Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-20

alhs eEe l4d >&-1tS1 80 tse 20. the
pride 81 the peninsula zad ectlElsd co
seaT his ia. IA TIE presence % ala
ruler like = grandee OF Spain. rose 10
his feet. clAppea his hands aud applaud
ed ike any other enthusiast After the
opera saw the great tenor ~ the Cafe
FornnS, and be vas apparently indifser-
e1t q the tr2nzeendaat honors that had
been shOwersd upon aim
But IL was different vhea saw HIN
last. he would have given the rest OF
his lile for repetition % sach a scene.
The experiences II kings IL exile, ex-
presidents Of our republic and aged ten
orr must DC allied with regrets and
griefs-
Campanini was generous fellow
while ais prosperity lasted Not that
he threw money away, or gave Il 20 his
friends; out no encouraged Young sing
ers. bought himself a pretty country
place near Padua, where he entertained
guests IA truly hoSpitabls fashion aud
lived well. cut never extravagantly.
fits chief mistake was the Hberaliiy
with which he dispensed his voice. lie
was always willing 10 sing for any char
III; he was ohliging 10 ths verge Of
generosity with his managers. Time
and again he has volunteered 70 sing
when his associates or the second tenor
were "indispossd was present al
the opera the night Gerster's voice failed
her. The opera was la Sonambula."
Tse atmos, confusion followed after
the poor p.iEaa donna was led OF the
stage in tears Colonel htspelson an
nounced that the money would be re-
funded AZ the box; but Canpanini. whS
was IN the foyer with his wife. NJ once
volunteered To sing In I'll Trovatore.'
After deley of half an hour the cur
tain rose and the opera Was given TO the
entire satisfaction OF the vast audience
The night was saved. but for that service
he positively declined TO receive dol
lar. This is only one Of many instances
OK similar character, all OF which re
dound TO the glory of Campanini, but
prevented the growth of his bank nc
count for protection against the rainy
season OF his life that has now set in
The sadness OF poor little Marie
Aimee's last days Is quite unknown lie
this country. where she had so many
devoted admirers | recollect distinct
~ her first appearance in New Yorl
under the opera bouffe regime OF
jim Fisk. Her success was immediate.
We had heard Tosti, but Aince's vivac
i.y and snggestiveness were revelation
Not one of her successors Up 10 the
time of Theo was worthy to be thoughi
q rival. Persigny. Montaland and sew
eral other freaks were brought ovei
from the gay capital. but for ffsceI
years, or until her voice failed. Aimee
was easily the popular French favorite
Yet the end came, and q very gloomy
end il was. | remember to have picked
up a copy of Figaro in Paris one morn
ing during the summer Of 1887. Hell
death from tunor was announced il
half dozen lines, although worthy ar
extended obituary notice.
The funeral was set down at On carly
hour on the following day. Another
American and undertook TO go, aue
met az the Ninceanes station in the
cold, raw morning air. We alighted al
little station near Nogcnt. in the
Marine valley, ard found sleepy cab
man who drove US through the mist
several miles to the quaint little cottage
ia which Aimee had passed her last days
There was no splendor. All the rsdr
nnce OF the footlights was gone. a
few trophies and many photographs
inscribed with words Of affectionatc re-
membrance. were there: but, alas
frugality appeared stamped upon every
article in the house.
Tie mourners appeared to DC confined
TO few neighbors. an aged bonnie and
peaked-faced girl OF perhaps thirteen
years. This little child appeared utter
ly friendless, and was plunged in the
deepest sorrow. She spoke OF the dead
singer a. 'auntie.' but the hard
featured old maidservGnt wouldnf
clear up the mystery, and neighboi
who animated that she could explain
positively refused to do so. The best
opinion obtainable was that the CIR
was a waif that Aimee had adopted in
times Of prosperity; but during tho
three years of the mistress illness the
child had Jared little better than
slavey.
The funeral service was brief Is that
OF pauper's. In a few minutes the
little procession wendell It's way to the
cemetery. and we two Americans found
ourselves among less than a dozen
mourrcrs. Albert Wolf was there.
remember, and in my heart this act OF
his atoued for many of the vicious things
said Of him in his latter years After
the grave was sealed up and the few
flowers that had been brought 10 the
place Of burial carefully bestowed. my
companion made inal effort tn ascer-
tain the fate Of the lonely child. she
said she was going back to the house
she had left. and with this indefinite
reply we had 20 be satisfied. Aiinee's
effects were hardly worth enumerating.
A few thousand dollars would cover
their value.
She had had her fling. poor girl. end
paid dearly for il in her last days.
JurIUs CHAMBERS.