New-York tribune., 1881-11-20
discussion will help to educate public opinion
on the subject so that jures hereafter may DC
less likely to err through Ignorance.
p1rrrS PERFERSIHES.

The chances of a visit to America by Ade-
lima Patti we're standard subject of conver-
sation in musical circles for many years.
Managers planning large venture in opera in
the United States almost always calculated the
nossibilities of an engagement with the most
fomous prima donna of the world and several
of those enterprisng and imaginative gentle
men went so far as to promise her speedy
coming. Meanwhile she rcigned the undisputed
mistress of all the greatest lyric theatres OF
Europe, with popularity that showed no sign
of failing. and a reputation with connoisseurs
that seemed to rise higher and higher every
voar. Who could have imagined that, making
the long anticipated voyage at last, In the
ripeness of her powers and at most 1aVOr-
able time. she would be confronted 10y mel
ancholv fasco ? That was disaster which
nobody rcckoncd among the conceivable events.
But she found the public indifferent a short
and unsatisfactory essay in concerts eliminated
i'm the ludicrods affair OF last Wednesday
night, perhaps the most notifying incident IN
patti's whole career as n singer F; and the Illus
trious artist who counted upon seeing the
New World at her feet, is obliged to abandon
half the concerts advertised for this city, and
to reduce by one-half her demands upon the
purses of her audience.
The failure is not to be regretted. 1t will
teach European players and musicians use
ful lesson. For a long time an idea has pre-
vailed across the sea that America Is coun-
try of uncutivatcd milliOnaires, who cannot
tell good art from bad, and will pay fabulous
prices for anything bearing the stamp of
foreign reputation. 1t is the dream OF nearly
all public performers TO come here some day,
to get a great pile of Our gold in single sea-
son. and go home again, comfortable for NE,
laughing at our Ignorance and protesting that
existence is intolerablc iii this unartistic and
uncongenial society. Perhaps we are
in part to blame for this wide
spread mistake. We have certainly
Maid very hich prices sometimes for Indifferent
work. But occasionally our common sense as
scrts itself with emphasis. Most of us know
what sort of an entertainment Nine Patti has
thonCbt if necessary to set before European
audiences and what prices she has charged
for it. A large proportion of those upon whose
patronagc she depends here have often heard
her in London and Paris, where well-to-do
Americans are almost as much mt home ~ IN
New-Yo or Boston. When the Patu con
certs were announced in this city, with pro-
tnat even l4Oiubn Npuh H'' i'i''
tolerated, and at prices double those of the
Covent Garden opera, our people resented,
first the ailront to our musical Intelligence,
and secondly, the singers rpacity. II they
had done otherwise they would have deserved
TO be laughed at
4 prima donna hears more adulation than
truth. The very air she brcatheS Is heavy
with incense. II is no wonder that she
makes mistakes. Nine. Patti having discovered
her blundcr, has been prompt in correct
ing il; and although she has lost The oppor-
tunity for that enthusiastic personal welcome
which would have been so acceptable to her
and. we may add, so uscful-on her first return
to the scene OF her girlish triumphs, il is not
too late for her to reap a substantial profit
from her tour 4 voice luscious an art 50
perfect, n musical feeling 50 strong and spon-
taneous, cannot fail Of appreciation in tins
country, and if she do not attract large and
admiring crowds the fault will be nObody's
Int b.r