The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-23
ROMANCE OF A PRIMA DONNA.
FROM THE PARLoK TO THE STAGE
"Lct ms be strangers.".

FROM THE PARLoK TO THE ST AGE.
"Lct ms be Strangers.',
a speciality Of q certain clique of "Bohe-
mians" in Paris, Is the fabrication OF romantic
biographies for sensational actresses and sing
crs; and these ingenious romances are some
times'copled by the minor English press when
their fair subjects are about to appear in Lon
don. Seldom, however, does the British news
paper originate fictitious stage-story for an
English 'debatdnte; and, upon this considera-
ton, some readers may conclude that there Is
aa much fact as fancy in the following curious
biographical "reminiscences Of ON English sing
er not altogether unknown tor the American
public:
In April, 1860, while the young and lovely
daughter of the. Earl; of D. was enjoying
her usual afternoon airing along the "f.ady's
Mile,n her fan dropped from her hand over the
side OF the carriage, and she ordered her
coachman to stop and recover It. Coachy
curbed his high-steppers to a halt Us quickly
as possible; but, before he could descend from
his perch, q. gentleman of resplendent black
whiskers and Immaculate costume appeared at
bow, presented the fan. A blushed "thank
you, sir" rewarded the act, and the coacfman
was directed to head his horses for Belgravc
square but the Earl's daughter carried homo
in her bosom vivid mental photograph of the
knight Of the fan, and could not help 1ancying
that a something In the expression of his fine
black eyes had silently pleaded for further
aGaSaiatalee To employ the term best
fo sfok WITH hs ssS astnsass she Ea ap
pearance,. and couldn't get him ont OF
her head. It was one of those cases
OF instantaneous infatnation which arc
sterner Sex. The young lady drove In the
park, at the same hour, on every succeeding
afternoon OF the week, for the particular pur-
pose Of catching another glimpse Of the ele
however, proved vain, until one evening at
the Royal italian Opera, where she accidental.
!y dropped her orgnette from her box. Upon
gentlemen splnng to pick up the pearl-and
gold bijoui but there was a quicker one before
them ailt and the lorgnette was presented by
the whiskered unknown of Hyde Park. Our
susceptible heroine blushed celestial rosy-red
as she received 1t, and the dark-eyed cavalier
gave her such look Of homage in the act
that her own eyes dropped prettily under the
ardent glance. Bowing gracefully, the nm
known retired to station at the back of the
box, and there worshlpped with his look until
the performance waS over.
For month after this several silent inter-
views OF the kind took place, until at length
the peers daughter felt her right hand slightly
graspcd ono evening, as she "as stepping into
carriage from the opera .lse, and, on re-
covering from her alarm, found O sealed note
In the hand thus abused. In moment she
had guessed who the writer was, and had
scarcely patience to gain the privacy of her
own room before oascertaining it's contents. The
misslve was written In fine Italian hand, and
the writer avowed his honorable passion in
me exaggerated style natural TO fellow-coun-
trymen of the Cencis. He called her his idol,
the light of his soul, the star to be wor-
shipped from afar by the idolatrOus wretch
VINO dared not draw nearer. The Eng
Hsh OF the wording was just execrably bad
enoM,gh 20 heighten the the romance and suggest
ing Po. He should skill himself,S said the
knight, If miladi did not conceal 'leetle
nota" for him In the folds of her fan, on GER
tain night, and manage to drop 1t for him as
soi and thus began q secret correspondence
which ended In her promise to elope with the
man. She had repeatedly endeavored to gain
some Information respecting his rank, though
when he assured her that peculiar but not dis
honorable circumstances rendered &c an open
courtship Impossible" she could only give film
mis- own way. Another month passed on, and,
upon certain afternoon, the young lady's car.
better, for worse, she had Joined her adorer at
railway station, and gone with him to the
nearest Gretna Green. They knew each other
very intimately In sentiment, but now the fond
foreigner had such hard facts TO disclose as
3 swoon. Sinking upon his knees in the
Inn Of the village to which they had fed,
ne confessed that he was a hirer out of hand
to tine Or needy q hs
himself unstintedly for daring to pretend to
80 fair and noble hand, and offered to escort
bis Victim back to London, II she desired, and
then cast himself headlong from the top Of the
daughter was shocked, but had gone too far to
recant; 80 she gave him absolution from his
sins against her, and went with him to o cler-
gyman. Next day there was q sensation
D-'s daughter ''had run of with ON Italian
connt,. whose membership in the Roman
Catholic Church had made him distastefi,l to
her noble parents" Such WAS the Court Jour-
friendly account of her mcsalliance to 'hiesi hesii
family, the young wife made hasty sail with her
dotinB husband TO Italy. She found that her now
relatives there were not all patricians, by any
means; but they received her with great res
pect; and, as tho ox-organizer was tho ten
derest Of liege lords, Blic managed 10 pass q
joyous honeymoon. Before ''scttling down for
good, however, ahe wrote another letter to
her father for forgiveness, and thereby threw
nopie lord into fresh Of wrath
recognize her az child Of his, and heapfng
curses upon her and her italian. Like sen,
siblo EGglish glrl,, our heroine took this all
yery Phnosophlcaliy' Pm . and sang merrly ira, Ia,
purity and frcshnoss Of her voice attracted the
critical attention OF her husband He called
In celebrated maestro TO hear her sing, and
was rejo;ccd to learn that his wife had voice
worth fortune to her. A good master was at
once secured for the lively lady, she studied the
italian language and o, tistlc method with avidi,
ty, and, at tho request Of her lord, consented to
Sing In public. AS o result, tho whole city
went Wild with enthusiasm. over new
diud, and ahe received an invitation to be.
come second chanteuBe at La Scala Accent
Ing, she gained such series of trIumphs tina,
her husband was frantic with mingled pride
and Joy. On the occasion of her. benefit he
eyinced tliis spirit by giving q grand supper to