The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-05
"reminiscences of the Late. Madame
Parepa-ROsa.


OF the many triumphs on the lyric stage
OF the lamented p7'inad donna | shall not
speak. Not the least of these were achiev-
ed at our 1.-THE New York. Academy of Mu-
sic, where she was always greeted by
crowded and appreciative houses. The
records of her professional career, series
OF successes from the start, would fill an
interesting volume of biography. In her
comparatively brief career, she Travelled
go0d deal, and accomplished much. 1t is
painful to think that her superb voice is
silent forever.
Nine. Parepa-Rosa was of jovlal tenn
permanent, and partial to the sociability of
honle-lite. An acquaintance with her,
formed when she made her American debut,
at Irving Hall, in concert under Mr.. Bate
man management. continued throughout
her sojourn in this country of this inter-
course cherish some pleasant reminis-
cences.
1t was the custom of Carl Rosa and ma
dame to invite few friends and acquaint-
aIhrs 70 their rooms at the Belvedere HO-
tt.sSsi'ss,ii on the corner of Fourth Avenue
and Fourteenth STREET., after the concert
at Steinway Hall, on Sunday night, for a
''bite" and sociable hour, Inasmuch as
they did not get in till quite late, it was
generally after midnight, or Monday morn
ing, before the refreshments were re-
moved. 1t being then Monday morning
by the hands of the clock, there could be
no reasonable objection to a little convivi-
ality, and storytelling and joking were in
order.
A favorite pastime at these social re-
unions, after the witching hour Of mid
night, was to place Colby or MathisOn at
the piano, and then all join in singing
some rhythmical line, with Nine. PGepa-
Rosa leading, the fun being that each time
she transpOsed the words so that those fol-
lowing were soon i'll confusion. Her
laughter and merriment in consequence
were contagious. She used to declare she
liked to hear person laugh; that she did
not want to know a person who did not
enjoy laugh.
AT one OF these gatherings, the humOr
possessing her, general game of blind
man 's-buff was inaugurated, madame be-
ing the blindfOlded one herself for time,
till she caught a dignitied and well-known
musical critic.
In the social games so popular i'll Eng
lish hOme-life, where the elders join just
to keep the children company. she was
thoroughly skilled, and consequently she
was great fav0rite with the children in
the hotels where she stopped.
On the occasion of her visit to CalifOr-
MIA, in 1868, she and her husband enter
tanned, on the night before their depar-
ture, '.jolly party" at the Belvedere,
who came to wish them ''GOd-speed," to
use the words of the invitation, which
have before me. ''No answer giUeS con-
sent" were the concluding words in the
invitations to these little social gather
al, bn alr
NAL affairs.
On the occasion in question, Carl Rosa,
in his speech, rather bungled in express
ing his wish that they should not be for
gotten during their absence (there were
several critics present, and he doubtless
had an eye to buSiness), when madame
arose and said ''He means he hopes all
of you will welcome us when we return"
and awakened applause as much by her
heartfelt utterance rs by her sauoir DIRE.
Nine. Parepa-ROsa's conversational
powers were great. She cOnversed in
several languages. Her fund of anecdote
and humOr was ebullient, if not ineXhausti-
BILE.
The proprietor of the Belvedere Hotel
constructed a miniature theater and a
troupe of Liliput mariOnettes. He gave
several operas entire, with scenery, Choir
uses. ETC., after a fashion. but nevertheless
very enjoyable. On one occasion, for a
party of her own assembling, Nine. Pare
pa-ROsa was the priHlG donna and broke
down several times with laughter pro-
voked by the representation. The theater
was marvelously perfect in its arrange
ments, to the extent of an elaborate pro-
scenium with private boxes, in which ap-
peared mimic representatives of the
crowned heads of Europe, to whom the jO-
wal spirit of Nine. Parepa-ROsa prompted
ObsequiOus Difference. There was an or
chestra, inclOsed blythe customary railing,
and crowded with Germanesque musi-
clans. who were worked pantOmimically by
wires; though generally the principal
music was furnished by piano.
Nine. Parepa-ROsa was superstitiOus,
and believer in the ill-luck of intercept
ing funeral. the success-inspiratiOn of
touching a hunchback, and other such be-
liefs, that are more current in the old coun-
try than here, and Carl Rosa often joking
ly quiZzed her about her idioSyncracies in !
this respect. kind-hearted and sympa-
thetic, madame was always charitable and
cOnsiderate to the poor and needy, and
once ran the risk of contracting a severe
cold by opening a window on clustering
winters day to throw some pennies to q
DcOStu NHOlh sic Caught Sight VI.
Her gOOd-nature was impertuTbable un-
der the most trying circumstances of a |
stage-wait or mishaps, which she turned |
off with sang-troid. During her last en-
gagement at the Academy of Music in New |
Y Ork, disarrangement of the scenery Oc- |
CURED which would have justified her in
quitting the stage (as- one of the Italian |
prilsG donnas would have dOne), but she |
smilingly assisted the bungling stage-hand, |
and commenced singing as if nothing had |
occurred.
Once, when asked how she came to mar
~ such a little man as Carl Rosa, who, |
probably to forestall jesting on the subject,
generally good-humOredly alluded himself |
to their difference in physique, madame,
with an arch smile and twinkling eye, de-
said:
''NOw, would you really like to knOw?"
''Yes,'' was the reply.
"Why, because he asked met she re-
joined, with a merry laugh.
Her married life with Carl Rosa was |
happy One.-Chandos Fulton, IN AppJeton's
Journal.
Stupidity i'm the Prayer Meeting.