St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-28
THE LABLAOHES.
The Last of a Famous Family OF
Opera Singers
Now Filling an Engagement with the
Boston Ideals.

Boston Ideals.
Eyes. am the only Lablache in Amer
lea who bears the name" The speaker was
the vivacious Lablache, of the Boston
Ideals; and her remarks were addressed to q
GLOBE reporter as the two sat in converse
ton in the reception parlor Of the Ryan.
II have married sister living in New Or
leans, my mother is still singing with Ma
pleson in London, and my father, broken
down in health, is resting at a quiet place
in the south Ut France" continued the'song
bird. The Labaches for several gener-
atiOns have been famous musicians.
The grandfather of Mademoiselle Louise
was the most famous bassO singer the Oper-
attic stage ever produced. He enjoyed the dis
tinctiOn of being the favorlte singer at three
imperial courts at the same time-the EN-
peror OF France, the king of England and
the car Of Russia all claiming to be- his
special patrons. He was honored with be-
ing selected as the musical instructor of the
young Princess Victoria Alexandria OF
Hanover. and who for nearly half cen
tury has occupied the throne of Britain.
The elder Lablache left d family of sons,
one of whom is the father of Mile Louise.
handsome fortune, part Of the accumu-
latiOnS or
THE ELDER LABLACHE,
bit did not inherit his fathers musical
talent. Early in life he married young
Italian opera singer, Mile De Merique, who
was descendant on her mothers side of an
Irish nobleman. This lady is now the noted
Madame Lablache, who for twenty years has
been leading contraltO OF Mapleson's Italian
Opera company. For number of years
Madame Lablache occupied the post of
music teacher in the royal family at Wind
sor castle and was the musical educator of
Princess Beatrice, the wife of Henry OF
Battenberg. Have you any "reminiscences
of the royal family that would interest
the public?" asked the GLOBE reporter of
Mile. Louise. Il hardly think | have"
replied the contralto, as flash of humOr
sparkled in her bright eye, and she con-
tinued in her broken English: You see
the public is so accustomed to stories that
actors and singers tell about their aSsOcia-
tons with royalty and nobility that it has
become what Americans call horse chest
nut-that'S what you call it, isn't it?" and
merry laugh rang out. although my
mother was instructress to the Princess
Beatrice for long time, and l lived with
her all thai time, | never saw the queen
but once. and l didn't then know that WAS
talking to her royal majesty. You see 1t
happened this way" Again twinkle of
merrment flashed in the young lady'S eye
as her mind went back to her
SEMI COMICAL ADVENTURE
with royalty. ''One day mother said she
wanted me to accompany her up to the
castle to sing song l had been learning
for the young princess, who was anxious to
hear me. | went with her, and was seated
at the piano singing when strange lady
entered. l mistook her for some waiting
maid. She was dapper-lookiug little
woman with Dutch lace, and as red az
beet. just about so high and just about SO
broad" Miss Labache accompanied this
description with holding her hand about
four feet from the floor, and then putting
them about four feet apart, to convey to
the mind OF the reporter an exact
measurement of the dumpy lady.
She was plainly dressed, and wore
white apron. She came up to the piano
AID leaned on it with both arms So" and
again came piece OF descriptive acting,
land there she rested until l had finished
my song. Then she walked up TO NE and
patted HE on the cheek in this way" Illus
trating by lightly playing the fingers OF the
right hand against the side of the face, land
then remarked, is this really the grand
daughter of my dea" old teacher" Giving
instructions to servant to provide mother
and myself with lunch, she babe us fare
we'll and retired by the door she had en-
tered. did not know until she had gone
that the dunpy old woman who had spoken
to me so kindly, and at whose grotesQue
fnn md 7 had opI QfraiY lpH
from laughing aloud, was
IN REALITY QUEEN VICTORIA.
Lunch was served according to her in
structions, but tine impression made on
nv youthful mind at the time was that
it was a mighty ordinary sort of lunch
for royalty to set. A cold sandwich, cup
of ale and some fruit constituted the whole
bill of fare. That is my whole stock of
"reminiscences of royalty"
do l love opera? No, can't say that
do. My musical training came too late
My fathers intention was to keep me off
the stage. But when his fortune had been
exhausted through the Lablache failing OF
extravaganza, l had to turn my hand TO
and here / am. l love the
drama, and think | will cultivate it more
and opera less in the future. l despise
conventional dramatic work. 1 love to fol-
low my own impulses and work out charac-
ter according to my own conception of it.
Mr.. Foster says to me when play Lady
All Cash. You must drop your hand
kerchief so and so, and YOU must kiss your
hand so and sO.' | say to him: Mr.. |
Foster, you are not woman. and you don't |
know how a woman drops her handker
chief, nor how woman kisses her hand.
If you want it done conveniently you put |
chalk mark on the floor, then | will know
where to stand and where to drop the |
If you don't put a chalk |
mark on the fioor.then will do as / please |
And l do as think right. When play |
Lady All Cash. or The Gypsy Queen |
play it as feel it. If you say anything to
the public just say that l have faith in my,
dramatic instincts and impulses, but don't |
claim to sing like Miss Huntington. and |
never will. She is a superior artist. who
has had superior advantages. and l have |
great admiration of her abiIities.'
Thanking the young lady for the inter-
view. the reporter withdrew with most |
pleasant Impression of the last of the Lab
blaches, on account of her frankness and |
as well as the brlliancy of her |
mind.
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