The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-11-30


edging away from him; ~ don't know
about that You are altogether too con-
slant. ] never could stand so much
devotion. I'm not one of those girls
who enjoy having man knocking
around under fdSt all the time. and I'm
afraid You won't do" and she leit MIN
crushed reed, broken by the willfulness
Of woman.
Nils. Coutis and Mario.
Celia Logan writes Of the Baroness
Blrtctt. Coutts as follows to the Cincln-
natl YimcS:
II remember perfectly bow Miss
JOutts looked ana acted when sne Ioi-
lowed the glorious singer and Apollo
Mario 10 this country, She was not
even then young woman, nor was she
even handsome She looked from ~ to
81 years OF age. Her features were thick
and irregular, her complexion muddy
and Of thick texture. She WAS OF medi-
mn height ard most exauisitelv m1ld'd.
haylng especially iine, rounded, slipping
shoulders, Over which she invariably
wore n truly regal camels-hair shawl.
She was always dressed plainly III dark
silk or cashmere dress, and every night
that Mario sang, Miss Coutts sat III the
stagc-hox entirely alone She was
dressed 30 simply her manners and ap-
pearanCo beng 80 unaSsumlnS ana the
reverse Of striking, that opera-goers OF
that day took little notice OF her beyond
an occasional surmiso as TO who the lone
lady in the box WIS, for ii was before
the era Of the maunecs and ladies going
10 places OF amusement unnccomphnlcd
by gentlemen. She would sit half con-
coalcd by the curtains the whole per-
Torrance through with rapt expression
on her face, rs if she were fairly en-
chanted by the tones of the heavenly
TENOR me performance over, she would
aud a few monuIts as If waiting the
recall, and rs Mario would near the
atagc-box she would bend on him look
full Of admiration, which he returned,
while Crisis black eyes flashed fire on
them both. Then Miss Coutts would
glide away to her carriage.
"IO those behind the scenes IN those
davshsromnntics story was we'll KNOWN
the lies that kept Mario chained TO Grsi,
even when he had wenricd OF her and
would gladly have exchanged his lyric
houors to become the husband OF the
rich l,nplishWOmau who Ind come 50
far not to lose one note Of that Heaven
given voice. Apart from his divine gift
of song, Mario was one Of the handSom-
est men ever born, although he was
IL tribe undorslzed. ,Grisi, too, was per-
feet type Of lovely Italian, eyes and
hair like his dark ~ midnight, and in
person beautifully formed, although ut
| this time she was stout and somewhat
prssc. Although the trio were seem.
lngly on tine most friendly footing, Miss
| Couts' admiration for the great singer
being supposed to be merely that which
she might feel Tor any wonderful artist,
such as she has lately shown for Irving,
the actor, Grisl was terribly Jealous, and
| il was said at the time nothing but tho
fear Of losing Mario altogether caused
her to put II restraint upon herself. |
remember, however, ono night there
| had been domestic sceuo between tho
| singers, and Grisi came to the thcatcr
in state OF pcnt-up fury. The opera
was "NOrmn." Grisi and Mario were III
splendid voice, and seemed IA il trying
| Ia WItIn each other At length ('rlsi re-
| proacncs ncr Uclruycr stretching iorth
her arm to its islIcSt cAtent she pointed
directly to the box III which tho lono
lady sat, and Numbered forth: 'Thon
yet shall feel the anguish which has
broken his hcnrt i Mario turned hls
back ON Gris, and Miss Coutts drew
further bcAlhd the curtain The words
heinz in Italian We're not generally I'M
d,rslood by the audience, but the yer
Jlct WIS that more splendid piece OF
acting Ind never before been given by
| any lyrlG artist