The morning call., 1893-01-29
MUSICAL SERVANTS
PATHS Household Com
posed of Singers.
OPERAS AT SHORT NOTICE.
The Tuneful Position of Craig-y-Nos
A BassO PrOfundO as Butler.
NicOIini as Prompter.
New York Sun.


On the eve of her Continental tour Nine.
Adena Patti gave a great feast of roast
beef plum pudding and sweetmeats TO 1000
children belonging to the parish of YStrad-
gynlais, Swansea village. In dispensing
these Inequalities the diva was assisted by
Sgnor Nicolini and party of friends from
the castle at Craig-y-Nos. A few days
previously Nine. Patti had given 5-shllling
piece TO each of the $50 paupers in the same
parish. These two exhibitions of good-nature
within a week coat the diva $500. so II may
be seen that If Nine. Patti earns her money
easily she spends it literally. Patti is now at
the end of her long holiday in Wales. She
has remained at Craig-y-Nos since the ter
mnatl0n Of her engagement at the jubilee
Madison-square Garden last spring. She
Intended to give some London concerts last
month under contract with Signor Lago,
but the sudden bankruptcy of that impre-
sario interfered with the plan, and Nine.
Patti, thus thrown out of an engagement.
was content to remain longer than usual at
her castle in Wales.
The castle is of the Norman style. 1t
crowns a lofty plateau surrounded on all
sides by woods. The furniture is Of the
Eastlake design, and not altogether com
Portable. The park that lies below the
plateau is magnificent stretch OF forest
land well stocked with game. through which
q trout stream winds picturesquely. Here
Signor NicOlini, Lappiest OF mortals. spends
most of his time. achieving with fishing
rod those triumphs which he has never at
tanned on the stage, lyric lZaak Walton,
an Orpheus OF the rod and reel, VINO
charms the trout with arlas from Kos
SIM and baskets them to the accom-
paniment of solos from Verdi While
nd ic Mi IN oil lU cd
the diva finds joy in the castle tneater. On
the stage Of this mimic opera-house Patti
gives entertainments Of a cosmopolitan
character to her guests and the villagers
Sometimes she puts on grand opera with
carefulness of performance and mise-en-
scene that Is equaled only by the Paris
opera. Again she reyives Otfenbach and
Herye. and gains as much enjoyment as she
gives by r lively performance OF light opera,
or even vaudeville.
When she is at home the diva always in
sists on having the castle full OF guests.
Carriages are continually going to aud from
the railroad station carrying visitors.
After sumptuOus dinner prepared by a
famous Partisan chef the business OF the
evening is begun by a general exodus from
the castle to the theater. The playhouse,
although small. Is complete In every ele-
ment. 1t possesses regular orchestra OF
trained musicians, leader of reputation,
scenery for an entire repertoire of pieces,
electric lighting. appliances for thunder,
lightning wind and rain storms.
Nine. Patti" one OF the guests said not
long ago. This thing must cost a fortune to
maintain for six months in year."
"Well." returned the diva. amicably, II
earn my income in music. and | like to
spend il in music l have neither children
nor debts, and it pleases me 10 spend my
money in my own way. My little opera
house costs me about 10000 year. But it
gives great deal of pleasure to me and my
friends, and after all, there is no ase in
having money unless you enjoy it," When
the curtain goes up the guests are
amazed TO. see the noble but obdurate
father, at whose feet the famous
diva entreats forgiveness or mercy,
is no other than the butler who
has served them at dinner. By a similar
metamorphosis the ehambermaids are con-
verted into naughty ladies. who spurn the
lowly condition of their mistress. Nicoinis
valet, who in his ordinary capacity Is a
model of Difference and propriety, no
sooner gets on the Stage than he is trans
formed into villain, who cuts throats for
psstime. The principal coaehman is low
comedian, the footmen wear the costumes
and manners of courtiers very COM
mendably, the scullion is a clown, one of
the hOusemaids Is a clever soubrette, while
another, like Cinderella, leaves the kitchen
10 become the bride of a prince. Nine.
not so much on account OF their domestic
abilities as for their talents In singing and
In acting. Hence the guests are often as
t9nlshed TO hear the coachman singing
Largo al factotum della cita' as be drives
them from the depot, or amazed TO 0verhear
very tolerable rendering of M Appari"
from the stable while one Of the hOstlers Is
currying his animals. or petrifed By hear
ing the chambermaids rendering the Come
Whit" chorus from Lucia" while arrang-
ing the rooms
II Patti were not as marvellous a manager
as she IS eanta' rice. this system OF doing
domestic service by musical notation would
destroy all discipline at Craigy-Nos. But
the diva paws enormous wages treats her
servants as companions and teaches them
to be as faithiul 10 duty as she is herself.
Her entire houSehO is employed i'm the
frequent operate performances. most OF the
servants in the chorus but several in the
principal roles. NicoIini Is the only per-
son at Craig-y-Nos who will not be COM
PEELED TO go on the stage But no mat
ter how tired he may be after days
fishing the diva's husband never shirks his
duty as callboy, gasman and stage manager.
At present these agreeable entertainments
at the castle are over for the season and
Craig-y-Nos Is deserted. Nine. Patti has
begun her Continental tour in Paris, from
which city she will 60 to Nice. where she
will spend the Indictment spring months.
In April she will sail for America whore the
Chicago engagement will add 5000 900 10
her bank account. Nine. Patti has officially
announced this trip to be positively her
farewell tour of America, where she made
her debut as n child of in 1851: but ex-
peTience and hope enable us to refuse belief
In q N II mo N