The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
THE RIVAL DTvAs.
How the Countess Casa Miranda Is to Get
Even with Mrs Nicholas.

Even with Mrs, Nicholas.
Paris Letter in Philadelphia Times. June l6.
Nine. Patti was married to M. Nicoini the
other day, and Nine. Nilsson is to be married to
the Count Casa Miranda at the end Of this
month. L know there is nothing new IN that
statement. but perhaps some details can be added
which will give renewed interest to what looks
like clever advertising dodge The only Patti
is going to make her last farewell tour in
America this coming autumn and winter
the same thing in 1887: put this and that to-
gether and you will readily perceive why these
two lifelong rivals are ready to ignore Victor
Hugo's assertion that there is quantity of
hell in the one word love" and are willing to be
welded again. For both have had experience as
wives before. and yet only of the two was
ever a widow; So while Nilsson is perfectly free
TO marry by reason of the death of her husband,
Auguste Rouzaud in Paris lunatic asylum,
Patti owes whatever welded bliss she gets out
of her second marital venture to the divorce
law which recently became part of the French
code.
The Countto whom Christine has engaged her.
self is man of no particular Importance. He
used to be one of the secretaries at the Spanish
embassy here in Paris; after that he was special
correspondent for Madrid journal, and I have
often seen him at the Press Club dinners, par
ticularly on Thursday, when the menu is elab
crate and superior medoc takes the place of vim
ordinare He comes of a very respectable fam
lily, but it has not long been ennobled His
mother reader or governess to the
ex-Queen Isabella when she was but a child. and
for this received the title OF Countess.
Then when Isabella assembled the throne she
authorized the Countess Miranda's son to bear
the title. Count Casa is about ifty.five years of
| age He has daughter who has been living
with Nilsson for four or five years. The two
| ladies appear to be very fond of each other and
| they used to look quite happy when they were
winning at roulette down at Monte Carlo last
winter should not like to tell you how they both
looked when they lost, as they did quite fire.
Quently. Of course, everybody is wondering
why the 'fair Ophelia" should be willing to
marry, as everybody knows she detests-or at
least, has long protested sony sex, and
the mechanic danes du mond insinuate
that she does so simply to gain a title
for herself This, in certain sense, will put
her above Patti for while the latter was until
her divorce warehouses, she is only plain
Mrs. Nicholas, that being the real name of her
lately -acquired husband. Before marrying the
famous diva NJ Nicholas, dit Nicolini tried to
have himself ennobled, and King Milan would
have made him a prince-price S25, 000if he
had guaranteed not TO wed Patti. The Servian
King hates her because once upon time she
snubbed his court and capital by refusing to sing
In Belgrade. The Pope was willing to make
Nicolini a count or a marquis for $50 000 and to
authorize him to marry the divorced singer for
another $25, 900. but La Patti said this would be
paving too "dear for her WHISTLE and so they
were welded tres bourgeoisement. Just like
other Taffy Welshmen, thieves or otherwise
People say that Mrs. Nicholas was quite an
noyed when she heard that her life long rival
was going to marry count There has never
been any love for each other between these two
great divas. Years ago. when Patti was singing
at the Italiens. and Nilsson at the Opera in Ana
broise Thomas's Hamlet" they always fought
shy of each other, and society tried in vain to
bring them together in one salon. Finally, how
ever, English lady living in Paris succeeded
in doing so, and Ophelia and Rosina behaved
very nicely in her parlors That was during the
winter of 1858, when both had just become en-
gagged to be Marie l. one TO tolerably success
ful stock speculator, or boursier, the other to
blase nobleman connected In some way with the
imperial court Very soon after this meeting in
Mrs. Murray's parlors Nilsson gave a dinner to
Patti In her apartment here in the Rue de Rivoli
next door but one to my own house. The only
other guests present were Ambrose Thomas,
Gounod, Prince Joseph Poniatowsk Viscount
Duru, Baron st Armand. M. Cottrau and M.
Rouzaud, to whom the hostess was engaged.
Mrs. Richardson, the companion and house
keeper of Mile Nilsson, sat facing the latter, and
Kept up a bright conversation with Rouzaud,
who side, and Duru, who the
other. As for the others, they talked about
music, and Gounod said Most extraordinary
when Patti declared that she first sang III public
when she small that they had to stand
her up chair to raise her to the level of her
accompanies.
Coffee was served in the salon and Ambrose
Thomas tried to induce both Nilsson and Patti
TO sing something, but neither would consent to
do so, although the eminent composer volun-
teered to play the Accomplishments.
Il have eaten too much to be able to sing,n
said La Patti, and then she added; but am
ready to wrestle with Nilsson, if she likes.
lsassal! quest ce que c'est Que car asked
Saint Armand, who knows no language but
French and that not as we'll he ought to.
Explanations followed, and then took place
laughabe, not to say somewhat naughty, trial of
strength between the two rival divas. Mile
Patti made quite plucky struggle. but in the
end Nilsson put her fairly on her back, amidst
loud applause led by the illustrious composer of
'Faust" Then some one suggested that Gonnod
and Thomas should wrestle but they declined,
and the athletic entertainment was broken up
by the Prince going to the piano, where he sang
love air from Phiomene ct Baucis to his own
aceOmpaniment
The only one in the party who was not gay
that night Missions fance. H. Auguste
eouzand, who didn't ike to see his girl going on
80 before other men. Nilsson made his acquaint
ance long before she acquired fame and fortune.
She was studying music them and she boarded
up at Batignollss with an English woman, who