The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-23

united TO OllVette, the countess accepts the
Due des Ifs, and De Merrimac is advised to
follow the example of the Doge of Venice,
and marry the sea-"
HONEST LITTLE EMMA,
Miss Emma Abbott whose faithful per-
formances before the public have secured
for her the soubrequet of Honest Little
Emma" was prevented last evening by sick
ness from appearing in the opera of Lucia.
She was able to appear on the stage and
express her regrets to the audience.
An ARGUS representative, who was be-
hind the scenes during the progress of the
opera, engaged Miss Abbott in converse
ton during which she expressed herself as
follows:
Il am ever so sorry that l could not ap
pear tonight" said Miss Abbott in her
earnest characteristic manner land really
thought until o'clock that my throat
would allow me that pleasure; but l tried
my voice and found that 1t would not do,
so gave up"
The Journalist after expressing his re
gret that she was unable to perform, asked
the Prima Donna if that was not the first
time she had been compelled by sickness to
disappoint the public.
Tonight is the second time, 7" cas- was
unable to sing Monday night at Des
Moines, with these two exceptions L be-
lieve l have never failed to keep my
engagements with the public during the
past four years of my operate career.
That is one reason why 1 am so sorry that
my voice win not allow me to sing to night.
/ am so afraid that the audience will think
it is some caprice of mine and not actual
sickness" you know" continued the vocal
ist that operate singers refuse to appear
for the merest whims and caprices. Ii
their dress don't exactly suit them, or the
dressing rooms are not just what they
should be- the Prima Donna will refuse to
sing and claims she is sick. have always
a charge, and until the last two nights
have succeeded.
At this point one of the beautiful arias
of Lucia was distinctly heard on the stage,
and Miss Abbott said in her enthusiastic
fashion isn't that pretty Oh,
think the music and the whole
opera is just too nice for anything
rs the role of Lucia and the opera sat
isfactory to the person taking the charac-
ter of the heroine?" propounded the jour
nalist.
well don't know that it is what you
might call satisfactory, as there are other
operas that suit me better than LUCIA, but
then first made that role my speciality. /
succeeded in it, and of course like it on
that account. 1t tries me terribly and per-
haps think more of it because have not
sung it as much as other roles
you will produce two new operas the
coming season, win you noty'
eYes-one of them is .'Traviata' trans
posed and changed. It is called "Cecilia's
Love-. and as you see by the name it is a
real pretty love story / think the public
win ike il. for the tone and effect is SO
much prettier than the old opera. The
other new peice is called THE Two Chav-
Hers, It is being translated by Mr.. Cas-
tie. our tenor. have real nice charac
ter in that opera and appear as a young
school girl
The conversation gradually turned upon
the death Of President Garfield when the
prima donna said:
sIsn,tft dreadful to think of the Presi-
dent Of this country dying from assassi
nation. would not believe that be was