The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-08

4
fell upon the housed 1t is no cxaggcra.
ton to say that the splendid pageant
that had preceded was utterly blotted
from the mind OF every person present.
Campanini scored the hit of the night
by his wonderful ability as an actor
| quite as much as by his voice. The
KING, who had salutcd Fasquelo, the
pride of tho peninsula and entitled to
wear his hat in the presence of his
ruler like grandee of Spain, rose to
his feet, clapped his hands and applaud
cd like any other enthusiast. After the
opera saw the great tenor at the Cafe
Fornos, and he was apparently indiffcr-
cnt to the transcendant honors that had
been showered upon him.
But it was different when saw him
last. He would have given the rest of
his life for repetition of such scene.
The experiences of kings in exile, ex-
presidents of our republic and aged ten
orr must be filed with regrets and
griefs.
Campanini was q generous fellow
while his prosperity lasted. Not that
he threw money away, or gave it to his
friends; but he encouraged young sing
ers, bought himself n pretty country
place near Padua, where he entertained
guests in truly hospitable fashion and
lived we'll, but never extravagantly
His chief mistake was the liberality
with which he dispensed his voice. He
was always willing to sing for any char
ity; he was obliging to the verge OF
generosity with his managers. Time
and again he has volunteered to sing
when his associates or the second tenor
were "indisposed." 1 was present at
the opera the night Gerstcr's voice failed
her. The opcrH was LA Sonambula."
The utmost confusion followed after
the poor prima donna was led off the
stage in tears. Colonel Mapclson an
nounced that the money would be re-
funded at the box; but Campanini, who
was in the foyer with his wife, at once
volunteered to sing in ell Trovatore."
After delay 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 a dol
lar. This is only one of many instances
of similar character, all of which re-
dound to the glory of Campanini, but
prevented the growth of his bank ac-
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 in
this country, where she had so many
devoted admirers. l recollect distinct
ly her first appearance in New York
under the opera bouffe regime of
Jim Fisk. Her success was immediate.
We had heard Tosti, but Aimee's vivac-
lty and suggcstivcness were revelation
Not one of her SUCCESSORS up to the
time of Theo was worthy to be thought
rival Persigny. Montaland and sew
eral other freaks we're brought over
from the gay capital, but for fifteen
years, or until her voice failed, Aimee
was easily the popular French favorite
let the end came, and Il very gloomy
end it was l remember to have picked
up copy of Figaro in Paris one morn
ing during the summer of 1887. Her
death from a tumor was announced in
half dozen lines, although worthy an
extended obituary notice.
The funeral was set down at an early
hour on the following day. Another
American and undertook to go, and
met at the Vincenncs station in the
little station near Nogent, in the
Marine valley, and found a sleepy cab
man who drove us through the mist
several miles to the quaint little cottage
in which Aimee had passed her last DAYS.
There was no splcndor. All the radi-
ancc of the footlights was gone. A
few trophies and many photographs,
inscribed with words of affcctionate re.
membrancc, were there; but, alas,
frugality appeared stamped upon every
article in the house.
The mourners appeared to be confined
to few neighbors, an aged bonnie and
a pealled-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 as ''auntie," but the hard
featured old maidservant wouldn't
clear up the mystery, and a neighbor
who intimatcd that she could explain
positively refused to do so. The best
opinion obtainable was that the girl
was waif that Aimee had adopted in
times of prosperity; but during the
three years of the mistress illness the
child had Jared little better than a
slavey.
The funeral service was brief as 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 dozen
mourncrs. Albert Wolff was there. I
remember, and in my heart this act of
his atoned for many of the vicious things
sad OF him in his latter years. After
the grave was sealed up and the few
flowers that had been brought to the
place of burial carefully bestowed. nv