The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-11
NOLONGER YOUNG.
dOrtense Schneider Sc
cures a Divorce.
WAS THE GRAND DUCHESS.
Her Success Sful Career on the Stage.
Offenbach, the Great
Composer.

PARIS, Oct. Is. - Nine. Hortense
Schneider. who for a number of years
has been legally separated from her hus-
band, Signor Bione, has now secured a
divorce in France. Her husband, an
Italian, is not divorced, according to the
laws of his own country. because in Italy
there is no divorce permitted. Younger
or older by twenty-five years the boule-
vardiers weep over the Paris o 1867, when
Often bach's music was the fashion. The
"Grande DuchesSe' was the great event Of
the exposition OF 1861 Before leaving
New York Or st. Petersburg travellers en-
gagged seats by telegraph for the represen-
tatlon at the Varieties Tbeater. and even
ing after evening HOrtenSe Schneider
sang before an audience composed Of
crowned heads. There were the Gar,
Alexander II; the Sultan, Abdul Aziz; the
Emperor of Austria. the Kings Of Prussia,
Belgium. Holland, Greece. Sweden; Bis
marck, Gortschakoff, the Prince of Wales,
etc.
All Europe was represented on the banks
of the Seine, and the blonde singer cOnsid-
cred herself royal parsonage, Tor one day
she drove up to the exposition before the
door exclusively reserved for sOvereigns.
who are yOu?" said the guardians. Il
am the Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein,"
proudly replied Schneider as she passed
through the door In La Grande DuCnesse"
she was veritable sovereign. and now
Schneider, the great artist. the Parisienne
OF ParlSlenDes, Schneider, tho CANINE,
Schneider, the grande dame, is the di-
vorced wife of an Italian advenurer.
She is the last famous woman of the
Second Empire ana was born sixty years
ago at Bordeaux. Although her parents
were not poor they occupied almost the
lowest rank in life Hortense learned To
make artificial flowers, but very early df-
covered that her blonde beauty might b.
of great advantage In a theatrical career.
No attention was paid to the representations
of her mother, none to the threats Of her
father. She made her debut at cafe
chantant, left her disgraced family and
came TO Paris. Introducing herself to the
Partisan world at the BouffeS-P arsiens
Theater she soon had superb residence in
the Champs Ely5ees, her horses were the
envy OIL society stars, her diamonds worthy
of a queen, for women she preUared the
fashions and sOmetmes-unhappin b.
cause their husbands were often occupied
with the beautiful enchantress.
In these opeTettaS, no one has ever
dared, nav, no one has ever been able TO
follow in her footsteps. AS an artist. she
was very capricious; if she saw some dis
tinguiShPd foreigner. some member Of the
all her talent; but unfortunate were her
listeners did she not perceive among them
at least one of her most powerful admirers.
However, day came when her popularity
began to wane, and after the war she re-
tired from the stage and devoted herself
10 the management of her immense for
tune.
Hortense Schneider believes the only
mistake of her life was her marriage.
Anxious TO change her theatrical title for
one that was genuine. she married q
! Signor BiOne, but when she discovered
| that his Castles were in Spain and his title
| of count not more real than hers of Grand
| Duchess, she sent him 10 his friends in
| Italy.
1t is strange that OffenDach wished 10
send his name down 10 pOsterity as the
composer, not of LA Grande Duchesse"
| but of "Contes Hoffman," For several
days before his death l saw the composer
at German, and although it was
| midsummer he was wrapped in fur coat.
He knew that death was near, but be-
| trayed his feelings only to his Russian
dog, Kleinsach. When unpercelved, as he
| thought, saw him wipe his eyes and
heard him say to the dog. "Ah, my poor
Kleinsach, l would give all l have to be
present at the representation of this opera,
which is really my first work"
His wish was not gratifed; he lived
| only long enough to finish the work and
dedicate it TO those who owed to him their
success in life.
Everything belonging to Offenbacb was
sold recently at great auction house of
Paris. without doubt the children pre-
served the old piano, beside which, on n
little table covered with papers, he wrote
the melodies which were brought out by
his INSPIRED fingers. The children re-
tanned also the souvenirs offered by De-
tallle, the military painter. Among these
is portrait made since the death of Often
bach, portrait from photographs.
IL IS marvellous III its truth. 1t repre-
sents the composer as the world knew
him not, IN dressing-gown and slippers
OHenoach also escaped the auctioneer's
hands. The sale was sad one. At
Otfenoach's receptions were artists, mu-
slclans, lttterateurs, and these all met for
amusement. One evening a distinguished
diplomat joined the crowd of Bohemians.
He did not understand that evening dress
was not expected and came in full regalia.
The Bohemlans decided to play Mehul's
symphony, Initiating a hunting scene.
The roles were distributed. One artist
was hunter, another the deer that at the
end OF the overture dies from a ball struck
| by the musician on the bass drum. Then
the hunt began. There was the barking
of dogs, and here Georges Vibert. the
| painter, was sol0ist; Berne-Bellecour used
waterlng-pOt as a huntin g-horD, and
| was answered by martial music. The deer
overcame all obstacles (pieees of furni-
| ture), and the game was followed from one
end OF the apartment to the other. Ghe
poor diplomat was first charmed then as
founded. Every time the hunters passed
| before him they cried Follow our exam
pie. and he followed their example. He
barked and jumped like the finest dog.
AS the last note of the overture was
| sounded. Berne-Bsllecour had an inspira-
| ton. providence has smiled upon the
chase; let US thank him by singing the
prayer of ''La Muette de Portici' All fell
on their knees. painters, journalists and
ambassador, and all sang the chorus.
The chairs and tables that witnessed this
wonderful burlesQue are now sold, and for
song. The carved chair given by Never
beer to Often bach was also in the list. 1t
will be remembered that the two musicians
often met at Ems. Offenbaeh was the
only person with whom Meyerbeer would
talk. In order to keep away crowds
Meyerbeer placed a respirator on mis-
mouth, and pretended that his voice was
gone. But when Offenbach approached.
the respirater was lifted, and the composer
OF 'Africaine" eoDversed with the lively
author OF 'Grande Duchesse."
OHenbach made immense sums of
money every time bis name appeared on
programme he received u per cent of the
recelDts. Three theaters gave him each
S12OO per annum as composer atiache.
But money slipped through his hands,
+ 10 H. 1,fN lranc n