The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13
''HONEST LITTLE EMMA"
Some Cynical Remarks About the Clever
Miss Abbott.

Some Cynical Remarks About the Clever
Miss Abbott.
Kansas City Times.
A few years ago Miss Emma Abbott, who for
her exceeding righteousness and positive no.
lions of right and wrong has been styled Hon
est Little Emma" appeared on the operate
stage In the impersonation of a round OF eharac
tiers of thrilling perennial interest Miss Emma
liked the newspaper boys. and it was not long
before all parties were on terms of the most cor
dial nature Miss Emma has a communicative
disposition, and in one of her particularly open
moments she discoursed about the relative
standards of art from the moral point.
She adored Faust" but she despised 'La
Traviata;' Marguerite drew her tears of pity,
but Violetta awakened her profound contempt.
Both, in the language of the day, were little
off, but Marguerite simple creature,
cruelty betrayed by per6dous male insect,
while Nloletta was an old stager, who lay in wait
for Partisan dudes, and goried in the triumphs of
sln-not to say debauch. Miss Abbott intlmated
that 1t would be a cold day when she attempted
the portrayal of the brazen thing
That was some ght years ago. before
remarked, and the thermometer has been stead
lily declining Miss Emma, by the way, is known
in private life as Mrs Wetherell Mr. Wether-
ell is practical man of business, and he has
been watching the mercury with great interest,
and sort of melancholy compiacence. Emma"
said Mr. Wetherell abruptly one morning. this
Marguerite racket has been good for about seven
years. but there is getting to be good deal more
lnHOcence ana virtue on Ine stage imam Inero are
dollars in the boxoffice. Don't you think we
had better read up Camille and pick out few
of her shining qualities"
Miss Emma sat absorbed in contemplation. i
am good deal wiser than used to be, Gene"
she said softly; growth in art has given me
clearer insight into the works and motives of the
great masters. think could work IN some
lovely sostenutos in that third act, and what a
beautiful finale! can die all the stage.
Yes, believe l will study the 'Traviata.'"
ia hat rd
which have fourished under the very proper
portrayal of highly moral operate pictures. rep
resenting Miss Emma sitting like chaste Diana
on balcony about ten feet above and out of
the clutches of the gay Mr.. Castle now convey
the startling intelligence of the rise of new
lyric Camille. It comes like a thunder-clap, but
the public bears up bravely. Since the fall of
the church choir companies and the exposure of
the Boston ideal clap-trap the popular conf
dence has been rudely shaken
When Miss Emma went over to Europe, ten
years ago. she was under strong pressure as an
idolized choir singer. 1t was with the parochial
cloak around her that she shifted at La Ira
vlata, and made her Determinations in art. But
the tempter came. At last she dallied with
Faust" Then she began to have little meat
suppers brought to her room after a perform
ance. Then she commenced wearing short
sleeves; occasionally showing her shoe-tops.
Then she allowed Zelda Seguin to appear III
Carmen"
Then, under her physicians advice, she took
small glass OF beer before retiring, then glass
with her dinner. then sipwhenever like Sairey
Camp, she was so disposed. From this moment
her downward course was swift and terrible, and
here she is to-day, playing the 'tTraviata," like
Patti, or Nilsson or Sembrich. or Lucca, or AL
bani or Kellogg, or any of those wretched
women.
And the dear peope7 Why, they take it as
matter of course, and Miss Emma plays it with
such purity and refinement that half the audi
fence thinks it is in the story of deserted wife,
and wants to mob the brutal husband while the
the benediction is to be pronounced This is
what we call subtle art for it makes US forget
that promise about cold weather. and clothes the
character with spotless robe which commands
the parochial admiration.