The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

GREAT SINGERS: Faustina Bor,oni to Henrietta
scntag. by GEoRoE \. FERRIS. New Handy
Volume Series. New York u. Appleton Co.
This most interesting volume contains
sketches Of Faust,na Borjoni. Catarina Gabrelll,
Sophie Arnould. Elizabeth Ellington, Angelica Cata-
lani Gindita Pasta and Henrietta Sontag. OF course
these singers, the greatest In their day, cannot be
sketched without mentioning their lesser contempo-
raiics, that hear something Of Cuzzoni, Gras-
sini, Mara, Braham, Labachc, and others hardly less
eminent. The volume is peculiarly rich in anecdote,
and one hardly knows where to begin and stili less
where to leave of quoting. The following will show
everything OF the material of book In which there Is
not dun page:
Mrs. Elizabeth BlllIngton was the greatest singer
ever born In England. Her father Charles
Weichsel, saxon, an orchestral player In London,
and her mother vocalist OF considerable feputc
Elizabeth was born in i77O and was carefully trained
for the lyric stage. She appeared In concert at four
teen, and when only fifteen ran away with and
married her musc- master, Thomas Ellington. For
year she was In Dublin and the provinces and then
obtained an opening ut Covent Garden, Februury 10,
lss she became at once the fashion, andat the close
sacchini. Her beauty was as magnificent as her
voice. Handel paid her superb compliment. Rey-
nOds painting her portrait In the character of St.
Cecilia, and one day Handel called Just 1t was being
Finished Hecontemplatedita attcntivey, and then sad
. You have made great mistake Reyn9s
ycu have represented Mrs. Ellington listening TO the
angels you should have made the angels listening to
you dear man, cried she, thowing her arms around
his neck and kissing him.. singular evidence Of
the superstition OF the Seapolitans was shown
an eruption from Ncsnvius, and the population be-
ieved that 1t was q visitation from God In punish
ment for the permission granted to hereto Englls-
woman TO sing at San Carlo Mrs Billinpton's Safety
was, for time threatened but her talents and pop
ularity at last trlumphed. and she rose higher In
gagement was terminated suddenly by the death Of
her husband ms he was In the act, one evening, of
eloaking her prior TO her stepping into her carriage
To 60 to the theatre. There much scandal, and
II was whispered that he had died from poison the
dagger II was known that the mobiles had paid Mrs.
Ellington warm attention. and hints OF assassination
were ndustriously circulated. After remaining some
time In retirement she left the city, and that she did
not deeply lament the loss Of her husband is proven
by her marriage, six months afterwards, In Milan,
with VI. Pelican, an officer of the French Comms-
sariat. He was remarkably handsome man, and
she declared that she was in love for the first time in
among NJ. Fecan's favorlte methods of displaying
marital devotion were beating her and hurling dishes
or other convenient movables at her head whenever
in the least rrtated. OF the public soon
fully Informed of this pleasant home life and Pelican
was publicly aogged at the drnmhead for whipping
her so cruelty that she could not appear IN the opera
of the evening. Mrs. Bington clung to her brutal
husband, and did not separate from him until she
feared for her life in 1901 she could stand 1t
longer, and left with great secrecy for England She
was more than well received In London. Rival man.
ayers actually fought for her services. One night,
coming home, she found the delightful Pelican oll-
Ing on the sofa In her room. She paid him large
of money, and he left her in peace. March 80,
1906, she made her final appearance In opera, but
tnued to sing In concert for three years longer.
curious instance of woman's infatuation her
longing to be reunited to Pelican. So In 1917 she
invited him to Join her In England. OF course he
accepted, induced her TO sell everything, and go with
him to ITALY, There she died, August 2S 1918, killed
by his il.trcatment.
Guiseppa Grassini. the daughter OF farmer ia
Lombardy, another famous singer Of this time.
She was a wayward, indolent. fascinating beauty,
and bad taken France and Italy by storm before she
came London. Napoleon was In love with her, bui
J0sephines Jealousy soon drove her from Paris. In
Dircctress OF the Opera In sOi. 1t was well under
stood that she actually turned her eyes toward the
throne. 81 hear, madam, that our Grasslni is q
iayorite with the great Sapolecn said Count Som
''the ridiculous vanity OF the creature amuses us
| amazingly. Since she has been made Directress oi
the Italian Opera there Is more intriguing gjing
among the gentry than there is with tho diplomates.
In the midst of serious conversation she will break
out Into horse-laugh throw herself sofa, and,
fancyng herself Semiramis on the throne of Nine.
| ! am beloved.'" ''One day. y said Fouche, chic
of police, Bonaparte observed that, considering my
acknowledged ability, he was astonished j did no
perform my functions better; that there were
things OF which was ignorant. Yes, replied
there certainly arc things of which was ignorant
| but which now know well enough. For instance,
little man mufled in gray cloak, and accompanies
| by single servant, often steals out dark even
Ing from secret door Of the Tullleries enters close,
| carriage, and drives OF to SignOra d.. This lit
tie man Is yourself, and yet this fancfu songsrcs
| jilts you constantly for Roda the fiddler The Con
| sui answered not word but Withdrew Grassin
remained on the stage until about 1922 when, havn
lost the beauty OF her voice. she retired to private
with comfortable fortune, spending her last year
In Paris. She died In 1850, In her eghty-nith year
s pleasant to close this volume with the author
| assurance that ga supplementary volume viii Civ
| "slmilar sketches Of later celebrities ~