The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-24
Far within the Silly shade
A FAMOUS. SINGER.
Her Whims and Iudenendence

A FAMOUS. SINGER. "
Her Whims and Independence 4#
1t is often said, and with truth, that no
romance that was ever written equals the
romance of real life. This is especially
true OF our popular female artists. Nor
can charity look too leniently upon their
dizzy and sudden elevation from COM
piete poverty and obscurity to affluence,
position and homage. A striking exam
pie is furnished in the history OF a Roman
girl of the name of Caterina Gabrielle.
Her father was a cook in the service of q
cardinal. That cardinal, one day, while
walking in his garden, was startled with
burst of the most delicious melody.
Standing still, he listened with delighted
establishment, and when the voice ceased,
he turned to one of his attendants and
inquired who was this songstress who
made his garden such an enchanted one.
He was told that she was the cooks
daughter, and only fourteen years of age.
He sent for her Immediately, and made
her sing to him all the airs she knew.
Caterina was lively, audacious, handsome.
with most delicious voice, though quite
untutored. Her father, the cook, was
quite aware of her talent, but the only
means he had of cultivating it was to
take her often to the theatre to hear the
great singers. In this way she would
catch the most difficult pieces and per
form them surprisingly we'll without
instruction.
The cardinal was SO delighted with
her talent that he agreed with her father
to give her musical education at once !:
added to this, he often gave concerts to
exhibit to his friends this youthful mar
vel. At the age of seventeen she appear
cd IN public, and turned the head Of ev-
cry one who listened.
She was beautiful, witty, intelligent
and graceful. She had one personal de-
feet, slight squint in her right eve,
which, after all, was not detect, as it
only gave a roguish look to her bright
face. Although quite small, she was
dlgni6ed in her gestures and department,
and gave in no way the slightest indica-
ton of her obscure origin. All the beaux
in the country crowded around to gain a
smile. Caterina made fun of them, and
kept them all In a becrazed state of vex.
"
time, she much preferred the singer asso-
ciated with her to these fine young lords.
Al! the great managers in the different
cities made her brilliant offers to sing.
After while she went to Naples, where
she lived in great splendor. The courtly
poet Metastasio, offered to give the
finish to her musical education. But
alas for the old man of fifty three he tell
crafty in love with his pupil. She
laughed at him, too, and his aching bones
so full of ailments, but received his gift
with regal condescension. And al
| though he, with the rest of her intatuat-
ed admirers. received no other token OF
her appreciation, they would yet patient
ly lolter in her parlor Tor hours for the
mere pleasure Of exchanging one word
with her.
This bright little hummlng-bi bird cloyed
with sugar began to be dainty and i'm
perative. When she felt inclined to sing,
she would; when she didn't, NJ power on
earth could open her rosy little mouth.
They used to manage her in this way :
The most favored of her admirers was re-
quested by the manager to place him
self IN front OF some conspicuous box,
when she was in bad humor: and #
they were on good terms, which was not
always, by any means, she would address
her tender airs to him, and sing her
sweetest notes. One of her lovers con-
ceitedly agreed with the manager to give
him an example of his power over Cater
ina. He took his seat, perfumed and
dressed with great skill. The little LADY.
seeing through the trick, much to his
chagrin, took not the slightest notice OF
his presence. II
Laden with wealth, she then went to
Sicily, where she became perfectly un-
manageable by her managers" She ask
ed just what prices she pleased, and got
them. She sang when, where and how
she pleased, or sometimes not at all.
lazily putting off her tasks upon her sis.
ter Francesca, whom she carried about
wirh her for the purpose. Everybody had
the choice either to yield to her whims.
or not have her. On one occasion the
Viceroy Of Sicily asked her to dine with
him IN company with some of the nobili-
ty. Finding she did not make her an.
pearance, he sent Il servant to learn the
reason. He found her lounging on a So
ia, reading book, and when he respeat-
fully gave her his message, she pretended
to have forgotten all about it. However
she went, and the Viceroy concluded to
pocket the insult for the sake of the
songs, and received her as if it had not
occurred. But when 1t was evident that
she sang her worst, and so low that she
could scarcely be heard, he threatened
imprisonment:
'Ah," said the stubborn little girl,
very likely you can make me cry, but
you shall never force me to sing.''
SO the Viceroy imprisoned her for
twelve days. In prison she gave gay and
costly entertainments, paid all the debts