New-York tribune., 1886-01-31
"REMINISCENCES OF AMERICA.
4 RECOLLECTION OF oFFEABACH.

-or.vr,sTrNG WITH THE COMPOSER AT ST. GER
MAIN-.wHAT HE WOULD SACRIFICE.
ne Edttor Of The TrtOune.
SIR: Ofienbach was one OF the most gcner-
- and Genial of men, Thou=h steI Idy worker ms the
hor of his operas amply testify, he usually retired
en- his piano at l o'clock and twiddlcd the keys no
oe that day In the summer he resided at the Faction
=, ueo,v Onqtre at st. German and in n sumptuous
,e apartment all gold AID cupds ard flowers lie en-
or,oned his friends to most exquisite Ite breakfasts
u maid great attention 10 his wines, ana offered his
,stcrs Gorne dOr aud Clos Vougeo that at Bgnon's'
d the Cafe Auglais would have cost handful OF gold
bese breakfasts really carefully composed dinners
80 tor os the variety OF tie concerned.
.Nv cuests travel from Paris; the journey awakcns
.nr ann ttes and this high clear AIR makes their pal
arcs pctuant We must noursh ourselves. the maestro
would say. go
The last time had the pleasure of breaRtastinS with
,,o couposcr OF OIph6e dUT Enters he suffering
from a painful attack Of goat and though he ate and
drank sparngly his natural spghtiness and gayey oil
asnositon constantly broke forth in the way of anec
atal Illustration. He had but recently returned from
tne limited States, and I had first met him in New
York the conversation naturally drfed to this side OF
tho ocean flo was greatly touched with the profuse
and unbouuded hospitality he met with here. Every
hody knew his brilliant music. and people We'd with
oach other 70 show him attention and when they do
take Won in hand IN tho United States ones elmer
man ia tried to the utmost OF its capacity.
"If had eaten and drank all that was prepared for
ma 7 should never have reached France alive. They
sn their visitors in America the good Breton danes
d rho breasts Of their fat turkeys My reputation
m doubt extended by my visit to NewYork; but. Non
Det, | deepcned the roots OF this cursed goat"
Ouenbach was intensely amused at the curiosity to be-
hold him here he said the ladies especially criti-
osed his appearance mercessy whenever he appeared
in public They noted the length of his nose the sparse
Of his hair the thnness of his check and the small
ness OF his figure in nc restrained terms
"Aud that's Odenbach. eh 4" crod lady one day In
his hearing "Why, he looks cross between little
white hawk and benevolent Mephisopheles. But
there he wrote La Belle HGlene. and forgive him."
This lady afterward became one of NJ. Ohenbachs
nost attached friends and eted him In prncely style
She gave honor supper one night ut started at
midnight and broke up at a. MI ana the OacK OF eaeh
menu was decorated with scene from one OF his operas
beoutnlly done in colOrs by clever artist The
"Mozart OF the Champs Eysees, as RosSlh once cacu
him. was delighted at this graceful and artistic atleh
ton and often told his comrades In Paris OF tne IN
cenious way the idea worked out
Another point Ofenbach spoke of in connection with
his visit to America the management of concerts
and musical entertainments in Ney-Iork on the sunday
Shortly after his arrival in the Empire City he saw
sacred concert announced on the Sabbath day 10 MS
immense surprise the concert began with the overture
TO La Grdndc DuchcSSe and concluded Win the D"'P
Infernale" from Orphce
Non Dic,t!" said he with smile, "the Americans
have odd notions of what is sacred 1here was not
sacred number the entire programme aud what's more
the director announced the concert under my patronage
Fancy how they would have shouted in Paris to nave
seen the name of Ofeubach bossing, as you Yankees
saw n sacred concert" 80
taken on a Sunday toa sacred free lunch, Whatcvcr
tSat meant and was assured tna onght 10 hear Mr.
Ward ErecIer preach, because he sometimes ehtd MS
congregation with Theology Boune' DtdOtc the
Americans M matters in erotesqHe lashioni ,o
Alter the breakfast finished at ST. Germdn drove
back to Paris. An American friend accOmAea me; ~
was a delightful day. in the month OF June. aud Whcn
the carriage brought round to tine door, leehnE
ov and radiant with my excellent repast lcGped mo
seat with aDmaon. NJ. Ohcnbach hobbled out win
two canes dragging slowly after the other ana
screWing M his features through twingeS or pam
"Dear Mons. Ohrnbach. what would you give 10 Dr
able to iump into carriage like that y inquired gayy
"tiivc Non DicuI give-Why two OF my best operas !
Adieu. cbCr come and see me soon asaih anu per
hans shall have thrown away these sticks GIVE my
love to America. Adieu" -- 5000,
ANA of went to Paris ard thought how gencfons ana
amusing he was. His talk now and then was as lsht
and g erng music; and II he could he thhs gay
in the midst of nan what eXubeTancc Of spirit and rre
sstbe sparkle he must have possessed when ID cohuI-
tiOn perfect health ~ no" NED iN''"
Nelc- York, Jan. 20, ISSO'