Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-08-06
PATTrs FlRsT STAGE DRESS.
Made Thirty-Four Years Ago by a Lads
i'm New York sni the Bin Forgotten.

New York World.l
When AdeliIfa Patti was a child she Otter
sat ON the lap 0f Nine. LaUza, who nov
lives ON Third avenue. "She i her mother
image said Nine. Lauza tO a reporter
che other DAY, ami has many oi
her ways The diva was Born az
Madrid and is ~ years Nld this
summer knew the whole family init.
mately when they came 20 reside at Milan.
Nine Barelli. the mother Of the great
singer had teen married before and had
four children. two Of whom are still living.
Her relations with her first husband were
said 10 he very unhappy, but that was be-
fore | knew them The little woman was
Of a very intense nature. all fire and flame,
yet not without her gentler moods when she
was very charming and loveable A. child
Adelina was extremely like the mother,
could give way to sudden bursts OF passion,
which were as quickly over, though not ap-
parently regretted. and then she would te
come most aifectionate and show sweet
ness Of disposition which IL IS joy 70 me
yet u remember
Who was her first teacherf'
That child was born 70 sing, and she
could not have made her life different had
she tried. She needed few lessons. singing
as naturally as a nightingale between the
pauses OF the wind. Her half brother, T..
Barelli who | think, is still living in Phila.
delphia gave her the fe w lessons she needed.
IL was a light and pleasant task for both
teacher and pupil. Musical knowledge
seemed 10 come TO her without any effort OF
her own and like a bird she did her work
unbidden. When she was Z years old we
came 10 this country about the same time
and renewed our acquaintance IN TINS city.
I did sewing and was sometimes engaged by
l Nine. Barelli to fix over her dresses ami
make new ones for the chldren-Carlotta,
Amalia, Adelina and another that diel
very young.
"Adelina made her first appearance ON
any stage when she was years Of age. and
/ it was in this city. | cannot recall where
he sang but know il was at concert.
That was thirty four years ago. Well, her
mcther wanted me 10 make the dress which
she was 10 wear, aud l did. Ii WAS Of white
silk. very pretty, with few trimmings, and
set off her round little figure well shal
never forget the day took IL 10 her and
she tried il on Nothing would please her
and the dress was especially bad and | wa
the hatefulest old thing in the world. She
cried with vexation, tue sweet littl'
rebel. because il did not lit hel
as lie thought, ana wa, Wnat 4
called poky.' We tried TO convince hel
that it was lovely and couldn't b
made better Ii was no use She tore j
off. flung il ON the floor and jumped on !
with childish anger that was laughable
But she had u wear il all the same. SG
sang i'm il and made a hit. The price o
that dress wa, So called with the bill I
couple Of times but was not paid. hav
that bill yet, though il is thirty -four year
since / gave up trying to collect it. Patt
has forgotten about the dress her mothe
ordered and It will never be paid for Tn
memory that made it for such "a singer
enough for me-
And Nine Lauza excused herself with a
amiable smile and went cheegfully into he
cosy little kitchen To get dinner for he
daughter, who came bounding IN iron
arhnLl