San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-23
OPERA HOUSE.
The Abbott Engagement and Other
Matters.

The Hettie Bernard-Chase engage
ment closed with last night, when
"The Colonel's Daughter" was rem
dered. A slim audience was present
and the play closed early. This COM
pany left today for Columbus, Tenn
pie, Brennan and other places.
Seats for the Abbott engagement are
going fast, and a regular ovation will
be given this popular diva on Christ
mas day, when Bohemian Grip
will be sung for matinee.
The charming young widow is more
than ever a songstress this year, and
has magnificent company to sup
port her, with all the old favorites
with her as of yore.
"Why does Emma Abbott continue
to endure the hardships of travel, and
| work 50 hard in opera, when she has
more wealth than she can handle,
and every inducement to provide for
herself an elegant home in New York,
where she has friends without mum.
| Der, position, and all at her command
| that can crafty ambition and sur
| round life with the pleasant things
| that makes it worth living?"
The inquiry is most natural. Miss
Abbott is approaching the very zenith
of her powers. She is more of con-
summate artistic today, vocally, dra-
matically, and i'm every way, than
ever before. Her voice was never SO
completely at command, or so rich.
Never were Abbot operas so sumptu-
Gus as now, nor an Abbott Organiza-
ton so strong IN all parts. She is
constantly charging her repertoire,
| putting on new operas and taking
higher rank as diva assoluta in Eng
lish grand opera than ever before. 1t
is not for the accumulation of greater
wealth that she continues. for of that
she has excess, but for her art, and
arts sake, to which she is devoted.
1t is her patron saint, and at its
shrine. next to that of her religion,
she worships most devoutly. Why
should she, in the ripe splendor of her
power. retire to life of ease, luxury
and idleness in New York? Her re-
tirement would leave in the musical
armament of America a darkened
orbit whose star had gone out in its
most splendid lustre, aud not soon
to be so brightly illumIned. 1t
would mean disappointment and re-
greet throughout this country, in all
places where Miss Abbott has been
wont to sing. 1t would mean really
to disrupt the strongest English opera
organization in existence. and one not
easily to be succeeded. 1t has taken
seasons of constant and judicious Sc
lection and accumulation to complete
the Abbot company as it is now COM
pleted. Why dismember it when it
is at its completion, the outgrowth of
years? The Abbott company broken
up and Emma Abbott gone, the pub
lie would wait years, before they
would hear it's equal in English opera
again. Moreover, Emma Abbott is
not one to sit in idleness and ease and
be content she is woman of too vast
energy for that, such life would be
Imprisonment to her.
Her future plans involve far greater
things than the people of her own
country yet dream and time alone
will disclose the magnitude and
grandeur of those plans. IL is better
that she remain where she is and
continue in her important work.
Mr.. Marcus r. Mayer, acting man
ager for Abbey, Schoetfel ana Grau,
the three great managers. and his
private secretary, Herr Victor Ull-
mann, who was private secretary to
Sarah Bernhardt, were in the city for
few hours Saturday, and left for the
City of Mexico on the 4:40 p. m. train
the same day. While here Mr.. May
err, who is representing the Patti
tour of America for his managers, at
tempted to make arrangements for
the stoppage of the great diva and her
company of 10 people, for two days
in this city on her way from Chicago
to the City of Mexico. She only ask
ed $40, 900 guarantee for one perform
ance, and as Manager Mullaly learned
to his sorrow that he could not guar
antee even $1,000 a performance, vide
Gilmore, he could not stop
Patti, although he made an
offer to give them his opera house
tree if they will stop. Patti will pass
through San Antonio on her special
train on January eth. She has with
her such stars as Albani, Nordica,
Valda, Bauermeister, the great tenor
Tomagno, Marescalchi and others.
Her chorus comprises 80, ballet "a, Or
chestra 60, military band 80, and her re-
pertoire comprises "a standard operas.
An engagement of fifteen operas is
booked for the City of Mexico.
| Arb eiter VeraIn officers