The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-05-07
Kate Field on American Taste-sopra'
no VS.. Contralto.

But really, do you appreciate the
American love Of novelty ? For may
part. I ana beginning to admire the
English trait of tenacity to tradition.
To be somebody or Somethino new is to
be an offence to the understanding only
consuer the English, and they are your
friends for life. Once favorite, always
favorite. Though your golden hair
turn gray, your alabaster complexion
become luminous with beef and beer,
your graceful figure approximate to a
Dutch cheese, your glorious voice attain
the quaver of uncertain age, you remain
the goddess you were when Love whis-
pered to you of youth and beauty.
There il divinity in such loyalty. 1t
inspires an artist to remain an artist,
for it means that art is long. And sup
pose you are occasionally bored by an
exhibition Of superannuation? Is it not
infinitely better than eur way Of ignor-
ing what has grown up among US, or
what has been put before us season afte
season? Good art is good art, and
among cultivated audiences it is no more
necessary to change the artist than it is
necessary for the vilinist to change his
instrument. Year after year, Titiens
and Trebelli-B -Bettini are the mainstays
of Drurv Lane. No ons tires of them,
although neither is what she once was.
Here they would be buried alive. We
had rather rush TO an inferior novelty
than walk oomposedly to a well-known
excellence. T do not appreciate this
national characteristic. I no more COM
prehend it than I comprehend another
amiable weakness, tobacco-chewing, the
depths Of which have vainly strived to
sound. My nature is incomplete; but
while shere is life there is tobaceo-chew-
ing as well a. hope. fail to under
stand why great artist like ADELAIDE
Phillips does not appear upon the New
York operate stage. For months our
ears have been tortured by third-rate
oontralto while one of the best in the
world-I should say the best, is Miss
Phillips we're not wicked enough to be
an American-has been giving concerts
the entire season. VIII the public
never tire of high notes? VIII they
never learn to estimate rightly the rich.
ness and glorious depth of q genuine
contral to voieeH By what demoraliza-
hon has it come to pass that prima
donna means soprano? Does it require
less art and genius to be great contraltc
than a great soprano? We're Malibran
alive. she would End her occupation
gone. She would see soprano Rsurpine
Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" and
Zorlina in "Don Giovanni. " Operas
written for eontraltos are ignored, and
Why? Because Of fashionable freak
In the laiguage of the Hampton colore6
"Eow sin4 dat hard37
1t il, il is very hard, and I ask whether
something cannot be done about i
You reply that there cannot. Very well
then ; in the name Of q respectable min
ority, Il protect against the inoompre
hensible favoritism shown 10 sopranos
at the expense Of contralos, and express
a sincere regret that 50 gifted singe
and actress as ADELAIDE Phillips il givel
no opportunity to appear in roles I
which she has no superior. We, tn,
minority, will never rest content unit
native ability receives rs enthusiast
recognition as that which crosses th
| Atlantic for the purpose of making NOR
money than can be obtained elsewhere
Tan Empress Eugsnie, sinea th
death Of her husband, has only ono
taken walk and twice gore out in
carriage. Except in these, and frequen
visits to the little chapel where the in
parfal remains repose. ahe does 10
laava the house.
Tan estimated expenses Of She Yisan
ExhibitiOa b sight and hAlf millo
] aollara.