The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-28
BY THE WAY.
Being Rambler's Notes on
Things in General.
Written for THE SUNDAY GAIL

Written for THE SUNDAY GAIL
a famous opera-singeT has just died at
Vienna in extreme poverty. Rosa CzillsC
was a mezzc-soprau0 with a voice Of great
range and surprising qualities OF tone. IL
the heyday Of her prosperity, with engage
ments always open to her in London, Milan,
Paris, Madrid, Vienna and ST. Petersburg,
she could no doubt have laid away O for
tune for old age, or for at least the mover
bal rainy day which overtakes most people
unless they are careful But It is often
the case that those who make money easily
and rapidly and are id0lized by the public
as long as they hold their position, live well
up 10 their income and indulge 10 the va
carries Of extravaganza to an extent that
only m0narchs could support without fore
b0dings. When her voice failed, and IN
fortunately It did q number Of years ago,
the public, as is its way. soon forgot her,
and did little CT nothing 20 befrend her.
The years Of her ObsCuTity must have been
bitterly Notifying and must have brought
home to her mind the conviction that there
is slender gratitudefh this world when we
are Of little use to ourselves or anybody
else. We are forgotten and the world Wags
lis way merry and cynical. but possibly not
u0uaturally brutal OF unfeeliug. Iae an
nails Of the theatrical profession TEEN with
instances Of ilustTiOus wrecks, many OF
whom have only themselves to blame Tor
their fOrlOTn condition.
90
There are actually some good people In
San Francisco who profess 20 lament the
fact that Adeiina Patti, owing 20 Eastern
engagements, cannot come here to entrance
delighted audiences at prices Of admission
which are pT0libltoTy, except for the rich.
-FT Hr~r4 4 Lar
templibie and are for the most part simU-
lated. NINE Patti would no DOUBT ike TO
come. She is fond Of mODey, and here she
should smile and sing her best, for, accord
ing 10 former experience, no sum IS too high
for the privilege Of falling down and wor-
Shipping her as a divine creature. Her
manager is a business man, and he obvI-
.-ously is not disncliued 10 have his
share Of the proceeds as Welguty as
possible But why should the dear
public desire this supreme songstress 10
MARBLE for them in Italian. which not one
in twenty Of the 3000-or more present under
stands. while a much smaller proportion
have the cultivated ear which enables them
TO distinguish between her singing and
that Of many others three or four steps
below her on the ladder Of fame? IT IS
simply craze, an exhibition Of fashionable
snObbeTy, and would they but own It,
barrel organ would delight many just as
much That, however, would dispense with
the luxury OF paying high price Tor ones
entertainment and but for that high price
Nine Patti would give San Francisco and
every other American city the gO-by.
49,
The leading operate prima donna Is little
heard in London now. Impresarios Of the
old school who ruined themselves In the
effort 10 maintain the stage at its best, and
paid almost any terms asked, have passed
Away, and they have been succeeded by men
who recognize that opera must at least pay
cxpepses. and toward that end must be pop
u.arlzed One thousand pounds per night
to the prima donna is pTepOsteTOus and inn
beetle extravaganza, and DO wonder opera
houses remain closed during long periods
They manage these things much betteE IN
Paris and Berlin. A fifth part Of
The sum named is all that the
best singer in the world may hope
to expect by favor When she sang In
Paris a couple of years ago 1000 francs
night was all that Madame Patti received,
aud many cultivated Parisans doubtless
considered it lar too much. In Berlin the
managers also keep cool, knowing their
public, who are really critical OF good music
ana form the most appreclatlye audience
that could be mustered anywhere. Not un-
seldom SPECTATORS who have plunged
heavily into ticket buying find themselves
cntrapped and are glad 60 get rid Of their
Investment at appalling sacrifices which re-
fleet sadly upon their want Of judgment.
There is one charming little story about
AdeIina Patti which shows how well she
understands commercial principles and the
binding Il tire Of contracts. While on one