Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-01
BACK FROM TURKEY.
hrs. LAURA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. STORY
OgBER LTs ABROAD.
SIS Says he Sicry That She Ws LETsd to The
garem Of tho Sultan and Detained Thsrs Is
BsuFa-Sulan Built BT Theatre
OAsa Visited Elm.


Laura Schrlmer-MapleSon, the Ameri-
can singer about whom such sensational
stories were circulated a few years ago
10 the effect that she had been poisoned
ip the hareu Of the Sultan OF Turkey,
arrived on the Arizona. She was &C
comDanied by her husband, Colonel
Henry Maples0n. a son OF the impress
sqrlO. To whom she was married snort
time ago in London.
The handsome singer looked remark
Eby well and was unieignedly glad AZ
beirc once more ia America.
IL is wears since the singer, who was
horn fin Boston, has been here, almost
tep wears she says herself, and In the
Interval she has visited many countries
-rd sung In many places. IL was In
lsSS mat the startling story Of her
ceaN fin the harem Of the Sultan Of Iur-
key was circulated and aStounced her
friends. As was told then, u was q
story Of shame and murder.
10 was TO the effect that she had given
, nm the stage and all the prospects 1t
held ont TO her. and had entered the
rem OF the Sultan of Turkey. To her
friends and an Of those who had ever
seen her OF heard her sing the story
was quite a shock.
m was known that while In Milan
studving the singer had married Ar
thur Byron, a tenor, and IL was believed
rbo marriage had been an unhappy one.
This knowledge, however, did not FUR
nish any reason to her friends that she
should take such o step. Oo che top OF
this story came the report that the
American Consul had called on the Sui
IAN To release Nine. Byron, as she was
then known. ana that he was Informed
fbst She and thirteen other fayorites OF
the ruler had been poisoned by ice
cream ana their bodies thrown into the
BospnOrOus.
Mme. Napleson sat In the parlor of a
very neat hat in East Thtrty-fourth
street last night and smiled IS she
tborgbt of the stories. She was clad
ina loose gown Of light blue silk, with
lace edqing on the bodice. Her head
was crowned with mass Of wayy brown
hair.
TIE SINGERS STORY.
ssTTow Donsenslcai these stories were, F"
she said-"how absurd. Why, there
was not veStige OF truth In them.
Won know that after finishing my en-
rscerent here with Mr.. StrakOsch /
lem for Milan. After studying there 1
made my European debut 40 Pisa In the
early part OF February, In 1854.
"I remained I'm Italy iog two years
and then went TO St. Petersburg. l
went an through Russia and Germany,
and also visited Turkey.
"Abdul Hamed, the Sultan, had heard
of me and had very good recommends
tious Of me. So, one day he spoke TO
BIr. COx-poOr, dear man, he was the
American Minister-aud after that the
Sultan sent for me.
"Of course, I Obsyed his request TO
call, and he said he wanted TO hear me
sing. I did SO. he was 50 much
.leasedl i seemed 20 delight him. He
asked me if I could not get together an
opera company. l collected several op-
era singers, and we gave ''TrOvatore, "
.Lucia" and Norma" The First
Chamberlain came 20 me aud said the
Sultan was charmed and would do any
thing to have me remain.
"He had a theatre built expressly for
mo. All the scenery was Of the grand
est and was painted on the finest silk. l
think 10 the most beautiful thing In the
world. A great artist, whom the Sultan
brought from Italy, painted the curtain.
'sThere was only one box In the the
atre. and that was generally occupied
by the Sultan and the harem. When
the Sultan did not occupy the box he
invited the pachas and mobiles 10 sit
On 20.
"Hc wanted me to sign a contract and
wanted 90 know II I would be coutented
90 stay. Oh, was 20 have the most
admirable timel lie even promised me
am annuity. He is very generous
man aud gave me the most beautiful
things
"But oh'-aud here she sighed
'thero was so much envy. People were
Jealous of me. never did any harm TO
any ono except myself. Some one cir
culsted those horrible stories, don't
know who, and they ruined my pros
poets. Why to-day ! might have been
worth millions.
"The first Chamberlain came to me
and gave me 20 understand that / was
90 co. he was very polite and felt
and ] was afraid l would have 70 leave
hurredly. The people were upin arms
almost.
Poor Byron was then alive and he
often sang with me. lie had calling,
you know, and we tried to cure him of
H. We did for o while, but it came
back and killed him.
"The Sutton was very good to the
last. All the Ambassadors took the
story up and said il was n shame. IL
was as great q surprise 20 me as TO any
one. I knew Mr.. Cox very we'll, and hts
wife, who is q sweet woman, even spoke
10 the Sultan in my behalf.
eyes, I have been 70 the harem very
often. was very much liked there. /
saw the SuitaD's daughters and his
wives, and when ] used 20 sing in the
palace they used TO all come and listen
10 nae. ! am tho only artist who has
ever sung before the Sultan In his pal
ace. In one week 1 think went there
four times.
"The Sultan is very good pianist
and reads music with great ease. One
day he asked me Il dld not know any
Thing national So / sat down and
played such things IS Home, Sweet
Home and Coming Thro' the Rye
he took chair by the piano and said
go on. 1 Ike IT, On, il was very
hard TO have it all spoiled.
"While in ConStantinople had quite
an adventure. A party Of us started
out one summer morning, about two
O'Clock, to climb the mountains. We
had soldiers TO guard Us, but we had not
gone far when We were informed by
party of brigaHds that they were very