The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-18
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL SATURDAY. APRIL IS, lss5-rwELvn rAe

| blockade. The rain fell in torrents, and o
Chicago zepher coquetted with umbrellas and
wells IN 8 merciless manner. The interior Of the
house presented a lively scene; every seat was
| taken and every aisle was filed. People, de-
termined to gain entrance, paid the most extrava-
CANT prices for seats. The corridors were filled
with persons who, disappointed in not being
able to see the opera, had paid a dollar to stand
in the hall and listen. There is no better place
to study human nature. Some of the
more courteous occupants of boxes
them from the corridors and allowed persons in
the rear a chance of seeing the stage. A most
amusing incident occurred at the box of Mr. S.
u. Pratt. That gentleman, inside, firmly held the
curtains together, obscuring all possible view
until a country woman, of about 200 pounds.
avoirdupois, approached, and, giving a pail to
the curtain, exclaimed, whats the reason we
can't see in here?' AS the drapery few apart,
Mr.. Pratt's frown of displeasure dispersed the
group that had gathered around, and by the time
he had jerked the curtains back in place all had
vanished but the old lady. Nothing daunted,
she exclaimed, What are yer holding that ar
furs' while her strong hand again parted them.
The little manager of the great festivities
quailed beneath her majestic figure and com
handing voice, but he said not a word. During
the entire evening they were pulling at cross
purposes with the same result. When the last
act was concluded his tormenter folded her
-N~~" ~o1Af <SShNfJ S~~o
umphantly at her victim as he emerged from the
box, said: ''There! ! heard and saw every bit of
it" The crowd was so dense that several ladies
and gentlemen tainted and were carried out.
Just across the corridor, in the large reception
room, where a grand piano, woefully out OF
tune, was standing, a young man, evidently from
some rural district, who had been unable to gain
entrance, consoled himself by drumming out the
melody of .Clayton's March" and similar airs.
The opera of aida" is i'll adapted to PATHS
voice. Verdi, in leaving his melodious styles
and trying to ape the Wagnerian school, has pro-
duced, in this opera, but a fragmentary fulfill
ment of his ambition. Therefore it is neither one
thing nor the other, and it is doubtful if it long
remains afavorite in the repertoires of the best
artistes. The role in point of vocalization is not
forid enough for PATHS wonderful voice, neither
has she the dramatic presence the part requires.
On Tuesday night she made a good impression
by her wonderful art Of pleasing, but Scalchl
certainly carried off the honors, in every other
respect. Nicolini sang a thankless role in a
voice of sororous timbre. It was in this opera
that he first created any impression of favor
upon a New York audience. His is only a dra-
matte voice, hence he fills what there is to the
part to perfection. He has a magnificent
physique, suited to ponderous action. Patti re-
ceived a floral Tyre four feet high, made of
Marechal Neil roses, and several bouquets. Scalchi
was also generously remembered. Her recep-
ton and recalls were equal to those received by
the former.
I had the pleasure of visiting Pat
S~ ohAho sAO
Since that visit I have taken back all the sympa-
thy | have given for her so-called misalliance,
and have divided it in a different manner. /
now give three-fourths of it to that g~entlest of
all men, Nicolini, and the other one-fourth to
her companion, who caters TO as capricious a
mistress as could we'll be imagined. Patti is not
arrogant, nor overbearing, but she requires CON
slant petting and attention. Her manner is like
that of a child five years old. She is extremely
emotional and demonstrative. Her dressing
room was not unlike many others in appoint
ment. The floor was bare, but a large, hand
some Persian rug was spread before the mirror,
which reached nearly to the floor. A table,
covered with a Turkish towel, stock against the
wall, on which were all sorts of toilet bottles,
hand glasses, etc. The flowers she had just
brought from the stage were thrown upon a
faded sofa, and her colored maid was trying to
arrange them into something like order. The
floral Tyre stood against the wall at the other end
of the room. PATHS companion, a most amiabie-
looking, middle-aged English lady, sat on a
divan at the feet of the cantatrice, who, her.
self, occupied a straight backed chair 10 front of
the mirror, with her feet perched on
the low mantle under it. All the fool
ish nonsense that has been written
from her dressing-room, and having a passage
made for her through the crowd at the wings, is
nonsense. She is very democratic in manner.
She always sits with the dressing room door
open, and makes no remark upon people crowd
ing around. When her cue comes she springs
up and elbows her way through the throng.
Sometimes she slaps a singer on the back in a
most familiar manner, and speaks a few words.
On Tuesday night she stood a long time in the
wings. and laughed and chatted with
her agent. a little child belonging to
one of the chorus singers was run
ming around, and just before making one
of her grand entrances, Patti picked it up and
gave it a very plebeian smack on the lips. She
seems to desire the good will of every one, yet
withal is so capricious and willful in her demands
that she loses the dignity that one expects in SO
great o parsonage. Nicolini is far from being
the hanger-on that he is imagined. He is an
aristocratic, well-poised, and cultured gentle
man, with the kindest and gentlest of manners.
He is assiduous in his attention to Patti, not in
a fawing, cringing manner, but polite, attentive,
and dignifed. Toward him, as with everyone,
her manner is that of a spoiled and petted child.
Nicolini is a man who commands respect from
those with whom he is thrown, and it is he who
lends whatever dignity there is to their impress
sion upon strangers.
1t is the intention of the Chicago management
to use this as the initial festival of a series, to be
given yearly. If this is PATHS farewell tour,
and Nevada and Nilsson head English opera
companies next season, there will be a scarcity
of attractions for Italian opera. But by that
time Carl Rosa may have come, and seen, and
conquered. ROSE G.. BAILEY.
DAILY BULLETIN.