The morning call., 1892-07-03

NINE GbRSTER CA
TO sing something for him. especially The
Last Rose of Summer" which was dear TO
his heart, because he hailed from the Emer-
aid Isle. Promptly the queen Of song COM
piled. and so convinced was the Judge of
tie Justice of her case that he thought il
would be no use troubling her further, and
decided in her favor.
Masini, the tenor, had very exalted no.
tiOn of his eminence in opera. He had been
engaged by Mapleson for a season aud was
first TO appear in Faust" Sir Michael
hearSal and all artists were TO attend. Ma
Sini sent word that he thought a rehearsal
unnecessary, and arrogantly notified Costa
that II tile latter would step Up 10 his rooms
he would give him the tempt for Faust" "
The conductor, OF course. treated this pro-
pOSal with scorn. Next day the tenor fled
TO the Continent. He had learned that Costa
was not q man TO be trified with, and he
put the Channel between himself and the
avcnger.
Tie difficulties Of getting premier singers
TO rehearsals are not infiequent. PATTI and
Nilsson insist upon the utility Of rehearsals
being left 10 their judgment But Maple
son had another sort Of difficulty when. by
superhuman efforts. he induced Mile Mari
mon % cross the Atlantic. This gifted
singer had a superstitOus dread that If she
ventured on the sea she would be drowned,
and Immediately upon arriving In New
York she proceeded to the Catholic cathe-
dral 10 offer up thanks for delivery from
her peTils. This was blow to the plans of
the mpresariO, who had a rehearsal waiting.
MeDlesOn found her on her knees in the
cathedral, and il being very cold he warned
her not to stay too long over her devotiOns.
She prayed another half hour, with the re-
suit that she went TO bed for week with
Geld.
Nine. GeIster was the heroine of ludi-
crous incident in New York. She was cast
for Elsa in "Lohengrin," and an hour aud a
quarter before the rising of the curtain
Mapleson was summoned TO her rooms and
found her sDeechless. She had beer treated
for toothache with chloroform and had got
too much Of IL. Mapleson set to work with
soda water and sal volatile 10 resuscitate
her, and while she was semi-uncon-
sciOus he had her carried TO the thea
ter and there continued his efforts. Mean
while he got the theatrical hair-dresser to
comb ont her back hair and plait In
the little tails which are sometimes added
by prima donna" Finally he got Nine.
Gerster to stand upright. and when it was
suggested that she should 90 on with the
singing of Elsa she replied: at is utterly
useless. IL is O'Clock and the tails are not
in my hairV Assurances on this point
being given. she smiled and went on the
stage. Her energies returned and the per-
fOrmance was Triumphant But for those
tails she could not have sung.
At Baltimore Mapleson succeeded by tact
In overcoming indsposition on the par; Of
Nine. Sralcbi She had sent him word that
she was very i'll and unable 10 sing. Getting
physician 10 accompany him, lie visited
her atthe hOte;, and at her door encountered
waiter carrying in some Holsters, salad
and roast turkey. he INQUIRED for whom
he was catering. and the reply was. "Mme.
Scalcbi" Waiting outside while he en-
tered the room just when Nine. Scalchi was
hnishlnG OF good story ending in laughter
She no more complained of Illness when
she saw Mapleson. and she went on with
her part that night,
Mime. PATHS fondness for money is noto-
rlous She may deserve IT, but certainly
she receives enormous gains. At Cincin-
nau curing musical festival she was paid
$4,000 nlght-the largest amount ever paid
any singer. There is q charming story by
NaplesOn OF the Fair Diva's tenacious man
ner Of standing by contract. The incident
occurred at Boston, and Nine Patti was To
appear in ''Travata":
That afternoon about o'clock PATHS
agent called upon me 10 receive the 5000
tor her services that evening / was at low
water just then, and inquiring at the book
ing once found that / was $1,000 short. All
L could offer SignOr FTanchi was the trifle
OF 5000 on account The agent declined the
money and formally announced to me that
my contract with Nine. Patti WAS at an
end. Two hours afterward Signor Franchi
reappeared. i cannot understand be
prime donne, especially with Nine Patti.
L ou are marvellous man, and a fortunate
! one, too, i may add. Nine. Patti does not
wish to break her engagement with you,
as she certainly would with any one
else under the circumstances. Give me
the $4,000 and she will make every prepara-
tion for going upon the stage. She empow-
ers me to tell you that she will be at the
theater In good time foT the beginning of the
| opera, and that she VIII be ready. dressed in
n fnln mill . .zt,.
| only OF the shoes. You can let her have
| the balance when the doors open and the
| money comes In from the outside public
| and directly she receives 1t she will put her
shoes on and at the proper moment make
! her appearance on the stage ] thereupon
| handed him the $4,000 had already in hand
| as the result of subscriptions In advance
| i congratulate you on your good luck,
said Signor Francbi as he departed with the
| money in his pocket After the opening of
the doors / had another visit from SignoI
tranchi BY this time an extra sum OF
| $500 had come in. i handed il to my be.
neyolent friend and begged him to carry II
without delay TO the obliging prlma donna
VINO. having received s4SO0, might. Thought
be induced to complete ner toilette pend
Ing the arrival OF the $500 balance. No
| was L altogether wrong in my hopeful an.
ncipations. With beamng face Signol
franehl came back and communicated tt
me the Joyful intelligence tnat Nine. Patt
had got one shoe on. Send her tn,
ZOO, he added, and she will put OF
the other: Ultimately the other shoe was
got on. but not, of course, until the las
600 had been paid. Then Nine. Patti, he
lace radiant with benignant smiles, went OF
to the stage, and the opera, already begun
was continued brilliantly to the end" II
TINS Mapleson adds that Mime Patti Is un
doubtedly the most successful singer VIII
ever lived. Vocaiists rs gifted, as accgm
plished as she might be named, but no on
ever approached her in the art of obainin
from manager the greatest possible sur
ne could by any possibility contrive to pay
Mile. Iietiens was comparatively careles
On points of this kind; Signor Marioeq
so.'
The prime donne not only make carefl
contracts as to salaries and the operas the
are TO appear in. but are also minutely pal
ticular In requiring their names to be place
on street posters. the letters Of particuls