Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-13
COUSIN CLAIRE.
Ths Great french ssatesmans Stage
Struck Kinswoman
How the Pretty Cousin annoyea Him In
Paris

New York, january II LA cable let
ter gives story Of Gambettas pretty
cousin a. follows:
The recent appearance In Paris az
the Palace Theatre--nrie OF the loWer
grade places Of afnusements, Wnere
ballet, paniomine and general variety
business form the principal attraction
of Mademoiselle Claire Gamoetta,
cousin OF the deceased statesman, was
the source Of good deal OF annoyance
10 the latter prior to and IN the early
stages OF his sickness, as well as OF an I'M
mense amount Of sport TO his numerous
enemies. She appered there as sort
OF concert hall singer on "Wednesday,
December lS, the prices OF seats were
doubled ON the strength OF her name,
and the theatre has been crowded
nightly ever since 10 degree hereto
fore unknown in it, history. Scarcely
newspaper but has had its daily squib
at Ganbetfa's expense, and one re-
porter sought an interview with the
troublesome cousin, during which she
told the following story:
II was born at Orange, where !
lived eight years. Ny father was a
plnsterer, scarcely able 10 support by
his labor my mother, my sister and
myself. From my earliest infancy !
manifested desire TO learn music.
With me Ii was more than taste; it
was a calling. So, when we went TO
Airgnon to live, / earnestly
insisted upon entering the con
servatory. The situation OF my
parents was less than brilliant, as |
have already told you: 40 they
thwarte'i me in my projects, which, in
their view, were within the reach only
Of the rich This is why, as soon as /
became Of age, left my parents and
entered the conservatory. There ! re-
manned several years, winning several
prizes. Paris had great attractions for
me, and / came here with very
small amount of baggage, buta headfnl
Of illusions. Alas! how the reality
disappointed my expectations. /
stopped at hotel in the Avenue de la
/ Grand-Armee. and tried in vain to get
place in the concert hall. Two
months went by, had nothing left,
and was likely soon to be without
{ shelter. Then ] rcmel2Ted that ! had a
cousin In Paris who was In position TO
aid me. His name was Leon Gam
/ beta, Ny parents had often spoken
10 me Of him. Several times they had
even been on the point af visiting him
at Paris. | wrote him n letter, In
which / depicted my pitiful situation.
a fortnight passed without bringing
me a reply | was in despair. A vir-
tuous girl, ! wished To remain such at
any cost. ] wished TO be a singer, but
nothing else. Again appealed ia
/ my cousin. | wrote letter after letter,
7 but always without success. That be
might not doubt my identity / sent
him papers completely establishing IL.
( Still no reply caine-not even the res
toration Of my papers. Then, not
( knowing what was To become of me.
< and losing my head. wrote to several
/ deputies whose interests were bound
! up with his, urging them to interfere
with him IN my behalf in the extremity
to which was reduced. in reply ont
OF them sent ME thirty francs. IL was
he wrote, oil that | could hope from
him. Tou can imagine, sir, that
passed through untold misery. Al
last, however. got q position In lit
tie concert hall in the Rue Saint
jacques, and later al the Bataclan
But my success not coming up 10 my
anticipations, / started for the prov
inces, hoping there TO be more fortu
nate, Thus for six years have beer
going from city TO city, taking m'
troupe, for / finally became manager
| stayed a year at Lille. Lately, Will
at Evrcux at the Cafe Gibon, formed
e the plan of returning to that Pari
c where | had suffered 30 much. For
long time my friends had been telllnj
me that my real name printed on
: poster would ensure nue. welcom
$ on any stage ! straightway sought
theatrical agent, who secured ME a
engagement at the Palace Theatr,
: Such is my story. Task but one thing
4 an opportunity to honestly earn M
own living and that OF my sister.
!. my cousin 3 friends imagine they ca
/. discomfort me by coming every Nigh
Q TO hiss me when I sing they are MI
: taken. The more they oppose me tn
!. more determined become. Moreove
! must earn my own living, and
have no other profession than TIN
which follow. But hear II knocl
The stage Is waiting for me. Yc
must excuse me.h
| withdrew, wrote the reporte
thinking that the singer had hu,
| dred times more heart than her cousi