The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-12

though believe the objection was more to
the opera than TO her On the secon night
she was not allowed TO sing at all; amid
shouts and yells Of wild laughter, strange
things were flung at all on the stage
missiles unsavory and unseemly, both vege-
table and animal This was, after all, a
sort Of froIic of criticism-a playful express
sion of disapprobation, in decayed carrots;
of contempt, in stale figs; or little ''chaf,"
in the form Of garlic; a slight badinogs Of
dead dog; but when artists seriously offend
this susceptible people, outrage their fine
musical sensibiities, then they see serious
work. Amid uproar indescribable, what
ever comes handy is flung at their heads
even to the cushions and footstools of the
boxes Treatment to a degree like this,
and things almost as brutal from
mercenary managers and jealous Grtists
may fall to the lot of the sweetest and
most refined of our American singers, in the
outset her career in Italy, or she may have,
from the first, a series of brilliant successes,
of ovations fit for a queen or a goddess. 1t
is a good deal as the whim takes this im-
pulsive people of contradictions "all com
pact" sympathetic and savage, generous
and cruel, magnanimous and malicious, sen.
suaI and spiritual. Condemnation or CROWN
ing often turns on point utterly removed
from art-some local or personal prejudice
or jealousy: but then again, at none Of the
musical centers, is the greatest favorite
safe in attempting a role unsuited to her
voice and style. I lately heard a prima
donna say: 81 walked on roses throughout
my italian career" and yet I well remem.
L~V Ur-fR.
nesses of painful scene in a certain Italian
theatre while this young singer had been q
popular idol till she essayed for the second
time part for which she was absurdly I'M
fitted. On this occasion some flowers flung
on the stage had the shape and sohdity of
apples; and there was one gigantic rose
which strangely resembled a cabbage in
color 1t took great.many successes and
bouquets to make up for that nights hunlili-
alton and tears But a genuine Italian
triumph must be something marvelouSly
consoling, inspiring and uplifting. There
Is now in Milan an ex,prima donna teaching
with remarkable success, who few years
ago was an idolized diva, a worthy sue
cessor of Pasta-IsabelIa Galletti-always
called ''the great Galletti. l am told
that when this noble artist sung at
La Scala the entire vast audience fire.
quentIy rose, shouting and waving hats and
handkerchiees and showering bouquets in
the mad joy which only Italians can feel in
perfect singing and acting. But thus far
such passionate enthusiasm has only been
manifested for their own; so, have pro-
found and peculiar respect for the American
or English singer who passes pluckily,
proudly and purely through an ordinary
noUiciate, with all its difficulties, disap-
pointments and disillusions-not breaking
under the tyrannous exactions of impecu-
NOUS managers, not quailing before the in-
science of the more brutal portion of her
audience And when, after much tribula-
ton, she enters into the kingdom Of PTlfna
Donna ASsolutd, do not wonder, scarcely
blame her, that she exacts from other man
ayers and other publics, gold for every
heart-ache and diamonds for all the tears OF
that hard old time We who drink to in
toxication of the wine of rich song. grudg-
ingly call it ''dear'-they who have "trod'
den the wine-press" alone know how dearly
it has cost them.
GRACE GREENWOOD.