The Evening critic., 1884-12-09
HONEST LITTLE EMMA.u
Some Cynical Remarks About the
clever Miss Abbott.

| few years ago Miss Emma Abbott, who fol
her exceeding ingenuousnoss and positiv,
notions or right and wrong has boon styled
"Honest Little Emma" appeared on the oper
attic stage in tho impersonation OF round OF
characters OF thrilling perennial interest
Mics Emma liked the newspaper boys, and II
was not long before all parties were on terms
OF the most cordial nature. Miss Emma has a
communicative disposition, and In one OF her
particularly open moments eho dscoursed
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 Pioleia awakened her profound contempt.
Both, In the language OF tho day, wore a little
on, but Marguerite was q simple creature,
cruelty betrayed by perfldious male insect,
while ptoleHa was an old stager, who lay In
wait for Partisan dudes, and gloried in tho
triumphs OF sin-not to say deoauch. Miss
Abbott intimated that IL would DO q cold day
when she attempted the portrayal of the
brhzen thing.
That was some years ago, as we before re-
marked, and the thermometer has been stead
lily declining. Miss Emma, by the way, is
known in private life as Mrs. Wetherell. Mr..
no has been watching the mercury with great
interest and sort OF melancholy complacenco.
"Emma," said Mr.. Wetherell abruptly one
morning, ''ihis Mar0Nerte racket has been
good for about seven years, but there Is get
ting to be good deal more innocence und vir-
tue on the stage than there are dollars in the
box ONCE. Don't you think we had better read
up Camille and pick out few of her shining
qualitlesH
Miss Emma sat absorbed in contemplation.
VI am good deal wiser than used to be,
Gene" she said softly; "growth In art has
given mo clearer insight into the works and
motives OF the great masters. think could
act, and what beautiful linalel can die all
over the stage. Yes, believe Will study the
And that is the reason that the billbosrds,
which have fiourtshed under the very proper
portrayal OF highly moral operate pictures,
representing Niles Emma sitting like chaste
Diana on balcony about ten foot above and
out or the clutches OF the gay Mr.. Castle, now
convey the startling Intelligence of the rise OF
new lyric Camille. 1t comes like thunder
clap, but the public bears up brayely. Since
tho rail- OF the church choir companies and
the exposure OF the Boston Ideal clap-trap the
popular confidence has been rudely shaken.
When Miss Emma went over to Europe ten
years ago, sho was under strong pressure as an
idollz lied choir singer. IL was with tho parochial
cloak around her that she sniffed at "La Tray
iata' and made her Determinations In art.
But the tempter came. At first she dallled
with "Faust," Then she began to have little
meat suppers brought TO her room after per-
formanoe. Then she commenced wearing
shoit sleeves; occasionally showing her shoe
tops. Then che allowed Zelda Seguin TO ap-
pear In "Carmen."
Then, under her physiclan's advice, she
TOOK small glass OF beer before retiring, then
glass with her dinner, then sip whenever,
ike Sairey Camp, she was 80 disposed. From
mis- moment her downward course was swift
and terrible, and here che 10 to-day, playing
the "Tfayiata," like Patti or Nilsson or SEM
brich or Lucca or Albani or Kellogg or any OF
those wretched women.
And the dear people Why, they take It as
a matter OF course, ana Miss Emma plays IL
with such purity and refinement that half
Inc audience thinks 1t is In the story OF a de-
serted wife, and wants 10 mob the brutal hus-
band, while the other half is devouring the
lipretto TO see when tho benediction Is t. be-
pronounced. This ia what we call subtle art,
FOR u makes US forget that promise about cold
weather, and clothes the character with a spot
less robe which commands the parochial ad-
miration.--hdnsdS CitV Times.