Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-09-26
Romance IN ReaI mo,

BY the South American papers we hear of the
recent death at Lima of Madame Barili, the once
popular prlma donna, and short sketch of the ro-
mantle career of this gifted lady may not be unac.
ceptable to many in this city who remember her,
when she was the chief attraction of the opera in
New York.
The signora Barili came from musical family in
Italy, several of whose members now hold high
rank IN the profession; among them, her brother
SIgnor Ettorre Ba:l who appeared with great sue
Rigoletto at The Academy Of Music under the
Ole Bull management. At a very early age she went
upon the stage. with every prospect of success
Young, beautiful and accomplished both as vocal.
list and inguist, she soon attracted attention and
received lucrative offer 10 appear in Havana and
New York. She accepted and sang at Castle Car
den, six or eight years SINCE with great success
appearing as Lucia, Zerlina, Ekuira, and in other
favorlte roles. Bar was at this time but nineteen
years OF age, in the prime of her beauty and gifted
with all the ardor and enthusiasm of the sunny
daughters Of the South and it is not to be wondered
at, that the many attractions of the Young prima
donna should excite the att ention of The numerous
fashionable young men that fit about the boxes and
parquette of the Opera House.
Among these young men was the son of . wealthy
retired military officer of New York who obtained
an introduction 10 Signora Barili, and an acnnain-
lance was begun that gradually ripened into love
:, ne mem oers OF the young geneman's family were
bitterly opposed TO the idea of bringing an opera
singer into the privacy of their domestic circle, and
though In this instance they did Injustice to the
Pr1mG donna, they certainly had foundation for
their objections, for it is well known public singers
do not generally sustain the best of characters
But the young lovers were in the hev. dav of voptb
and without looking TO the consequences, thew mar.
ried. The relatives of the bridegroom entrenched
themselves behind the preudices of society," and re-
fused to see tie youthful couple-thoug6 it is said
they subsequently became partially reconcied but
Oh tnls we known nothing. and it is moreover pri-
Vate affair, which ii is Who'll unnecessary to know
anything more about.
Madame Barl and her husband shortly left the
county, and alter several years absence the lady an.
peared in opera al San Francisco She dill not re.
main there long, and soon she advertised TO an.
Nhe old ha6atueS OF the opera. But her name was
suddenly Withdrawn, the ha6itues were excited for
nothing, and again Mad. Bari sunk into oblivion
he next thing heard of her was, that she had re-
celved an engagement al Lima and was with her
husband enjoying The delights of that tropical city,
whlch, with It's beautiful women, fruits and de.
hcous climate, would be terrestrial Paradise were
1t not that old Mother Earth is there constantly
breaking out into earthquakes, gushing up in voca-
noes and indueing in other agreeable eccenricites
Madame Barili in due time made her debut in Lie
ma, and excited great deal of favorable criticisms
One unucky editor however presumed to differ from
his contemporaries, for which he was waited on BY
her husband, no demanded retraction of the arti-
Gle The editor of course refused, whereat the irate
husband shot him Such at least, are the accounts
PuUleueu HeTe winch nave not yet Deen contradict
ed For this cool proceeding he was Immediately
arrested and consigned to prison, the opera company
disbanded and the people of Lima were deprived of
their expected enjoyment The excitement in the
city was intense and spread to this country, especial
~ among those personally acquaint ed with the pri-
ma donna and her rash husband Since that time
the latter has been under close confinement in Lima
while Barii with true wife'S devotion has remain.
ed to share his trials until at last, we hear, she has
sunk into premature grave.
Here indeed is sad story in real life, and which
must excite the sympathy of many who have mere
ly known its heroine as singer-the enved pet of
the publc-and whose name on every
lip. Yet who tell the trials of the prima donna !
Who would imagine as we see her, upon the illu
mined stage, the air resoundng with bravos"-the
quiste cadenza-faT hands casting rare lowers at
her feet, and everything for the moment echoing her
triumphs-who knows but that behind her thankful
smiles the Prima donna hides breaking heart =
that all this splendor 10 her but hollow, false
and feeting mockery