The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-13
USELESS OFFICES
SUPPRESSED.
Some Of The Curious SnGCUrGS That We're
Held in France.
Chat About Some People Of the Lyric Stage.
Madame Rose carOn, the Ideal Elsa in
Lohengrin-sOme Of Humble Origin,
EreciaI to THE SUNDAY GAIL.

PARIS, Nov. 25, 1S91.-When Queen Vic
toria decided to suppress the post of Grand
Master OF Falcons, a position for which the
Duke Of st. Adams had received yearly
$1,000, l thought it would be curious to
know what useless positions are still main
tanned in France. The Duke OF st. Adams
accepted the thousand dollars paid him
each year, but for more than TWO hundred
years there has been no falcon chase" in
the forest of Windsor In England there
are other posts equally useless; for in
stance, the Queens Rat-catcher" might be
replaced bya good-sized cat. Her Majesty
has decided to suppress that office, also the
Office of guardian of the Fort of Willes-
borough. Two hundred pounds year has
been paid to the guardian until the present
time, but one hundred and ten years ago
the Fort Of Willes borough was destroyed.
In France there are charges as absurd.
The fTotteuTs, or those who wax the floors
of the St Cloud Palace, we're paid regularly
until 1886, out the palace was destroyed in
1871.
When Napoleon III arranged the ceremo-
NAL for the Tuileries he followed the sys-
tom planned by Napoleon l. and among the
offciaIs appointed were " wood inspectors"
"goblet-keepers, "table-bearers," hateurs,
or those who saw that the Emperor ate
warm food, trunk bearers" dog bakers"
etc
The Revolution destroyed many offices,
such as InspectOr-General Of Coats and Dec
orations, " waX-heater," warmers for the
hour of the Kings mass, captain to the
King, Queen and royal family" Kings
distiler." etc.
These, as 1 have said. were abolished by
the Revolution and not re-established by
the Restoration.
NINE. ROSE CARoS.
1t may be interesting, now that "Lohen-
grin" has had so wonderful. so unexpected
success in Paris, to say little OF Madame
Rose Caron, the ideal Elsa, and Herr Van
Dyck, the admired Lohengrin.
Madame Rose Caron lives in the fifth story
Of a modest house, Rue Salnt-Phlippe du
Roule, in the Faubourg Saint HonoFe. In
spite nf her great success, Madame CaTOn is
far from wealthy and her surroundings are
Of the Simplest Not many years ago, the
distinguished cantatrce was workwoman
In leather factory; that is, she made
pocket-books and card-cases. And as she
stitched she sang, and her clear, melodious
voice drowned the metallic sound OF the ma
chimes A humble musician in more hum
bic orchestra heard her, fell in love, and
marriage was the result
Quietly, with her husband, Rose Caron
studied scales and dreamed dreams of
future she feared would never bs realized.
At last she was received by one of the pro-
fessoTs of the Conservative, studied for
four years, and made her debut at Brussels
In one Of Reyer's operas. Then came
trinmphs with Reyer's ''Sigurd" and asa
tammbo." and now "Lohen grim" in which
she is Elsa, with all the graces, all the pres
tige that belongs to a wonderful role. Al
though the tenor, Van Dyck, has lived a
long time among PaTisians, he is but little
known by them. He is only 30 years old,
and was born at Antwerp. In his youth
Van Dyck loved music, but his family
would have been shocked had he suggested
studying for the theater.
In 1888 he came to Paris to study Journal
Ism. and was attached to the staff of the
Patrie. One day VIdaPs cantata was to be
executed at the Institute. The tenor,
Warot, was i'll, and Van Dyck consented
with fear and trembling to sing the role.
His success was great, and during five
years he travelled about singing Wagner's
music. Nine. COsima Wagner wished to
engage Van Dyck at Baireuth, but he knew
not one word OF German. For seven months
ne studied at Carlsruhe. and in 1888 sang
"Parsifal' at Baireuth. Afterward, at
Vienna, he interpreted Romeo" "Faust,"
'Ernani," etc.
VAN DYCK, THE TENOR.
Van Dyck married the daughter of Ser
vais, the celebrated violoncelist, and Is
father Of two little girls. The tenor looks
like a handsome priest and Is tall and splen-
didly prOportiOned.
He wishes to sing only Wagner's music,
for TO him Wagner is the musician above ali
others.
What Transformation In the careers OF
great singersl Gabrielle Krauss is the
daughter of cook, and has been herself a
cook, but her retirement from the Grand
Opera some years ago was more important
to Parisians than the success or defeat Of
republic.
Born and educated in Vienna, Gabrielle
lie If IND, a
musician of the first rank When only
years old she sang the cantate Of HAYDN in
concerts and made her debut at Vienna in
1860 as Mathilde in william Tell" In
1868 she was invited to Paris to sing at the
Iheater ltalien, the old Sale Ventadour.
So we'll was Mime. Krauss received by the
public that In France she determined to
stay. She learned French aud sang at the
Grand O,era; indeed, it was Gabrielle
hra9ss VINO Sang the memorable evening OF
It's dedication, when the most illustri0us
names OF Europe were present TO applaud
her in Halevy's La Juive."
In addition to her amable qualities
Gabrielle Krauss has something angular
In her nature which does not allow one at
first to know just what effect she produces.
but as soon as she enters dramatic situation
she becomes TRANSPORTED. Her face is lin.
mined, her glance fiery, and her superb
soprano voice gains an enchanting, seduc-
tive sweetness When singing at the Grand
Opera, Mime. Krsuss had very original
IDEAS. One was that the Marguerite of
Faust is not young fraulein. blonde and
delicate, as represented by the first imper-
senator, Nine. Miolan- Carvalhos. She says
ina; Goethe Imagined a Gretchen who was
healthy country girl. and the singer decided
70 represent Marguerite according to the
IDEAS OF htrself-and Goethe. 1t WAS an
easy talk, for Gabrielle Krauss is stout and
ungraceful, and the opera was given accord
ing to her plan. United az she seemed for
the role, her immense talent atoned for her
appearance, and she was enthusia stically
received. But when NJ. Vancorbeils
successors. Messrs. RIFT and Gall hard. re.