Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-17
JUDGE COOLEY AS AN OPERATIG
CRITIC.
He Handles the RiChings-B Bernard Troupe
Without Gloves.
.om the New Orleans Pieazune.l

& ON the New Orleans Picayune.1
GSIxrH DISTRICT CoURr-BIanche EILer-
nan as. Caroline N. BeTUGrd.-The plain
tiff cultivates that branch of the fine arts
called music; and the defendant follows
the occupation for a livelihood, Of making
money from the laborious exertiOns OF
those who have spent time and money in
acquiring proficiency in singing; she is
the directress OF an opera troape. This
opera troupe, IL appears by the record,
adds to its many sterling qualities In
point of musical talent the advantage OF
constant lOcomoEion-it is always on the
wing-peripatetic as well as musical; and
goes by the high sounding title of the
''Richings English Opera Company"
Taking its cue from oue of the isms of the
day, and in anticipation, doubtless, OF the
adoption of a sixteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, its fo--
tunes are under the mOtherly control and
management OF a N
It appears that the plaintiff was en-
plOyed TO act in the capacity of assistant
prima donna, ObligaBing herself to sing
such parts in the operas to be performed
by the troupe as are written for . soprano
voice, the directress r~eserving for herself
the honors of the premiership as prima
donna. The period of her engagement
was eight months, beginning on the 18th
of September, 1869, she to sing not less
than four days each week, and at one
matinee if so required. And for these
services she defendant agreed to pay her
the sum of seventy dollars per week, to
give her one benefit, and besides, as was
necessary considering the ambulaCory
character Of the Richings 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 It's
terms, except that of capacity TO sing
and perform the part allotted to her.
The plaintiff alleges her ability and will
lingness at all times, and the defendant,
though admitting her willingness, siren
uousIy denies her capacity. The case
therefore presents simply the question,
whether Miss Blanche ElIerman pos
sessed the voice and the artistic culture \
required in an assistant prima donna.
The defendant offered the testimony Of
nearly all the members Of her troupe to
show natural impeTfection in the voice
Of the plaintiff, as well As entire want of
musical training and education. The tes-
timony of these members of the Richings !
English Opera Troupe would have re-
ceived some consideration in determining
the question presented by the merits Of
case, were it not for the fact that a
great deal of said testimony forces me to
the conclusion hat the members OF that!
troupe, IN testifying, forgot they were
not on the stage. 1t would appear that
hey were disposed to joke a good
not so much in the matter of praise
# the plaintiff. Their opinion Of the
Of Miss Blanche ElleEman is
I~eriousIy affected by the overWeen-
vanity which they exhibited in esti-
mating their own talents. If We are
o believe these ensOrs of the plaintiff,
"Richings English Opera Troupe" has
he advantage over all other opera troupes
q the world, in this, that il has not one
who is not A, No. 1, hrst-class.
indeed, some of the witnesses would lead
IS to believe by their testimony, that, like
iour, they had passed inspection and had
zen branded with the familiar three
Xxx. One ofthem, particularly, called
lrsyton, had the audacity to place the
efendsnt in the same niche Of the must
al troupe as Adelina Patti, the world
crowned prima donna 1t is difficult to
haracterize properly such testimony, be-
it is true in many things that there is
at one step between the ridiculous and
be sublime. After having bus Wanted
le requirements ofhis directress, the Wit
ess, Drayton, very .cOmplacentlY STYLES
"a first class BARITONE" There
lay be grave aus to doubt whether the
lusieal talents of the witness, Dnayton.
re such that his name will be handed
own to posterIty as a musical prodigy;
at there certainly can be no doubt that, .
trough the Judicial archives of this /
tate, he viii be known by succeeding
PES as q possessing those peculiar
entail traits which entitle persons to
,Inpulsory and often-times prOtracted
tsidence in lunatic asyluIns. M
The testimony Of she other members OF
10 troupe is, in substance, the testimony
Drayton. Each is s'first-class," and
decd it would appear that with the ex- O.
ption Of the Dnfortanate Blanche Ell
rman, the Riehings English Opera
oGpe was composed exclusively Of =.
irst-class artists, T" in their own estima- 2
On the other hand, plaintiff has pro- .
ICED the testimony Of persons living in Q
is city-professors IN different depart J
ents of music-who are well knovnl b
roughout the community in point of L
cir ability, intelligence and Integrity. Il
ID the testimony of these gives a high e.
araeter 60 the musical pOwers of Miss 4,
anche EIiermon. Her voice is repre- hi
nted as a pure soprano, OF great com "
and capable of reaching the highest Il
ties. Prof. Curto, who heard her. speaks .,
her yocalizatiou as indicative of both y
tural capacity and artistic culture
Seward confirms the estimate Of "a
of. CuFto. OBS !
The praise of such men is sufficient to n
the testimony OF witnesses al
10 those who testified for the defend-
{. C0rto and Seward are men who leave v
others the task of passing judgment .
their merits their modesty adds a eI
arm to their artistic education which. Rl
Dugh appreciated by all Whe know r
by none was soaaexqisitely felt "a
by myself to whom q was truly
fesbing in the highest degree, after
wing been compelled to listen to che
Of the witnesses OF defendant :
estimouy whose only effect as evil A
nee is to prove the oyerweening vanity =
4 supremely ridiculous p~retensiOns of &
'st of the singers composing the
sichings English 0pers Troupe"
me Judgment will be entered in favor
plaintiff. I'D so r. a Il.
The Vermont Constitutional Conven- ST.
votedsdown woman suffrage by 81 fol
1. IL seems that woIaan's rights, in ~
rmont. have references nlyrto the soft ~