St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-13
eliminates in Miss Buntington's Eatire-
ment and $4,000 Damage Suit
by Manager Foster.
The Latter's Uncivil Garrulty-The YER
sion of Miss Huntington and
Her Mother.
The Song Bird of Kalamazoo and
the Frozen-Voiced Girl of
Paris Town.
Capel Unearths His Traducers and is
Going to Bring Several
Libel Suits.


suit by the former for damages, recalls some
incidents connected with the affair which
occurred during the company's late engage
Ment in this city. On the opening night
the GLOBE critic entered the opera house
just as Miss Huntington made her first ap-
pearance in Victor the Blue
Stocking" Now you will hear
Der bawl," remarked Manager Fos-
ter to the GLOBE representative.
Upon being asked to whom his remark ap-
piled the corpulemt manager pointed to Miss
Huntington and in a sneerng tone said:
81 mean that song-bird from Kalamazoo.
Just look at her-there's Kalamazoo style
for you. She can't sing Bit" Surprised
to hear a manager speak i'll such diSpar-
aging manner of one of his most illustrious
stars. the GLOBE ventured the remark that
there was a popular opinion that the ''Kal-
emaZoO song Bird was really the artist of
the company, Whereupon the manager
manifested considerable Indignation and de-
clared that she could not hold candle to
De LusSan, who. as he said. was his prma
donna. Later on IN the evening basket
of flowers was brought from the ladies'
reception room by an usher who was hur-
rving along with it toward the footlightS
MISS nulltln0iOu was SlUSlllS DIT IlO tluC,
and the flowers were intended for her.
Speaking to a crowd of gentlemen, who
were standing near by, Mr. Foster re-
marked: Her mother buys them for her,"
and pointed TO the flowers that were being
passed up. These and similar disrespect-
fuI illusions to Miss Huntington convinced
the GLOBE representative that there was
bad blood between the manager and his
leading cOntraltO. and an opportunity was
sought to interview the lady respecting the
matter.
MISS HUNTINGToN's VERSION:
Miss Huntington's statement was sub
stantiaIiy as follows:
s'Mr Foster has treated me not only I'M
gentemanly but brutaliy. Still, do not care
TO parade the matter before the public. as
feel fully competent to protect myself and
my interest. When L engaged to sing for
Mr.. Foster it was for two years, and all the
conditions were explicitly stated in the con-
tract. l have performed every condition,
and intend to do so until my term expires.
There was no unpleasantness last season.
Just before we started out this season MIR.
Foster came to see me and asked to have the
contract changed-wantiDg me either to re-
duce my salary or sing more nights in d week
than my contract called for. l declined to do
either. That was the beginning of his bad
feeling toward me. Afterward he learned
and he came back to see ne asking me to ex-
tend my contract for another year. This
declined to do. Then he manifested anger
and few into rage. l told him that would
release him entirely from his contract with
me- but would not change it. This he de-
clined to do. That is the secret of our present
unpleasantness and l do not care to say
more
s'What is the feeling between you and Miss
De Lussan?'
Our relations are friendly. She has al
ways manifested good will Tor me and l am
sure that entertain nothing else for her.
There is no quarrel between us. and if she
does become prejudiced against me | am sure
il will be the result Of MIR Fosters influence.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Fosters ungentlemanly
conduct toward me- l have never said an
unkind or disrespe ctful word to him. feel
most deeply the embarrassment of my posi-
ton but intend TO mainta n my self-respect
and position as lady. and to fulfil the con-
oitions of my contract. That is all that can
Say now"
THE OLD LADY HAS HER SAY.
But if it was all that Miss Huntington
had to say. it was not all the young lady's
mother had to say. The elder Huntington.
who had been listening to the interview,
took up the thread of discourse where the
daughter had broken off. With flashing
eye and voice trembling with emotion, she
began:
If Agnes will not talk will. I'll tell you
the whole story. Agnes has told you the
story of the contract and Fosters effort to
get her to change it. There the trouble be-
gan. / have never been separated from my
daughter. l travelled with her last year and
there was no objection made. This season
when we started out Mr.. Foster informed Ag-
mes that would not be permitted TO travel
with her. Agnes Informed him that he had
no control over my actions, and that l could
travel when and where [ pleased.
1t was her desire to have me with her. 1t
was our joint pleasure that l should come
along. So here l am. After we had started,
Foster again notified her that l would not be
allowed to travel in the special car. Foster
is under contract to furnish special car for
his leading artists. Agnes told him that
under her contract she was entitled to maid,
and if she chose to do so she could force me
into the car with her in that capacity. But
she did not choose to do so, as she preferred
that l should not enjoy his spitality under
the circumstances; that 1 should occupy a
berth in another car at her own expense, and
she would share it with me. He protested
against her leaving the car, as he wanted to
separate US. and tried to compel her to re-
main. But she is a girl of her own head and
had her way, and We travel separate from the
rest OF the company
BUT THAT IS NOT ALL.
Foster tries 10 humiate her in every con-
ceivable way. He talks about her to strangers
in a most outrageous manner, knowing that
she has no opportunity TO resent it or todefend
herself. He seeks ever opportunity to
humiliate her on the stage. Once when the
art SITS were called before the curtain he
made Lahache go in advance of Agnes, al
though she had not been on the stage for
fully fifteen minutes. Agnes resented it by
going to her dressing-room and refusing TO
go on the stage until the audience finally
called her name, and she then went out much
Of
De Lussan was taking the leading
role and there was call be-
fore the curtain Foster made Agnes
gofirst. and had De Lussan slip of TO her room,
thinking that she would be called by name.
When Agnes went out, instead of turning
and bowling to the audience, as is the CUSTOM
she stood with her face to the entrance hold
ing her hand for De Lussan, and continued
to stand in that position until De Lussan had
TO put in an appearance. That made Foster
mad sure enough. Then again he has cut
some of the operas, for no other purpose
than to keep Agnes from singing some of
her best parts. On severa. occasions he has
put Lablache in the parts where Agnes scored
her biggest successes, and refused to let
Agnes sing just because he knew she would
ga n applause. He tried that In Buffalo, but
1T created so much
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PUBLIC
that the manager of the opera house forced
him to bill Agnes in the operas that she had
formerly sung in. These are few OF the in
dignities that he has been heaping upon her.
Tt is absolutely uncomfortable, but Agnes has
preserved her compoSure admirably and re-
Trains from any exhibition of temper. She
always treats Foster pleasantly, no matter
what his conduct toward her may be-"
rs the contract episode the only cause OF
trouble?'
,ss1Bless your soul, no. That is only part
The great trouble is Fosters Partially
fkoES De Lussan. He is crazy jealous of that
girl. and he can't bear the idea of anybody
else in the company gaining applause. 1t