New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-04
MIR. MAPLESON RUFFLED.

Mr.. Mapleson came down to the Academy Of
Music yesterday afternoon just ahead of big cloud
of dust. He ducked his head to let the dust pass
over, turned into the box Office entrance. and went
Immediately to his private Office. small army OK
yOurg opera managers and meDias saluted HIM as
he passed in review. Mr.. Mapeson's private Office
is separated from the main room by partition
about eight feet high. huge brass plato
shines brightly the door to his office,
and on ITS broad expsnse is written
in letters Of beaten brass -. H. Mapeson."
TRIBUNE reporter had just stepped into the outer
room when he heard the silvery voice of the impre-
sario exclaming the other side OF the partition
to O menial on the Same side with the reporter:
"Say I'm out. D--n it. Nilsson is in rage"
"WiIl you see reporter of THE TRIBUNEP said
the reporter over the partition.
"Oh, is that you ~ the impresaro shouted back
.'Ths interview in The TRIBUNE this morning with
Nilsson is outrageous. Come in and I'll talk about
it.n
"Now. dye know" began the manager, after tho
reporter had helped himself to q seat. :" I've been
reading this article tpointiug to the interview
printed in The TRIBUNE yesterday with Madame
Nilsson1 "and by Jove-well. let me review 1t with
you" Mr. Mapleson tipped back IN his chair and
reread the article. commenting on 1t as he read,
something in this wise: "'Oh my dear TREND
Mapleson; he's no colonel No colonel. ell 7
oh, he isn't Well now Mr. Reporter here's letter
which I've just received from His Royal Hignness
the Duke of Cambridge-see itf-nOtice the official
stamp. etc. Tin which he regrets my long absence
from the army ana thinks l ought to return to
England. No, colonel, ehf Perhaps not"
Mr. Mapleson restored tho letter to the pigeon
hole and resumed reading: "'They've had no war
there like you have had in America No. she's
quito right. Il can earnestly say that Mapesen Is
the most terrible liar / ever met In my life Oh.
| am am II Oh, that's nothing. l could
90 into details about Madame NIsson-ahem,
but l won't. She says further that she'd like
to punch my head Punching heads! It's simply
ridiculous Punch my headf" and Mr. Mapleson
unconsciously felt of his head to if it haunt
been punched already.
why, d-n it," resumed the irate imprcsario.
"lfs not my fault she's reduced to tour operas.
And If she's going to punch my head-Pll put up
$4,000 and ask her what her fifth opera is. But
must read this again. She says If I'd see hip. Id
feel like quoting Shakespeare TO HIM, and say TO
tor Yes; that Go to expression she must bavo
obtained from Ada Cavend.sh or Ella Wesner
or some tragedienne equally conversant
with the sayings of Shakespeare.
And she says my head is bald
from 'debauchery and exccsses.' l suppose so.
Well. Pm here in the Academy all day. and 1t is
positive fact that don't go anywhere My tailors
is about as far l get up town. I've had coat
lying there four months waiting to be tried on. All
| the debauchery and excess I've committed must
have been done here in the Academy. Pshawl
| What nonsense! The woman's in rage. But
| don't see any necessity for bringing my private
| affairs INTO this controversy. My wife is at tue
New York Hotel with iae"
Having finished reading tho article IN
| question, Mr. Mapleson laid aside the news
paper and remarked conGdentially: Don't say
ANYTHING libellous, you know. Just say you found
me here very busy my private office. the floor all
| covered with papers and documents OF all kinds,
| and outside tho door big crowd clamorng tor
| admittance-you know, dress it up that way you
know Then the manager beamiug with smiles.
drew closer to the reporter, though the lire was
out aud It was cold and beating tattoo Oh the re-
porter,s knee. said "In repeating my words Of
course use care. Say that Missions voice-no.
don't say it's worn out. but say
that the natural developments OF her
| svstem have altered the tessitura' OF
her voice. tessitura' that's puzzler for her: she
| won't know what that means, but just put that III.
tes-s-i.t-u-r-a; that III set her thinking" and tho
impresario broke out into a laugh that threatened
| to develop into Mysteries or hydrophobia
"Tessitura" again repeated Mr. MapIeson, tena-
cions of his newly found word, " that'l set every
body to thinning. But that's what the matter with
Nilsson Why. she's no repertoire TO speak Of. The
last time she sang Martha wa, in Novem-
her II. 1875, and she made fzzle of
il. She could hardly get through tho
nerformance. Her voice is changed you know:
IA like nv being formerly able TO stand on my head
I IN that corner but now | can't 10 IL, you know.
don't put that in.) But you might say that she 8
admirable in Don Giovanni and in Faust, IN
fact has no equal on the lyric stage; Ia 'Met,.
she sns is S ys,y mo- Sier roles Why bless
y ySar, a ana know S hsr brought her ont.
S Snv 0~ been the best of friends. Her rage
| ~ Over IN minute. She tells not 10 boast. Ia,
| ia Pm going TO boast ten times more than eyer.
| I've friends on the press. But she's IN a rage You
| see nothing enrages than the truth dooi
| when it's told People never got mad uniess the
truth told. And ii she's going TO put ,ot Oh no;
| in-well she uses pretty rot language. It's almost
unparliamentary. No one outside has ever seen mel
, | tcmper-she's very violent at times" The I'm;
presarlo shrugged his shoulders convulslvely ana
| looked around the room, as though he Thought tha'
Madame Nilsson might drop IN on him at any mo-
ment. =, l a.. ;n,nros,r;o
laughing and wiggling IN his chair. yon might say
that the .Swanee River is all very WELL but IT IS
impossible to work 1t into an opera when the foot
Luis are blazing and ive-aot work is about to bc
sprung on the audience. The American people arc
, more Critical than any Others Why d--n lt they
Won't stand half much as the London people wili'
-. pou arc quito sure" ventured the
reporter, while Mr., MaPleson was catching
hTs breath. which had eluded him for moment.
:Yon are quiro sure that Madame Nilsson has go'
the tessIturai" .
"Oh. yes," replied Mr.. Mapleson tesstura-
that,s IT, That's good one. his will very likely
Q blow no q breeze. OF course this Is only LITTLE
4 playfuness nova little preliminary SOARING
LONE i'm any day and therell always be lots oil
, news Won know But don't say any thing iibt llous
| 'Tesslfura' you know, la, la !"
After Mr.. Mapeson had carefully ad
1 49, ,N,p
IN a iathorly way the reporter closed the door anC
left the impresarlo alone aud in the best OF humor
/
MR.. GYEON THE OPERATIC SITU4TION