Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-09
PATHS PROTEGE.
The Meeting between H0nest Little
Emma and the Diva.
s.. Louis Globe-per1ocrat. sth.

-.
Nine. Adelina Patti, Mile. Castellani, tbs
vi 1linist, Signor Nicolfni and Signor Cas-
tellaui, the father of the violinisJ- occupied
a stage-box at the Grand Operahouse las
night, and sat through the Chimes Of Nor
mandy. Nine. Patti and party arrived her,
from Indianapolis late Tuesday night anc
took rooms at the Southern. During yester
day she was out driving for the double pur.
pose of shopping and visiting the places o.
interest around the city. While she was out
Emma Abbott was among those who called
at her rooms in the Southern. Miss Abbott
and Nine. Patti are old and dear friends
When "Honest Little Emma" was taking
lessons from Wartel in Paris, Patti dropped
into the class one day and became favorably
impressed with the young American glrl
she met there. A strong friendship sprang
up between them. WartePs pupil, who wa:
bright, promising and ardently devoted tc
her art, who was struggling against reverse:
of the most heartrending kind to train her
voice to the sweetness and perfection which
have since enabled her to sing her way to
the hearts of the people, and whose manners
were then as sparkling and pleasing as they
are now, made so deep an impression on the
priHla donna, who had already set the world
afame with the marvellous music that came
from her lips, that Patti herself gave the
American girl lessons,
HAVING BEEN BY HER SIDE
at the piano every day during the Paris sea-
son, and promising, when she left, to get
Miss Abbott an engagement when the scpg
birds wings were strong enough to warrant
a flight into the atmosphere of public atten-
ton. This was i'll 1874.
Two years later Miss Abbott was ready to
make her debut She recalled the promise OF
her former friend, and obtained letters TO
Messrs. Gye and Mapleson, of London. She
presented her letter to Mr.. Mapleson, and
that gentleman promised TO make place for
her as soon as possible. She wanted to try
her wings at once, however, so she went to
Mr.. Gye, who, hearing that Mapleson was
going to engage her, engaged her himself, at
at salary of clio month, but gave her no
opportunity TO air her voice in his perform
ances. she didn't want Mr.. eyes money as
badly as she wanted to make lame for her
self, SO she returned to Mr.. Mapleson,
who put her on the stage IN royal Italian
opera, and the young American primd
donna was fast climbing the melodie nights
to glory, when she refused TO sing the Ira.
riatd, and disagreement arose which
brought about her secession from the COM
pany. She came to America, was warmly
received, and has been dearly cherished here
ever since. But she has not forgotten Nine.
PATHS great kindness.
reporter last night, al feel that / owe my
start in my profession to Nine. Patti, and |
am so deeply grateful that / do not know
how to begin to express it or where TO end"
NINE. PATTI
sat forward in the operahouse box, asst
night, in a very unassuming toilet, and
enthusiastically applauded every aria that
was rendered by her Trotege. At the end of
the second act the divd went behind the
scenes, and there she met Miss Abbott for
the first time since 1874. The meeting was
very touching and full of interest to the on
lockers. The a,tiste' kissed and rekissed
each other. The Abbott stage-kiss, with all
its wealth of lusciousness and warmth, was
more than doubly discounted every time the
ladies' lips met. The protege was joyful and
in the cordiality of the welcome
she gave her visitor; the diud was profuse in
praise OF her little friend, congratulating her
most generously upon the success OF her
career, and asserting the performance OF the
Chimes was very pleasing. A few moments,
general conversation followed, after which
Nine. Patti and party retired to the box
again to look, listen and applaud. As
mas been said before. this was the first
time Mime. Patti and Miss Abbott had met
'ince 1874. When Nine. Patti appeared in
Philadelphia recently the American primd
ionnd telegraphed her greeting. WhenIt was
known that Nine. Patti was in the Southern
Miss Abbott went to her room, but
he diyo was out driving, and Miss Abbott
Gould only leave her card. Later Miss Alb
1ott received the following note, penned in a
lowing but angular hand on both sides of
mall square bit of papetrie, with a very red
parrot perching upon a red bough in the
upper left-hand corner.
PATHS NOTE.
FEBRUARY q 1Ss2.-MY DARLING LITTLE PET:
low sorry | am not to have seen you; as you
allied went out for little air, felt bad about
ma tete' but that matters little. / should so
much like to go and hear you this evening, you
larling. You cannot conceive the great pleasure
affords to see how brilliantly you get on after
uch hard and struggling life. May Goa protect
on and give you all the blessings you so well de-
erve is the wish OF your true and loving friend,
ADELINA PATTI.
p s.-When cam see you?
In response to the postscript Miss Abbott ar
anged to meet the diva in her drawing room,
rhere Patti and her pet held their little re-
nion, as has been already described.