Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-19
NO. -.
The Debut of Mario.

Mario was born in Cagliari in the
year 1910. Coming from a military
family-his father having held the COM
mission of General in the PledmOnteSe
army-he at u very early age embraced
the military profession, for when only
eleven years old he entered the military
academy of Turin. From 1929 to 1896
he was on the staff of his father, the
Marchese Stefana, General of Gambia
and Governor Of Nice, and of Gen de
Maistre, a man who IS said to have been
possessed of considerable literary qaliti-
cations. While under the latter Mario
on one occasion received an lntlmatlon
that he must be prepared to start with
important dispatches for Sardinia. The
vessel was under orders to sail the same
evening, and Mario, 1t would appear,
had some suspicious that something
was wrong, for on board were officers
of higher rank than himself, TO whom
the dispatches could more properly have
been entrusted. Mario became satisfied
that General de Malstre looked with
distrust OH him on account of certain
political meetings which he had atten-
uCl, anu lAltlS NAACACAOLO1 OA oSCCAAS OA
his fathers position, it was desirable he
should be got out OF the way quietly,
when after his departure, his friends
might be arrested, and it could be said
that he had then been allowed TO escape
under pretenSe of carrying dispatches.
On his presenting himself to Charles
Albert, the King, Mario'5 Saspiclons
were confirmed, and instead of embark
ing he sent for one of his friends, to
whom he communicated what had
transpired and to this friend Mario han
ded some documents which might have
possibly compromised them. tie then
disguised himself, left MS residence and
remained concealed, ultimately leaving
for Marseilles, where he arrived safely.
Mario was therefore charged with being
deserter from the service, but he pre-
ferred incurring this disgrace to the
loss of his honor, which would have
been sacrificed had he abandoned his
friends under the circumstances OF
having secured his own safety at their
expense. On his arrival LII France
Mario endeavor, d TO obtain commlS
sion in the French army in Algeria, but
without success. He then presented
himself to the Carlists IN spain, and at
one time sought employment from the
Duke of Wellington in the British ser
vice; Wellington received him very
kindly, but could not gratify his desire.
At length Mario's hopes of military
employment being at an end, he deter
mined upon visiting Paris. Here, his
musical abilities being known, he was
received with open arms, and he soon
became the idol of the Parisians. There
was little wonder at this, for his great
charm and manner which attached to
him, ami, above all, his superb voice,
combined to secure a welcome for him
IN the salons of that beautiful city such
as had rarely been accorded TO any
previous artistic visitor. The reception
which he met at the gay capital had
doubtless the effect of rendering Mario
unable to apply himself TO studlous
pursuits so necessary to the realization
OF the perfect artist, and this was ap-
parent all through his career. 1t IS
stated that he studied for some time
under BordOgni and POnchard, but IT
does not appear that he owed much to
these or any other masters. Although
by nature Mario could never have given
himself up to long and CONSCIENTIOUS
study, his natural gifts enabled him to
accomplish tasks for which years OF toll
quired of less gifted men. To live In
Paris, however, is an expensive matter,
and live as economically as he could,
Mario found that his stock of money
was rapidly decreasing, and he deter
mined upon trying his fortunes In
the States when circumstances occurred
which induced him to abandon his in
tentlon and forfeit the money he had
paid for his passage. Meyerbeer, 1t
l9ppears, had heard him sing, and pro-
posed TO prepare him for the stage, an
offer which Mario, on consideration,
accepted. Considerable time was de-
voted by Meyerbeer in drilling the
neophyte into his role, and Fannie
Elssler taught him TO walk the boards.
Having signed articles with NJ Dupon-
chel, the director of the Paris Academy
for 1,5O0f. per month, on the 4th OF
December, 1883, he appeared at the
Grand Opera in MeyerOeer's. Robert
le Diable," and in spite of stage mex
perience the beauty of his voice won
for him an immediate success. Speak
ing of Fannie ElSsler, Mario said: Il
shall never forget her goodness; dancers
generally have brains only In their
feet, but she was woman of great In
telligence.