The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-27
PATTI AND DE CAUx.
How tho Great Singer and the Marquis
Were Regarded in Russia.

now tnO OrShs singer ana the MarQuib
Were Regarded in Russia.
Private Letter in New York Mail.
1t is long time ago, SO nv recolIections may
be somewhat faded, but l remember to have
spent very pleasant evenings at St. Petersburg
with the Marquis de Caux and his very amiable
and charming lady put his name FIRST, for
with the most ineffable eonceit he never seemed
to doubt that people came to his house to see
him, without thought Of the fascinating diva
for Patti Is unquestionablY fascinating woman
and, at the period speak Of Young, unspoiled
to a considerable degree, and full Of spirit and
eayety, she was, perhaps at her best Moth
ing, however, put the Marquis in such 3 rage
as for persons to be introd uced to him
and then Immediately ask for an intro
duction to the Patti, as she was always
called In St Petersburg. But it happened very
OFTEN In these days they were newly married
and appeared to be very happy couple. St
Petersburg society, then the haughtiest and most
exclusive IN Europe, was not sufficiently amiahle
to accept the Patti as marquise as long as she
sang IN public In England people were more
good -natured. The Prince Of Wales set the ex-
ample OF admiring the marquise and the fashion
became catching.
De Caux, who, as everybody knows, is highly
connected in France was equerry to the EN-
peror He had to give up his post in marrying
however, and even that parYenu court turned up
its nose at public singer. The Empress would
probably have been glad to have received her
as she is said to have urged the match but De
Cauxs relations, at the head of whom was his
sister, the proud Duchess Of ValmY, led reg
ular crusade against poor De Caux and
ms wife after they were married. They had
influence enough to affect very sensibly PATHS
position at St Petersburg. The intense cold
during the gay season was the astensible reason
that kept the De Cauxs from going out in the
evenings when Patti did not sing, and the result
was that they led the quetesE life possible atthe
Hotel Demuth. Only intimate friends. and
very few Of them, would drop into tea about s
o'clock IN the evening, and then, as soon as the
tea things were cleared away an exciting game
of lotto would begin and would be carried on
with great animation for a couple of hours
Each player would put twenty eopecks into the
pool. and there were first second and third prizes
to be shared among the five gamblers, who were
usually the Marquise de Caux-I put her first
this time because she was always the widest
and most excited of the party; her English com
panion, Miss LauS, who, by the way, is to pub
lish book of "reminiscences about PATHS St
Petersburg residence shortly: the Marquis de
Caux, Hamper and myself.
must note here that there were the most ex-
traordinarv rumors at the time about the gam
bling propensities Of the Marquis, who was ae-
eused of wasting in riotous living and play all
the money his wife could earn. The truth is he
was the most thoroughly domestieated hus-
bands ever seen, scarcely ever leaving his wifes
side, except to sit opposite her in front seat at
the opera, where he never omitted to clap his
AAolAAo NAOlChI4l dAO dpplstuO 1eE VOCI6fOuSly
whenever he got chance. As for spending
money, it was, perhaps, the other way He was
perhaps a little too close His supreme desire
was to save money enough to retire his wife
from the stage. but she said, with some reason
that it would be no use retiring with q moderate
fortune, as he must be able TO live in vgrv good
style to make his wife any equivalent for the en-
traordinary applause with which she was greeted
every night of her life and whenever she APP
peared in public.
W. - D,Ao. u
have nothing to say to Patti, as a member Of its
Gordon blen, yet her reception by the people was
something phenomenal The prices paid for
seats at the opera the night of her first appear
ance were fabulous. on course, Winans had to
have the best box that could be had for money.
and believe he paid l. GOO rubles, or about f2O0,
for it that one night AS Russian aiA-descatht
remarked he might have made the trip to Paris
and heard her a dozen times for such sum Of
money, but l fancy that would not have been at
all in his way. Other boxes sold in proportion
and Franz. one Of the commissioners at our
hotel was nearly crushed sodeath, and had Ills
pocket picked of all his money in the crowd be-
segng the opera trying to get tickets to sell for
fye times what was paid for them,
After every season that P atti was in ST Peters
burg the Emperor made her magnificent pres
ent of diamonds, and the .sabonness Of the opera
did the same. The list of subscribers to the
latter used to be at the English club and if re-
member rightly 5000 or l0000 rubFes was the
SUN usually SuDScrlDSQ. LIE value OF the D0u-
quets thrown Tor rather handed by the chief of
the orchestral during the season, must have
cost nearly as much--fowers were dear in ST
Petersburg.
Nieolni sang with Patti already in those days,
and always in lovers parts. People used to re-
mark that it mtst be rather unpleasant for the
Marquis to be always looking ON while such af-
feetionate scenes we're passing between them. but
always thought that The Marquis was a great
deal TOO well persuaded Of his own superior iiaef-
its to imagine it possible that the Patti should
prefer anyone to him. When Che Catastrophe
happened, De Oauk expressed himself as being
very much disgusted.s That his wife, he said,
should run away with somebody eise He tifd not
so much mind; but that she should prefer such a
blackguard as Nicolni to him was really humili
ating All the conceit however, was not on the
side of De 0aux. Patti was the ea4aest little
thing that ever lived. Applause when visited
on her made her supremely happy, and on any
body else stptefhely miserable Those days are
over, but l often think of that bleak st Peters
burg winter with delight