The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-27
A Musical Jntige--An Opera Troupe
In Eoura--A Judges Musical Crfo"

Musical Jntire--An Opera Troupe
In Coura-A Judges Musical srftia
c.stn.
Blanche Ellerman, young prima donna,
engaged for the Rernart-Richings troupe,
recently sued the latter for salary. ''nagc
Cooley, Of New Orleans, has delivered the
following entertaining decision
"Thc plaintiffcultivatest that branch OF the
fine arts called music, and the defendant Is
the directreSS Of an opera troupe, rms
opera troupe, IL appears by the record, adds
to its many sterling qualities in point of mu-
steal talent the advantage Of constant loco
motion--it Is always on the wing-peripa-
tctic rs we'll as musical; and goes by the
Understanding title of the Richings English
opera Company t..+
LIT appears that the plaintiff was employ
ed to act in the capacity of assistant prima
donna. ohligatipg herself to sing such pats
in the operas to he performed by the troupe
as are written for n soprano voice, the di-
rcctress reserving for herself the honors OF
the premiership as prima donna. The period
of her engagement was eight months, begin
ming on the 18th OF September, 1859, she TO
sing not less than four days each week. and
ut one matinee, IL so required. And for
these services the defendant agreed to pay
her the sum Of seventy dollars per week TO
give her one benefit, and besides. aS was
Necessary, considering the ambnlatory cha
ractcr Of the Richin.s English Opera
Troupe, to pay all her travelling expenses
except hotel bills.
There is no contest about the contract
alleged by the plaintiff, nor relative to the
fact that she complied with all its terms.
except that of capacity to sing and perform
the part allotted to her. The plaintiff
alleges her ability and willingness ut all
times, and tho defendant, though admitting
her willingness, Strenuoilsiy denies her ca
pacity. The case therefore presents simply
the question whether Miss Blanche Eilcl-
man possessed the voice and the artistic
culture required in an assistant prlma
donna.
"rhe defendant offered the testimony OF
nearly all of the members OF her troupe TO
show natural imperfection in the voice of
the plaintiff, rs Well as entire want OF mliSi-
cal training and education. The testimony
of these members of the RichingS English
Opera Troupe would have received some
consideration in determining the question
presented by the merits of this case were it
not for the fact that q great deal OF SAID les
monv forces me to the conclusion that the
members Of that troupe. i'll tcStnylnS, for
got they were not on the stage. Their
opinion OF the capacity Of Miss Blanche
Elcrman is seriously affected by the
estimating their own talents. IL we are TO
believe these censorS of the plaintiff, the
Richings English Opera Troupe has the
advantage over all other opera trollpcS III
the world in this, that it has not one nlem-
Der who is not A No. l, tirst-claSS.
''One of them, particularly. called Drav-
ton, had the alldacity to place the defend
ant in the same niche of the musical tenn
pie us Adclina Patti, the world-pnowncd
prima donna. After having thus Wanted
the requirements of his dircctresS. the wit
ness, Drayton, very complacently styles
himself a tirst-claSs baritone. There may
be a grave cause to doubt whether the MT
steal talents of the witness. Drayton, arc
such that his name will he handed down to
poSterity as q musical prodigy but there
Certainly can be no doubt that. through the
judicial archives of this State, he will he
known by succeeding ages rs one possess
ing those peculiar Mental traits which en-
Little persons TO compulsory and oitcntimc>
protractcd residence in the lunatic aSylumS.
1.-The testimony Of the other members of
the troupe is, in substance, the testimony
Of DraytOE. Each is 'tirst-claSS.' and ill.,
deed il would appear that with the eXcep-
ton of The unfortunate Blanche tllerman
the Richings English Opera Troupe was
composed exclusively of '1irst-class artists
in their own estimation.
"On the other hand. plaintiff has pro-
duccd the testimony of persons living in
this city professors in different departments
of music) who are well known throughout
the community in point Of their ability, in
teilyence, and integrity, and the testimony
OF these gives high character To the mllSi-
cal powers Of Miss Blanche Ellcrman. Her
voice Is represented ~ pure soprano OF
great compass, and capable Of reaching the
highest notes.
:. The praise of such men is sufficient to
cOunteract the testimony of witnesses like
those who testified for the dcfcndant-tcSti-
mony whose only effect as evidence is to
prove the overweenng vanity and s,I-
premely ridiculous preten>ions of most of
the singers composing the 'Richings Eng
lish Opera Troupe.
1.-The Judgment will be entered in favor
of plaintiff
A London correspondent isafraid the au-
thor of I" Lothair' is Disraelite in whom
there is 10 guile.
"Well, my young gentleman, and how
would you like your hair cut! 7" con, like