Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-06
TUESDAY. JANUARY 9. 1891.
"A LAMENTABLE EVENT.

A LAMENTABLE EVENT.
The telegraph from Salt Lake brings
us the sad intelligence of the death of
Emma Abbott, who has for nearly
twenty years been the most famous of
American prime donne. 1t is hard to
write of this event without excessive
emotion. Emma Abbott was not only
great cantatrice, but distinctive and
lovable American woman.
She was the daughter of parents
whose circumstances did not admit of
giving her the elaborate musical educa.
ton; her great and precocious talents
deserved. She figured for some years
as an infant prodigy, singing in various
towns of Ohio and Illinois as early as in
her ninth year. She was born on the
9th Of December, 1S49, and, as the
chronicles say, in Chicago. Our own
recollection is that she was born in an
interior town of Illinois, and we think
we have heard from her own lips some
interesting narratives of her early eX-
perience in the small towns of the sucker
state. She finally attracted the attention
of fClara Louise Kellogg, who kindly sent
her to New York for instruction under
Signor Ernani. She afterwards became
connected with DIR. Chapin's church in
that city, who assumed the cost OF her
education in Milan and in the leading
conservatories of Europe. In 1874 she
married Mr.. Eugene ]. Wetherell, in Lon
don, England. Their union was very
happy one.
Emma Abbott ranked in the verv
first class of soprani OF the day, yielding
precedence only to Patti. She more
nearly resembled Parepa than any other
great singer, and she came just in the
nick of time to bridge the chasm made
by the death of that great singer. She re-
sembled Parepa in the great good nature
which always signalized her, and made
her the idol OF the clever artists whom
she always gathered in her troupes.
She,was an emf ihently lovable woman,
and she always showed a business apti-
tude and vigor that went far to assure
her success. She, possessed voice of
singular sweetness, ,compass and sympa-
thetic quality, reliable in all it's registers,
and capable of endufng without deteri-
oration an astonishing amount OF
labor. She would sing \the exacting So
prane role in Traviata one night, and
the next day figure al a matinee and
succeeding night performance with
PERENNIAL good humor, and without the
Slightest evidence of strain. She would
not be very far behind Patti herself in
Traviata; but. unlike thu Diva, she
would not treat herself to needed rest.
The musical public are not unaware
OF the fact that recently MISS Abbott
had encountered serious difficulties with
her throat, and she spent some time in
Paris undergoing skillful treatment for
incipient signs of vocal paralysis-an
ordeal which Patti also underwent some
years ago. She returned from her So
journ in the French capital with ward
robe fabricated by Worth of unexampled
splendor, and with voice characterized
by its old clarity, power and sweetness.
The writer had the pleasure of know
ing Miss Abbott quite intimately for
good many years. During her recent
season in this city he had a conversation
with her in which she referred to her
dead husband. She said "Poor Eugene.
HE died three days after l closed my
holiday engagement here two years
"ago. II shall never forget how kind
land solicitous he was in his directions
''as to how should protect myself fro m
"the change of climate which l must
encounter in going from Los Angeles
ito the. east, Poor fellow! The wise
Counsel which he impressed on me he
neglected himself.'
The coincidence between the death of
Mr.. Wetherell and his wife must i'm
press itself on every one. Miss Abbott's
engagement at the Los Angeles theater
eliminated on Christmas night; and on
the 4th OF January her death was chron-
icled at Salt Lake City.
Eugene Wetherell, the husband Of the
dead prina donna, was an exceedingly
robust and handsome man. He is the last
person one would have picked out as the
victim OF pneumonia. When he left Los
Angeles two years ago for Denver he
went on no direct business of the Abbott
combination, but to attend to some real
estate interests which the couple owned
in that city:
Miss Abbott died very wealthy |
woman. Her fortune could not well be |
estimated at less than three-quarters of |
million of dollars. Amongst her pos
sessions was an elegant mansion on
Fifth avenue, New York city. In addition
to being an incompatible songstress, she
had genius for affairs.
Her death, of course, disperses the
splendid combination which she had done
80 much to discipline, and whose eae G.
tiveness was demonstrated so conspicu-
ously in her last season here. There is
probably not an Angelefio who will not