New-York tribune., 1890-04-20
MISS AGNES HUNTINGTON.
A TRUE STORY OF A YOUNG AMERICAN
LADY'S CAREER IN LONDON.

way that the American and not the English pub
lie is for the present the gamer Miss Hunting
tor as you know goes to the jMted States Ill
the late autumn and YOU will have the fascinating
Paul Jones with you till spring. SO far good.
But it seems nccdful to add that this American
young lady has not been treated here Ill England
with that kind of consideration due to her rs an
American, as young lady. or as an artlst. III
would not answer TO expect too much in any Of
these directions from Mr.. Augustus Harris That
very enterprisinc manager takes purely business
view of his relations with art and artists. But
Miss Huntington's difficulties became public. The
Harris version of them found It's way into
print. Miss Huntington was dragged into court
and the proceedings in court were public. But
when our Young countrywoman desired to state
her side of the case, there was, think but one
paper in London, The Chronicle. which printed
her letter. 1t is almost a century since Burke
announced in his positive way that the age Of
chivalry was gone. Without looking TO Mr.. Au-
Gustus Harris to revive it, one might still ask
whether the age of fair play Is going TOO. and
whether 1t is in the press that its departure Is to
be most conspicuous.
Oh, but Mr.. Augustus Harris. is told. is a
very powerful parsonage: toe powerful TO offend
lie advertises: he is the lessee and manager Of
Drury Lane manager of the Empire Theatre, man
hger, ] believe. Of various other theatrical enter
prses. and has patronage to dispose Of. II all this
be granted. does il follow that the London press
has not the courage to print a statement cf facts
in behalf of an American singer who thinks she
has been badly treated by the great Mr.. Augustus
Harris. That is not easy 10 believe. The truth
is. j imagine, that her statement never got so far
as the editorial rooms of any of the journals which
omitted to publish it, 1t related to music. She
is singer: and 50 the first sub-editor into whose
hands her epstle came handed it over TO the MI
sical department. And it is possible 10 suppose
that in the musical or dramatic department the
powerful Mr.. Augustus Harris might he moro
powerful than in the inner sanctum of all, over
which the real editor prcsides. The real editor
may be amcnablc to influences Of various kinds.
but it can hardly he imagined that terror of
managers wrath would he one of them. BE the
reason for the suppression Of Miss Huntington's
letter what il may, the suppression is none the
less curious incident in the course of English
journalism.
1t was not with Mr.. Augustus Harris. but with
the late Mr.. Carl Rosa, that Miss Huntington
made her contract. She signed il without legal
advice; an act of temcrity Of which She has
since had time 10 repent. But of Mr.. Rosa she
had complaint to make, and if Nr. Rosa had
lived no doubt she would be singing at this mo-
ment and the public would never have heard Of
her contract at all. Her tribute TO him is one
which his many American friends Will be glad to
read. Il never, says Miss Huntington. had
the slightest difficulty with Nj. Rosa. On the
contrary, l. like many other artists, have reason
TO he grateful for the consideration and kind as
sistance | always received at his hands And
she speaks none too highly of Rosa's regard for
the fair and honorable traditions OF a profession
which he adorned and elevated.
Well, Rosa died and the run OF 81 Paul Jones"
after a long time came TO an end. and Mr. Augustus
Harris. who succeeded Mr.. Rosa as director of
the Carl Rosa Opera Company, offered Miss Hunt
ington a tenor part in new piece. Her voice
is contralto, but she was willing 10 try thc new
part on the promise that it was to be rewritten.
The promise WAS not kept and Miss Huntington
found that she could not sing IT, and reinquished
it; such authorities as Mr. Sims Rorves. Nine
Antoincttc Stirling and others advising her that
she was injuring her voice by trying TO sing
this music. 1t thcreupon seemed proper TO Mr..
Harris to send Miss Huntington tour travelling
and singing seven times week; which her doctors
forbade her 10 do. Meantime, the payment Of sal
ary ceased Mr. I.arrs's view was that though
he would not find a part for Miss Huntington in
which she could appear ne could under the con-
tract. prevent her from singing for anybody else.
or from earning any money for herself This
view the court supported; the terms of thc con-
tract signed without legal advice being of this
stringent nature. Mr. Harris was resolved to have
his bond. and lie got it. There remained nothing
for his victim but to scc, for release M IIas-
ris, still crying 80 will have my bond" agreed
to cancel it on payment Of $1,000 and all law
costs but the further condition that Miss
Huntington should not sing, even in private, till
next December
Why, thcn does she pay this large sun? The
answer is that under the bond Mr.. Harris had
the right 20 renew for year, and could have 50
exercised it as 10 prevent her from singing for
still another year / apprehend that Miss Hunt
ington would not again have sung in any part
under Mr.. lIarriss management, and that Mr.
Harris knew this, and that he avacd himself 10
the utmost of his legal rights, and that this young
lady had TO eXtricate herself from these tolls on
any terms that this chivarous and generous
manager saw fit to impose. Such are the facts as
She states them in print, and az her statement
has passed, so far as ! know, without coniradic
ton by Mr.. Augustus Harris for whose interest il
would he to deny them if hc could, they may be
taken accurate.
Miss Agnes Huntington is well known II
America that nothing iced be said Of lcr gift
and capacities except they have impressed th
musical world and tie general pubic OF London
To her may be once more applied the hackneyot
phrase that she took the town by storm. Sh
filled her theatre for--I forget how long, but 70
more than year, by her impcrsonation of Pau
Jones. Paul was both dashing and winning; h
captivated the public. and in private Miss Agnc
Huntington became known and favorife ST.
has at least had the comfort OF knowing, annie
her troubles with her manager. that some Of th
best people in London have been on her side
Till Mr.. Harris required her to sing music out o
her range, the musical critics had nothing bu
praise tor her voice and method. She wa
thought TO he capable Of something better tha
light opera, and this belief was strengthened b.
her singing at concert which she gave last sun
mer for the Johnstown sufferers. Her dramati
talent is evident to those who cannot judge q
the musical. young lady with such a stag
presence as hers, such animation, and so much o
that quality which is called magnetic, could no
remain loag unknown. So the theatre wa
,bronoed Miss Aonps Huntingdon hccalnp a e.