Daily globe., 1883-06-18
Lillian Russell,

will appear here:
Lillian Russell,
''To my mind she is the most beautiful
and talented lady, and can command a
better salary than any other comic opera
singer on the boards
Such was the judgment rendered by
Tony Pastor the veteran actor and mana
ger, last evening, when the name of Lillian
Russell was mentioned. The latter is as all
know, an operate artistic, who has been
before the public but a comparatively
brief period, but in that brief period has
attracted an admiration more pronounced
and universal than any of her predecessors
or contemporaries. She has lately been
brought into conspicuous notice by her
sudden departure for London with Solo
man, author of the opera Billy Taylor,
and last night Mr.. Pastor, who first
brought Mrs. Braham, nee Russell, out,
spoke of her from an artistic standpoint.
''Is she handsomer than Langtry," ne
was asked.
Ear handsomer," he replied, but her
beauty is of a different type"
You are familiar with her operatic his
tory; when did she first come to the sur
face?"
"She first sang in the chorus with the
Rice Surprise party, IN the fall OF 1880.
gave her an appearance at my theater i'll
New York, as ballad singer. In NoVem-
Der of that year she sang the character Of
Mable in the Pirates of Penzance, also In
Olivette. With my permission she accom-
panied Willie EdoGin to San Francisco,
and upon her return she sang in the Snake
Charmer, produced by McCaull. While she
was with him he got her to sign contract,
which, however, she tried to break but Was
unable to do so. She was under contract
to i'll the summer season Of 1882 with me
in New York. but she was sick and upon
the advice of her physician took rest and
went to Chicago. Right here may say
that she did so with my consent and any
idea of feeling on my part Is erroneous. l
have the kindest wishes for her success. L
did think it strange that McCaull was so
unprofessionaI as to procure her to sign a
contract when she was under engagement
TO appear under my management. Last
fall she opened in the Bryon theater Ill
Solomon and Stevens opera of Virginia,
singing in the title role. During that
period she was taken sick and had trouble
with McCaull. After she got we'll she re-
mained in his company until her trip to
Europe.,'
The statement has been made that she
eloped with him. Is that the impression
in New York;"
81 know only what you do; only what
has appeared in the papers. But L don't
believe it, Why, she's a married woman
''But not living with her husband is
she?"
No, but there was no scandal about her
separation. They were unable to agree
and so decided to live apart"
There is also rumor that she levanted
with George Gould. Have y Ou heard any
thing about such an escapade?"
Nothing but what I've read in the pa
pers. But there's no foundation for it.
She's long wanted to visit
Europe and the opportunity to do
so unprofessionally could not
be resisted. Solomon intends to star her in
Virginia, which has never been produced
in London, l believe, and she'll score a
success"
''What was her first success as lyric
artiste?''
':She made her first great hit in Pa
tience, then as Susan in Billee Taylor"
''Did she create sensation"
''Yes, she was a source of infinite admi-
ration to young New Workers. But all of
them were simply moths that huttered
about her as about candle. She was, i'll
short, the queen of the dudes"
rs George Gould esteemed dude?"
''Well, Gould ranks with them. A dude
with US is not the type of that creation
| imagined out here"
| "What is dude, then, according 10 the
signifcation put upon it in New York;"
"a young man of education, wealth, re-
| spectability and eccentricity?''
SIS George Gould young man of edu-
cation, Responsibility and eccentricity?''
'As l told you he ranks with the dudes
''Who is Solomon"
"He's a young man about thirty years OF
age, the author of Billee Taylor and an
Englishman."
6 1t is said that Lillian will meet with a
warm reception from his wife when they
reach London"
"He has no wife there, and the elopment
story is very thin, Miss Russell is not the
kind of a woman to get infatuated with
Solomon or any other man."
Speaking of his London wife, who was
it that laid siege to his affections in New
York while he was there?'
'He has no wife in London. Edith
Bland was the name of the woman who
made some trouble for him in New York.
But Miss Russell has not eloped with him.
Her departure is simply matter of bust
ness. The trouble with her thorgh is, she
never had any head for business, and her
success in measure spoilt her,
sit may be stated parentheticalIy, re
marked writer the other day, that Edith
Bland claims to be the wife of Soloman.
Edith was once beautiful. but she has
grown to weigh sometbingIn the neighbor-
hood of twenty stone, while Solomon kicks
the beam AT 100 pounds, and according to
| rumor if Edith catches him when he