New-York tribune., 1886-02-21
THE DECLINE OF PATTI.
SINGING SONGS TO A SMALL AUDIENCE IN
A CHEAP AND Nasty THEATRE.

1
| CHEAP AND NASTY" THEATRE.
(YRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IRfgpyy. .
! PARIS, February 3.
| turn in the tide of PATHS fortune has set IN.
| She arranged-there being no Italian opera house
hereto give a series of concerts at the Eden Thea.
| tire. Although this establishment Is In a highly
! respectable part of the town and near the Grand
Hotel. IL has-so far anything Parisian can have
"a Bowery" sort of reputation. Coccttes who
not rch enough to keep to go TO the
Opera House and Francase, 60 to the Eden in
Ii has become their nightly paradise. The unfort-
unate girl of gay life who was murdered
about fortnight ago in her lodging
the Rue Caumartin picked up at the Eden
| the Individual who is supposed to be the
assassin. Pantomimes Of the MIauese kind and
purely spectacular entertainments are the general
stock in trade of this theatre which is decorated u
| a gaudy oriental style, and has behind the single
| tier of boxes large conservatory arranged as a
promenade. When it first announced that NJ
Plunkett the manager of the Eden, had engaged
Patti to sing at three concerts the public jumpedt
the conclusion that she in haste to rctire and
wanted to make what money she could before do
ing 80. The engagement was made when she wa>
here last with NIcolini. She saw the Eden theatre
and was therefore able to form idea
as to the class of persons who
frequent it. But the idea entertained that
the high price at which tickets were to be issued
would prevent the ruck of professionally fast
women and their male friends from coming. Patti
was not cOgnzant OF the fact that Italian music is
not only no longer in favor here but positively dis
liked She was also i'll ignorance of the strong re-
action against costly stars of all kinds, and OF the
movement IN favor of cheap theatres
The tickets were issued for perhaps ten days be-
fore she arrived IN Paris But the people did not
bite at them. To stimulate them to buy, NJ
Plunkett asked her to write a signed article,
rather to sign an article written for her, in which
she covered the French. aud particularly the
ParisiaDs with compliments. The autograph
which the advertisements of Pears soap have
rendered SO familiar was at the bDtt1m Of
this factum. Patti was made to as though
she wore her heart upon her speak with
gushing affec ion Of Pans. where she had first
artistic laures. To delight her beloved Parisans
sue had ordered such delicious toilette Of Madame
Rodriguez and no expense was to be spared in rem
dering it worthy of the discriminating audience
before which she to sing. She also told 90 the
journal which she took into her confidence that she
nourished an ambitious hope. 1t was 70
study Lakme assimilate il thoroughly aud
sing in il at the Opera Comque. Tho
signed article was model of clever chaff Most Of
the Boulevard journals reproduced it. But it
caught no birds and TO reserve q retreat from the
engagement at the Eden Theatre the Diva refused
after she arrived here To see any visitors, the
ground that she was still troubled with bronchitis
and ordered by her physician not to talk Her pro-
gramme was twice modified aud airs of Gounod and
Schubert and other German composers brought
INTO it.
The first concert took place a couple of even ngs
back. 1 went early to the theatre and got
trying to sell IS tickets at hal:
prlce and when they found they
and even to 81 10 and 81. ii. .Piuntett had gone
to considerable expense 10 mask empty places with
clumps Of lowering plants; because the DiyL
threatened not to sing at all If at tine last momen;
she saw there was a thin house. lie also converted
the stage into n garden, and as he had contracted,
hired vast quantity OF beautifully arrange
livery and powdered Wigs wers to carry by one
or from the wings, and after laying
Them before Patti carry them out by another
Three bouquetieres were contracted with for this
loan. There were caInelas white ana red,
ranged III tie forms of mandollns and Tyres aud
the baskets which contained other sorts of bloom
were taStefully Oenbboned. N. Plun9ett appeared
very III at He la the actors greeDroon
and went constantly to peep at the audience from
behind the scenes When a lady III an evening
dress made her appearance in box his face lighted
up with pleasure. But, unfortunate many suoh
did not come. The majority was formed of pedes-
trian cocottes dressed to defy the rain aud accom-
panied by individuals whom they probably paid 10
come with them. Here and there were women
of fashion and American aud English ladies' were
fhckly sprlnkei on all the seats. As Patti had
vowed when Marchloness de Caux never 10 sing In
Paris SO long as France was under Republican
Govornment, the wealthy Republican bourgeoisie
absen ted itself Wealthy Catholics against
her because she has deted the rules of the Church
in her iasOu with Nicolini and her divorce.
rhe Diva came in a sp endId carriage after
grimacing young lady with q weak voice nad sung
and Mademosee GODDARD performed solo on the
violin. She at once asked for her attorney. n.
which M PIunkett had agreed to
pay her and she wanted to know
Il,,G IA hofo
advance before the footlghts. Cash down and
pas fdrgeat pas dc chdnteaSe were ar terms: When
she aseertaned that tney had been fulfilled she
threaded her way, Plunkett aud her secretary lea
ing her. through the maze OF bouquets to door az
the back of the stage, aud looked through glazed
orifce at the house. she did not like its aspect,
and was haIftelnpted to refuse to go further. Bot
at last she got over her vexation, and throwing oil
her opera cloak made up her mind to advance. The
red velvet train to It's full length. Patti
never knew how TO dress and L suppose
never will Her robe was as Bowery ;, as .o Il
ored brocade ana the tram and trimmings OF the
hue of boiled lobster. What with these bright
colors and the scutillations of her diamonds she
was meety compared to an angy sunset from which
lightning darted. The press CRITICS agreed TO de-
scribe her toilet as incendiary." one htefai9
electric lights had been suppressed so that th'
fact that twenty years have elapsed since sh
The ovation she received as she showed her
self was not particularly warm. Admiration
Of her jewelry took away the breath of the cocotes
and feminine spectators in general Sue sang tn"
cavatina of " La Traviata and was IN good voice
Verdi IS one of the few-perhaps the only-ltaliar
composer now in favor here He Is dramatic anc
does not belong TO the unmealing ira la la
school. Prolonged salyos of applause tejtihod 70
the pleasure the great singer gave. But it was no
enthus astlc. Bouquets were carried ont by the
ackeys in white hveries from the wings. rhey
walked IN Indian file. Patti was encofcd anu
angry and almost cried with yexatiOn after
She left the stage, but found consoiati9l as
In hearing that she had not looked suincientiy
amiahle In her next cavatina she appeared to
draw the Ugh and prolonged not,s from her mouth
uith the tins of her fngeTs and threw them a. she
r,@ht kisses at the public. She was encored, but
insiead of coming in person to return thanks her
self She sent be Wallets with her bouquets. The
yonder ia that they were not hiSSed believe
there was feeling OF pity in tho audience ut seeing