The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-13
PATTI AND NICOLINI.
elimination of Course of True Love
Which Did Not Run Smoothly.
New York World.

Which Did Not Run Smoothly.
New York World.
The marriage of the famous singer to Signor
Nicolini is the elimination Of course of true
love" which began, or her part, in dislike, and
which has, for many years, run with far more
than even the proverbial lack of smoothEess In
an interesting sketch by Louisa Lauw, a former
attendant of Nine Patti entitled Fourteen
Years with Adelina Patti the writer says that
PATHS first impression OF Nicolini was
one OF intense antipathy. Ncolini was
then known as imitator of the great
Mario, and had supported Patti, several times,
both in London and Paris She could hardly
bring herself to sing with him, so strong was her
dislike of the man personally. He had shrew-
ish, jealous wife and five children, while Patti,
then in her twenty fifth year. was married to the
Marquis de Caux. Miss Lauw relates
that upon one occasion whom Nicolini, in
a state of great agitation, went to the Mar
quis and sought his advice as to how he could
get rid. without scandal. of young lady of a
distinguished family who had followed him from
St Petersburg to Vienna, Patti was so enraged
that she made the proposition to inform, anony-
mously, the betrayed wife of the singer of what
had occurred She could not refrain from re-
preaching Nicoiini most bitterly for deceiving
his good wife, and from saying to him that it
would become him much better to be thinking of
his five children than to be playing the role of a
gallant.
Some time after this, while filing a profes-
sional engagement in Moscow. Patti. accom-
panied by Lauw, was taking walk in the
Petrowski Park, when rapidly passing carriage
stopped suddenly and gentleman quickly
alighted from it, 1t was Nicolni, who after a
short conversation, pressed a note into PATHS
hand and withdrew. "As she hitherto had no
secrets from me-" writes Lauw, "she opened
the note and read me its contents
In the most glowing words Nicolin declared to
it, and Adelina ended the matter with the assur-
ance, Even if wished it. it would be impos-
sible for me to love that man. 1t did not escape
me that Adelina treated her guest no longer with
the same harshness as formerly. Her indgua-
ton at the character Of Nicolini had been
changed into compassion. She told me. indeed,
frankly that he now was sympathetic to her."
The Marquis having therefore learned to en-
dure and then to pity. had but one step more to
take. The acquaintance so inauspiciously begun
rapidly developed into love. One day there fell
into the hands of the Marquis a letter of Nico-
linis which the-latter had, by the way OF pru-
dence, addressed to PATHS chambermaid. The
Marquis did not open the letter, although he
its contents should become known
before the bar Of the courts Of Paris.
AS the Moscow season was nearing it's end the
Marquis learned that Nicolini was coming from
Naples TO st. Petersburg. and, after he had there
broken his contract had offered to sing in twelve
representations without any compensation. Ar
rived in the Russian metropolis, the Marquis at
once demanded that Romeo and Juliet !" in which
opera Nicolini was to sing the Romeo, should be
stricken from the repertoire, and that this singer
SHOULD not appear with his wife during the en-
tire season. The director assured the MARQUIS
that his demand should be complied with, but
being probably driven into corner by the two
artists. he allowed. notwithstanding his promise
to the Marquis, the appearance of Nicolini to be
announced in '"Traviata." Enraged at this
double dealing of the director, the Marquis
| informed the impressario that he was
determined not to permit his wife to appear
at ALL In his despair the manager gave Ills
promise that Signor Massini should appear In
the place of Nicolini, but on the evening of the
performance the curtain rose and Nicolini ap-
peared upon the stage. From that night the es-
arrangement of Patti and the Marquis became
complete and ultimately led to the recent di.
vorce and to the wedding which has just been
celebrated.