The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-04-13

At the Cincinnati Opera Festival
Nine. Patti wore Nile-green satin, en-
broidered in red and gold, and trimmed
with Marechal Neil roses. She wore all
of her diamonds, and if she had been
sold in lump, counting the treasury of
her voice, she would have been worth
81, ,000, 600. Satin and diamonds were
not always the attire of Salvatore PATHS
daughter. In the days gone by, when
her voice, ii not technique, was as glori-
ous as now, when she and Vieuxtemps,
who afterward reaped golden harvests
also, and reigned in Paris as the greatest
living violinist, with Amelia Patti
Strakosch formed the little concert
| troupe that travelled through provincial
towns, poor Adelina had but few gowns
and she had to make them herself. The
green satin gown she wore at her last
| appearance in Cincinnati could not have
cost less than 81 900, and stage wear is
| trying on clothes.
There is no more pathetic chapter in
Emma Abbott's early struggling career
than her efforts to make good stage
appearance with her poor muslins and
cheap laces. There has been silly at
tempt to cry down the strong endeavors
| of this artist whose work is her con-
science, but woman must have a voice
as well as q will to face q concert-roOm
as she has done in shabby clothes. Hon
or the brave little singer.
Mrs. Florence is said to give carte
blanche to the French dressmakers, and
the results are beautiful. The most
thoroughly we'll dressed woman on any
stage was probably the Polish actress,
Nine. Modjeska She had real genius
for clothes. She had, indeed, the deli
cate and striking beauty of Polish
women, and there were no defective
points to conceal Her arms were long,
but very beautiful. She dressed ex.
quisjtely in public and in private. Even
during the disagreeables of a rough
ocean voyage, she was always marvel
ously costumed. One day, as she walked
the deck, when the wind was blowing
great guns-for she is notoriously the
best sailor on every ship ON which she
travels--a gentleman remarked upon the
serviceable simplicity of the dress she
wore. "Mon Dieu," she said, "this
serviceable simplicity cost me 1,200
francs" What the ornamental elegance
cost her may be left to the imagination
and Worth.
Sarah Bernhardt, like Rachel, is ex-
tremely difficult to dress, and no art in
the world can make her look well in full
dress. The long, rumpled Bernhardt
gloves were invented to conceal her at
tenuated arms; strings of pearls and
diamonds cover her angular neck, but
her physical defects cannot be CLOSED
over when she is in grand toilette.
As Sarah Bernhardt is too thin for full
dress, SO Mile. Croizette. her rival, is
too fat. Fanny Davenport, once the
glory of the stage dressmakers, has
reached that point when art has to be
called in to make a stout woman looh
slim. She no longer wears the pretty
pale blue boys costume in "As Yor
Like it," that was so captivating ter
years ago. Now she is as sober as Jenny
Wren herself; but somber browns anc
blacks do not altogether conceal he
middle-aged embonpoint.
The inability to make over stag
dresses is one explanation of the excess
i've cost of a wardrobe for the boards
They are made with double rows of sew
ing and strong seams. The various
faintings, fallings and embracings ge
the waists out of shape, the trains be
come soiled and raveled, and at the enc
of the season 81, 900 costume is only
fit for the rag-bag.