Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-02-21
EMMA ABBOTT.

This is not surprising. We had not
supposed they would.
EMMA ABBOTT.
Prima Donna in Heavy and Light
Opera-The Bohemian Girl-"The
Ideal Patience"-The Humors
OF the Stage.
But few theatre -goers have the faintest
idea of the labor and WEAKNESS through
which successful singer goes to attain that
fortune which looks SO brilliant with the
stage lights on, and without any suggestion
of the inside of this artistic life.
A travelling drummer, rushing from
Maine to Texas with grip sack in his hand,
and box car now and then to break the
monotcny of endless travel, is an orna-
mental gentleman compared to the enduring
capaci of prima donna, who, according
to the most famous teacher of the day, must
have the constitution of an elephant, the pa
tience of Job, and be made of whslebone,
and this high authority knew nothing of
what the travelling system in America de-
mands. Emma Abbott seems to fill the
bill, for she never disappoints an audience,
can travel all day, sing at night and keep
her temper in spite of the weather.
FROM NEW YORK TO DENVER.
She had Just organized and rehearsed her
company last August, when Tabor, the
Colorado mining king, te!egraphed Emma
to cone and open his new opera house in
Denver, which is one of Oscar Cobb's mas
terpieces of theatrical architecture.
The company consisted of principals, full
chorus and orchestra, fifty people in all. 1t
was a task to make such Jump" as they
call it, but the indomitable little Emma
tackled the trip at once. Tabor waited by
the wire at Denver and heard of the arrival
of the train at each important station.
Presently they missed the connection and
the gold king tore his beard Then the
wire announced that they were ON a special
train pursuing the regular express. The
grand opening was advertised, speeches,
opera and all, grand ovation, and for four
days and nights Tabor alternately watched
and tossed IN horrible slumbers. At Kan
sas City the Abbott train missed the connee-
ton again by five hours. The president OF
the road kindly offered al other extra, and
during the last race Tabor fairly raved. At
last the prima donna came III smiling and
Tabor was happy. The thing was an i'm
mense success. But there was another il
lustrious citizen pining to be patron of
opera. Ex-Governor Evans caught the
flame of excitement, even as the dry prairie
takes fire. The Eearer the train came to
Denver the wilder he got, and the deeper
into oblivion sank the pious side of his char
acter. For, trained to the solemn ways of
the church, the only music he had been al
lowed was the nasal melody of a Presbyte-
rian hymn, accompanied by the croak of a
Inelodeonl and he had been known only as
Deacon Evans"
THREE SUITS FOB PARAGRAPH.
The Tribune contained a paragraph
which operatic excitement prevented him
from seeing until friend handed it to him
in the theatre. The prayer in Fra Diavoic
had Just recalled some faint echoes Of
hymns and croaking melodion as he read a!
follows:
deacon John Evans will be at the opert
tonight, front row parquette, with double
barrel marine glass; He wouldn't miss the
bed-chamber scene in Fra Diavolo' TO
the profits of a dozen libel suits, the sly rec
rooster"
"The Deacon's legs stiffened and brough
him to his feet, then started him out
You won't miss the fourth act of 'Fr
Diavolo,' cried his friend, trying to holt
him"
FRA blazes," shouted the Deacon; 'giv
me lawyer"
But by the time he found a vindicator
was morning, and the very one he founC
was reading the following from the sam
paper: .
deacon John Evans was at the oper,
last night, sitting, as we expected he woul
be, in the front row of the parquette. Hi
bald, venerable head glotened like billiar,
ball under the glare of the gas jets, and hi
little round eyes sparkled like diamonds" "
The deacon at once sued the editors 70
calling him ''red rooster" and Miss Alb
bolts husband sued the deacon for sayin
that the opera was wicked so that Fra vii
be regularly tried in court, instead of sho
without judge or jury.
THD BOHEMIAN GIRL
The romantic and picturesque characte
of this opera and its exquisite music hav
caused Miss Abbott to give it great amour
of care. 1t is cast with the prima donna il
the principal part of Airline; Fabrini, tn
famous tenor, as Thadeus; Stoddard as tn
Count, and the full chorus and orchestra
presenting all the parts of the opera will
the most complete musical and dramatic ex
preston of its beauties.
The artists in this cast are all famous il
their respective lines and make the Der
formance a real gem of lyric art. 1t ha
been as successful this season as THE Ides
Patience, as the critics have called Abbott
Interpretation of Gilbert & Sullivan's popu
lar satire Most of the companies that hav
sung Patience initiate the caricatures {
Du Maurier and play it grotesquel,
which is all wrong, as the authc
intends satire and not carieature. III
pastoral style of the music and the subt
nature of the humor demand more delicat
reatment than others have given to it; an
hnce, having grand opera company fe
tA first time to present it, the pretty opel
apears in the hands of the Abbott Con
pan for the first time in its real character