignitar;es, or ii he possesses fortune and
the crime is not of political character, it APP
pears that he is beyond the reach of the cxecu-
toner He was released after having denied
everything, and the rival songstress who had
conceived and inspired the crime, was never ev-
en- for moment disturbed. y
1t would be interesting to us to.know the fate
of the poor girl, which the relator seems to think
of little moment In recent treaiises on poison