The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-28

n pOIliN man viii II lti htdNg
top coat stood in the lobby OF the Nara
gansett Hotel. THE NEWS man knew that
he was In the opera business because from
time immemorial opera agents have shown
a weakness for fur-trimmed garments.
There could be no mistake. The famous
singer had arrived from Montreal on her
own car, the 'Coronet," the night before
and was at that very moment taking lifeas
easy as possible, IN Providence, on the
second floor of the big hotel and the
portly man with the soft and costly fur
was the barrier between the Newspaper
man and the greatest singer OF the CEN
tury.
"Could he see the madam" was softly
spoken.
"No, sir; the madam never speaks un-
less she is absolutely obliged 10. Would
you allow any one TO jab his finger into
your eye? Well. the madam treats her
voice just as tenderly as you care for your
eyes. She never uses ii except before the
footlights, and then she unwraps it from
velvet. You can understand that voice
that is coached like that amt out
for exercise at 10 o'clock in the morning.
You might say, however, that this is pos
itively PATHS postscript farewell, a sort
of how w-do-you-d and good by for Provi-
dence.n
Then Marcus Mayors representative
moved toward the Weybosset street exit.
% hirg was said about joining him.
MIR. Mayer, by the way Inc man no pays
the diva one dollar minute for breath
ing in this country, sleeping or waking,
Just as his agent disappeared man OF
medium size approached. He had pro-
fessional air ana Landlord Humphrey said
he was Ernesto Nicolini.
Ten years ago Mr.. Nicolini was famous
tenor singer, and eight years ago ne mar
ried Patti. His fine appearance in the
hotel lobby bespoke his own and his wife's
good taste in 1856.
TIE NEWS man was pleasantly received
and given permission TO see Mrs. Nicolini.
She believes in plenty of room and she
had the best and the largest the hotel af
fords.
Landlord Humphrey had told the inter-
viewer that Patti spoke English like a
native. With this fertilization he had no
hesitation in saying TO the greatest woman
''that it was pleasant day."
She agreed to this and thereafter conver-
sation was easy. That velvet voice was
not exerted OF course, and the little
woman who did not look day over 35
years, although she was 81 the 18th of this
month, talked in fascinating and APP
parently self forgetful way of herself.
She said that she sang in this city once,
about thirty-five years ago.
It isn't every woman who would ac-
knowledge that she could sing 80 years
ago.
"That was in my teens and before I went
abroad to study"
1t was seen at once by the visitor that
the diva was fine conversationalist as
well as singer. Her talking voice is musi-
cal and clear and her Cosmopolitan accent
is charming. 1t was difficult to believe that
she had passed the half century mark he
cause she gave no token that she was
much beyond her teens now.
Referring TO the many stories of her
birth in this country and her barefooted
ard stage soubrette" appearance in
private life in the streets OF
New York when she wns child, the
wonderful woman smiled as onlya woman
who has smiled upon the greatest audi
ences the world ever saw, knows how and
said that she didn't remember anything
of the kind.
|. She was born in Madrid, Spain, Feb. 10,
1S43.
~ think I began singing shortly after
leaving the cradle. In fact my earliest
recollection recalls singing. | came to
this country when was very young and
lived in New York where j was taught
the rudiments OF my art by my brother
in-law Maurice Strakosh.
81 am as much American as anything.
When seven years old made my first pub
lie appearance at concert in Triplor
Hall, New York. After tour
returned to New York i'm
1864 and afterwards went TO the West
Indies. Then | left the stage 10 pursue
my musical studies and did not sing again
until November, 1859, when / made my
first appearance in Italian opera ut the
Academy of Music, New York, in
"Lucia." Shortly after this / sang in
this city and remember OF being very
pleasantly received by the people of
Providence.
ain 1861 went to London and thereafter
for 20 years remained abroad. You know
my public history, no doubt, since that
time"
Referring to her likes and dislikcs in
music the distinguished visitor said
''Classic Italian opera will mover lose
favor. or course there is wonderful
advance over the old school, Ponchicli,
Mnscagni and Lconcavallo have written
beautiful music. 1 cannot think that
Cavalleria is n good opera 90 sing.
Santuzza Is screaming all the time would
never attempt TO sing the part. Some of
Wagner's music il too great for me TO de-
scribe. ] am very fond OF il, but il would
ruin my voice or any other voice in few
years.
az prefer. OF course, Faust and Carmen
i'm French and Lucia la Son bula'
and la Traviata' In Italian. Where the
music has been written 60 French
words it cannot be- properly sung
i'm Italian and vice versa. You must
excuse me, now, for have talked much
move thanI intended TO. Au revoir."
And THE NEWS man who gets sf00sa
week, more or less, musingly left he hoF,l
that shelters one OF the wonders of the
world who won't sing unicsgst1r rUruivcs
s5,000.000. more or less. Aud this IS her
farewell.