Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-22
AsToRY OF THE {" "CoNsUELon ORDER

The Count Gerfaut de y, although by
position md fIrtune thrown into the highest
trance into life, esehewed all Its follies. The
Count had serious tastes was fond Of study,
and above all. Of music, which be had culti-
waited especially. He was both q scientific and
and an aristoeratic musician. y;
In pursuit of this art, the Count had gone to
Italy. Te.e be resided for some years On
his return, be was observed to be utterly
changed in character. Among other things,
music, which had been his ruling passion, was
now his aversion. The sound of the human
voee, especially, Eal an influence over him
which appeared almost to produce madness.
MystenOus rumOrs were circulated with re-
gard TO the adventures in Italy which had pro-
duced this change; but to none did the Count
Gerfaut confde the real cause.
Count Gerfaut hal conceived q profound pas
sion IN Italy for young prima donna, Gina
OJtraVi, creature of beauty and genius,
whose fame was destined to exceed that of ali
her predecessors, although rs yet confined to
Venice, Verona and Padua. Gerfaut loved her
genius as much as he loved herself; and when
he asked her to become his wife, he never in
tended that she should quit the stage. Gina,
however, by some strange caprice felt offended
that her lover should desire her still to continue
on the stage; she thought be loved her genius
better than herself; and so she married-not
Gerfaut-but the Prince of P. and taking
possession Of her palaxzo left the stage forever
But Gina had loved Gerfaut. She strOye To
hide oven from herself the feelings that would
arise in her heart, and not desiring TO linger on
the past, she began with renewed enthusiasm 10
take 10 her art, and expressed in music what
s1e dared not viii per even 10 herself All hor
grandeur palled on her, the Prince became
hateful 70 her-she longed she pined for a word
fronl Gerfaut. But he was in Paris he had
never even delgncd to breathe her name
AT length the Princess de rs health
gave away, her enthusiasm for music took the
characteristics Of 4 monomania, and beyond all
doubt the Princess was insane. To the great
Parisian physicians was the Princess sent, and
her name was for the first time echoed in the
Partisan world.
Quiet, gentle, silent, the Princess, aceompa-
MED by companion chosen for that purpose
was soon At the BOis de Boulogne at the Opera
at the ltaiiens-beautiful, but so pale that as
she listened In vrapt ecstasy TO the music it
was impossible to believe her other than statue
The Princess soon attracted the morbid curiosi-
ty OF the Partisan world.
Gerfaut heard her name. For the first time
since his return from Italy he entered the Opera
House There he beheld her-a pale, beautiful
vision Of the woman he had so adOred Their
eyes met, then q deep blush overspread the neck
and shoulders Of the Princess, but Gerfsut
turned away without word or q sigh
DE sought the physician who was to effect this
wonderous cure. What would save herr Moth
ing but return TO the emotions Of the stage
There alone could the pent-up passions find
vent. .
Gsrfaut, calm and firm, sought the Prince :;
he told him how he had loved Gina-he told him
how they had separated--he told him that she
must be saved though be swore TO him that he
would never see her more. '-H
Save her," said the Prince; at will trust
you, but on public stage the Princess de p
never can appear"
"NOr shall see."
In the old ancestral hotel Of the Faubourg
st. Germain Gerfaut set to work he arranged
theatre, he engaged a company. an orches ra
and then-fOr without public an artists tri-
umPh could not be cOmpiete-he invited all the
slIfs Of the fashionable and musical world
Ginlieeta and Romeo-not Bellini's but lin
garellfs tender music, worthy of Shakespeare :
Poem-Was the opera the Princess was ever
singing. This was the opera chosen. She was
dressed. At the first strains of the orchestra an
eye frightened, life seemed infused in the
statue; she comprehended where she was: the
applause which greeted her as she entered
seemed to give her strength; she sang as mortal
never sang before. Gecfaut listened with de-
spair and love.
At length came the last scene. Juliet is laid
in the tomb Stealthily comes Romeo to see
her once again; the tomb is opened, and Ro-
meoclaSp, his arms around her. With a shrek
he starts away, and Juliet falls heavily back
into the tomb. The Prince and the guests rush
on TO the stage, but too late; Gina Juliet lay
dead-nOt in mimic, but in real death-in her
tOrnb She had never moved nor spoken-no,
not 10 the Prince, nor 10 those around her but
Gerfaut had reached her first, and being over
her. bis lip. to hers, had caught the last faint
Iaurmurings, and they had said her last words
on earth-t'0mO.
The Count Gerfaut de X. has entered the
order Of the monks Of La Trappe, ut Pesth, and
the Prince IS raising magnificent monument
70 Gina, in marble, that is to be one of the VOL
ders Of modern sculpture Two monuments to
her memory-the living man turned to stone
Tor her sake, and the marble endowed with life
10 bid her live forever.