Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12

very first artists Of the day appear upon its
boards, Masini and Gayarre, for instance,
singing there for weeks at time.
was rather surprised with the success I
met with there in "La Somnambula," the
sweet, simple melodies and pathetic story of
that opera being often voted old-fashioned
in other countries. But the Spaniards, who
attended bull fight in the afternoon, would
90 to the opera in the evening to hear la
Scmnambula" and would listen to the recital
of AnliRd's woes with tears streaming down
their cheeks One evening the celebrated
bull fighter Mazzentini came behind the
scenes during a representation and offered
to me the compliment Of a special bull fight
to be gotten up in my honor. But de-
clined with thanks. have always been too
fond of animals to think for moment of
accepting an invitation to witness such
cruel sport.
During my last engagement in Rome
was, with my husband, accorded the favor
Of q private audience of the Pope. His
Holiness received me most graciously and
spoke with infinite kindness ofthe dramatic
profession. 1 shall never forget that i'm
pressiye interview.
received a singular anonymous letter
some weeks ago while at Venice, warning
me not to go to Spezia, where an engage
ment for me was then pending, as the
Opera House there was to be blown up with
dynamite on the evening of one of my rep
resenta tions. laughed at the letter, threw
it aside, and took no heed of it, especially
as the negotiations with the manager at
Spezia came to naught, and l accepted a
Barcelona engagement instead. But gang
of men, provided with dynamite bombs,
were discovered and arrested in the Spezia
Opera House few weeks later, and con-
fessed that their intention had been to blow
up the building while a performance was
going on. The warning letter that I had
received has since been published in fac
simile in several of the Italian papers.
NEvADA's REGIME.
/ have been asked to give some details re-
specting the regime that follow on the day
preceding an evenings performance. In the
first place, and consider this point essen
tial, never talk. Anything that have to
say must be uttered in q whisper, and
speak as little as possible. I rise at 7:3O
and take my bath. Breakfast, consisting of
tea, bread and sirloin steak, is served at
$50. Then go to mass, and afterward
drive for two hours and walk for one hour
more, unless the weather is stormy, fresh air
and exercise being very essential for me. I
dine at 8. taking strong, clear broth, an
other sirloin steak, rice, baked potatoes and
roast chicken, but no salad, concluding with
stewed prunes or baked apples and cream.
I take one glass Of good claret
during the repast. After dinner I go to bed
for two hours and try if possible to 20 to
sleep. dress at home, and usually arrive
at the theater just five minutes before the
curtain RISES After the performance take
a supper composed of soup and beef and a
single glass OF beer. am very careful to
avoid overheating either in my rooms or my
dress. never wear flannel underwear, and
rely greatly for my health and strength, not
only on nourishing food, but on constant
exercise in the open air. Some Italian pro-
fessors of singing insist upon their pupils re-
naming in bed during the entire day pre-
ceding an appearance in public. But it
would be impossible for me to follow such
regime; should break down under it in q
week,