, 1888-10-25
MIR. cox KNEW HER IN TURKEY.
And Doubts the Published story Of Laura
Schirmer's Tragic Death.
TNaw SnrL NArII

And Doubts the Published story of Laura
schirmer's Tragic Death.
New York World
The following mention of Laura Schir-
mer is found in Sunset Cox's Diversion of
Diplomat in Turkey:
Theatrical amusements are not neg
lected. There were rival troupes here all
the winter of 1SS6.S5. The Petits Champs
opera house came out ahead. It was led
by Mrs. Byron, a Japanese. The other
troupe, an Italian was led by Leonora
Monte. Both were managers and prime
donnes. The Italian left, with her ward.
robe, between two days. Mrs. Byron has
had the satisfaction of giving benefit for
the impecunious and deserted troupe Of
her successful rival.
the Yildz palace. He and all of his
are fond of music, and thrice she has
been summoned to please the royal ear
and taste. When she sings there sll the
ladies OF the barem peep out of their
rooms 10 hear, for they are not only musi-
clans themselves, but fond of dulcet things,
including the confectionery of sweet Ital.
ian sounds. The sultan calls Mrs. Byron
La petite ,Amerieaine," and has be-
slowed upon her some nice largesses'"
Mr.. Cox said to-day that the cantatrice
referred to in these extracts from his 'Di.
versions was the same lady whose tragic
death the World has given an exclusive
story.
~ knew her." said Mr.. Cox. "as one
OF the American residents in CONSTANT.
nople, but did not know her very well.
nor did know so much of her history,
until | read il in the Sunday World
Some months after was installed as min.
lister, she called and desired the good will
OF the legation. That she had at once. for
she was complaisant and modest, beautiful
and accomplished in her art She had n
very sweet voice and graceful manner.
She desired to ingratiate herself with
those who represented the legation, and
succeeded. Especially did my wife be.
come interested in her from mutual love
of music. She also desired to have my
before His Majesty at the Yidiz ("StarJJ
Palace. This was accomplished, and with
a revivifying effect upon her exchequer.
What commended her to Mrs. Cox and
myself was her isolation and poverty in
that oriental clty-remote from friends
with a drunken husband and pretty
child, to whom she was devoted. She
saught to support herself and child, and |
think at that time, her husband also He
was, or had been, fine tenor, and when
himself made good music with his rare
voice. But he had dissipated his artistic
genius, with her money, and also much of
her loving forbearance.
"When the Bulgarian emeute occurred
and oil the Balkan states and Tarkey. even
to the Euphrates and the Adriatic was
stirred to martial effort, projected was
started to give a grand operatic entertain
ment for the relief of the soldiers of Tur-
key, then suffering, without blankets, ETC.,
in the bleak mountains of the Roumelian
frontier. This was, think; in the early
spring of 1886. Tne entertainment was
attended by the foreign ministers and the
Pashas, including representatives from
the Horte and the palace. Soou arose a
competition between the two opera troupes
referred to in the extract from my book.
Nine. Byron's goodness of heart to the
dismantled and impecunious rival Italian
troupe, left desolate, was apparent by her
appearance with her troupe in their be.
half. ! saw little of Mrs. Byron after
that, though she occasionally called on
Mrs. Cox and at the legation. Before
left there was cloud over her. Her hus-
band had disappeared as her attendant
and protector. Gossip was busy with her
name and her charms. Mrs. Byron sught
me to obtain further chance for an i'm
perial lareess. The emperor had bestow.
ed large sum- think 10000 plastres or
$lOOO--for one evenings singing. No
one ever limited that His Majesty was en-.
amored OF the fair and lovely American
lady--only of her music"
AS to the tragic manner Of her reported
death, Mr.. Cox said
"Fie Such stories have hardly the at.
tenuated fibre CT an old Oriental fiction ON
which to depend. Mrs. Byron NAV. in
desperation and to sustain her little girl
have gone into the sultan's harem, but
that Is not likely. 1t would be indeed a
desperate thing to do, and she was not the
one to despair. Still it might be possible.
though hardly probable. The present
sultan never signed death warrant. He
shrinks like a timid girl from the very
idea of capital punishment. He is of ali
men the most gentle. lie has done his
duty in foreign affairs as we'll as been a
lust administrator Of the laws of his own
realm. There is no such emergency in his
domesticity (which is as old in system as
Solomon's that should call for the poison
ing OF any inhabitant of his harem by ice
cream! 1t is simply ridiculous. IL he
desired to be rid of any of his old house,
house he could dispose of them quite inno-
Gently otherwise than by ice cream and
according to the marriage laws Of the
koran and state"
Then you do not believe that there is
any occasion for the Intervention of the
American minister?"
lister, Mr.. Straus, has been absent since
August, and II he had such q romantic
case he would have mentioned il to the
state department and perhaps to myself.
His secretary OF legation would not pre-
sume to intervene. and certainly, IL the
accomplished draRoman, M. Garguilo, was
ABOUT and his advice were taken, no such
intermeddling would be perpetrated.
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