Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-21
THE COLONEL IMSELF."
Her MajCS US Opera Company Passes
Through Omaha,
Col. Maplcson's Trials and Ttiumphs
Mile. Nevada.

E @Nhh
o'clock there arrived In Omaha, the
special G. b. II .. opera train, having on
beard the Mapleson opera company. Tho
troupe, headed by the world famous i'm
pressarlo, Col. j. h. Mapleson, consists
of about one hundred and thirty people,
including prima donnss, male singers,
orchestra, chorus and BALLET. Madam
sPatti, of course, was not on bard, hay
ing gone directly from Kansas City to
San Francisco. But with Mile. Nevada,
Nine. Dotti, Nine. 'Soalchi, the leading
myers, with Mme. Cavalazzi, leader of
the ballet, and Arditl, the compo ser and
leader of the orchestra, together with
many other notable musicians and vocal.
lists, the troupe is one which presents
many points OF btilliancy, even in the
absence Of the great sonestress.
1t is seldom that Omaha Is favored
with q glimpse of the inside Ire of q
great organization like the Map!eson
troupe, and that life Is 80 replete with
the interesting that a somewhat detailed
account of ,hs Colonel and his people
will doubt'er be %pardoned.
In the frat place, the company travels
in q train of the Mann boudoir caIs,
which are really marvels of comfort and
elegance.
The interior of tic cars is altogether
novel. at either end is II vestibule,
entering from tho plStform, from which
opens respectively ladies' aud gentlemen's
dressing rooms n d closets. The lava.
tories arc supplied with every toilet ap
pllance, The wash-tsbles are nickled
metal, which admits of the bowl being
mora than a half larger than in the
marble tables ordinarily used.
Connecting the v%estlbules, and shut off
from ,hsm by doors, is q c~ommodlous cor
ridor running along the side of the car.
Opening oft this hallway, by doorr, ara
the several compartment, or boudoiIs.
Some OF these rooms ar, arranged for
two, and some for four persons. By day
these compar ments are simply pretty
cabins, with high arched ceilings, large
plate.glsss windows. and either one or
two luxurious sofas, with high, soft backs,
affording an easy hesd-rett; movable sofa
cushions of proper size and form serve as
srm.rett,. These sofas are athsart the
car, and under them, AMI behind their
inclined backs are carried the mattresses
snd bedding. Connecting with the gen.
tlemens' vestibule are tmoking-room
and completely equipped buffet for | GIT
+ ,freshments. EIecuic-bell communal
tion 10 each compartment m the
at endant
In these elegant and comm dlous trav-
cling quar,ers Maple on and his sones'ers
live and move; going from city to city,
from town to town, elevatin, the musical
taste of the American people to a proper
appreciation of the intrinsic and upsur
Hopera' as interpreted by her maJesty's
company. TIE train is in charge of T.
M. Lee, special PASSENGER agent of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, which
h.s the contract for transporting the
company.
MAPLEsoN.
In accordance with that ~vulturs like
instinct which leads the intervi aver to
seiz, upon sny and every helpless notable
who msy chance to fall by The wayside, to
gain his. opinion upon the weather,
Cleveland's cabinet, missionary work in
the Sandwich Island-, or kindred sub.
jects, a BEE r,pnter boldly Invaded
Maple.on's castle, the forward boudoir
car, shortly after the arrival Of the train
In Omaha The scribe was met at the
door by Col Mapleson himself, who eyed
The intruder WITH q cautions and ~feelirg
look. Upon Introduction, however, he
burst into a hearty "Oh Glad to
see you me boy. Glad to see you, what
paper do you representa- The BEE, eh2
Dsuced glad to see you. Didn't know
who you was, you know, aud Hi Ave to
be very. very careful about ON hi had
nit. Eli AIRY 30 many young ladies in
my troupe that Hi am very cautlUus-
he%xtreuely 81. Hi won't countenspce
any hut.ng, don't you know; but l guess
you'll do, | gueas you'll do. Be seated,
cabnt your"
And Col. Mapleson, overcome by
the warmth of this sudden
greeting, subsidized into a chair.
He i,a man come fifty years of ,ge,
wi h a ~rubicundity of c~ountenance which
suggests a mellow acquaintance with the
sparklin g cup; with a nose slightly on the
pug order Which seems to be'm and
twinkle with ruby irtidt scence ma king
with decisive effect the orotuud perioos
of the owner; with piercing eyes, shaded
under eyebrows of the Thackeiay type;
with a portly, not to say burly form,
which betokens the good living 30 dear
to the heart of the Britisher; in fact he
Is a genuine cockney, O man of essen IT,
ally cockney II incts, but one reverthe'
less Of rare mu,i,al taste and talent.
Il have Just arrived In Omaha, aud l
am very much disappointed" sigh,d the
colonel, responding to a query; 81 fully
expected t. ay two nights in Omaha
with Nevada, and had made my arrange
ments to thai ed. But Manpgr Boyd
writes me thai he wants Patti or nothing.
He goes back on bis word in making a
declaration Ct that sort, fir have in my
p possession letters ana kilograms Wi h
led me to believe that l was ture Of a
two nights engagement here, on the goth
and 2lsS Now 1t was my plan to play
Nevada here for those two nights and
chow the people what we ran do, and
then If we we're well supported TO show
Patti on our return trip. 1t seems to
me that Boyd's action Is s:ldsh,
not TO say outrageous, and be
is doing the public Of Omsfa an in j%ustice,
for a city of thi, size can sffIrd and ought
to have two nights of Italian opara once
q year. / ofie red 10 lease the thea
ter, hut he refused even that. 1t will be
the last chance, don't you know, that
your people will have to see Patti, and II
AZ D.. .zsut.s- &, All. anu.aa gkn mill