The Washington times., 1894-11-25
WASHINGTON TIMES SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1894.

! cenlc wars against the Crusaders The story
related In the family and handed down from
generation to generation is that the first Sybil
was betrothed TO a young enthusiast who,
travelling to the Holy Land on pilgrimage
prior to his marriage, was taken prisoner by
the Saracens. When this became known TO
the brave Sybil she Immediately, in the pres
/ ence OF Saraeenic messengers, had her right
| hand cut off and placed on silken cushion,
sent 1t forthwith Tho story runs that strange
to say her lover was actually released and re-
turning to England, married her with hap
| piest domestic results.
To go from the bachelors to the bachelor
maids OF the corps who have possessed musi-
cal ability, Miss Noguelras, daughter OF the
late Portuguese minister takes high rank. 1t
will be remembered that Miss Nogueiras, who
has since made her professional debut in Eu-
rope as an opera singer, first made her bow
to Washington audience in the opera of
! paul and Virginia. that subsequently en-
Joyed an immensely sensational notoriety
from the fact that at the same time she
enacted the role OF Virginia Miss Marie New
ins sang the'role of Paul. The latter's ap-
pearance on that occasion has been more or
less truthfuily ascribed as having furnished
the turning point in the admiration Of James
G. Blaine, ir. This. at least, was the story cur
rent at the time OF her marriage.
Miss Nogueiras, prior to taking part in the
opera referred to, used to make music for the
neighborhood of the sacred precincts of
street during the warm evenings OF early
summer before the fashionable residents had
made their summer fittings. Had the singer
been any one else but the daughter OF for
eign minister she would have been roundly
censnred for this departure from the conven-
tional, but the people allowed themselves to
enjoy the real quality and quantity OF her
voice, and concluded that the Spanish blood
| k.-, ~
concerts with which, sitting on her porch in
the evenings during the dusk and far into the
night, she favored those who were eager
enough to listen and applaud since she did
happen to be the daughter of minister plen-
potentiary.
When, following the advice of her friends
she, shortly after the performance Of the op-
era OF Paul and Virginia, left this country
to study and make a professional singer OF
herself in Europe, twas upon the very money
raised by that musical event she made the
venture. At the time the opera was given
every one knew that 1t was gotten up by Miss
Nogueiras, and that she stated the funds so
raised were 10 be put to a charitable purpose,
but no one dreamed that she herself was to be
the beneficiary. Had she been frank in the
matter she would have undoubtedly saved
herself much unpleasant comment and have
carried away with her a much larger sum
than was realized. fer she was generous in
giving her help to others when it was needed
and without remuneration taught on certain
mornings OF each week lessons in singing TO
class formed Of the fashionable girls Of her
acquaintance
Another singer OF the diplomatic corp
whose splendid voice is still remembered Is
Senior Galvan, formerly attached to the Mexi-
can legation. When he resided in Washing
ton during the first Cleveland administration
he was one of the most frequent guests at the
house OF the Secretary of State. Mr.. Bayerd
the present ambassador to England. After
leaving Washington Mr.. Galvan went abroad
10 study for the operatic stage but at last ac-
counts had been SO unfortunate as TO con-
tract heavy cold and entirely loss his voice.
Whether or not this will prove permanent
loss is not known.
Before coming to Washington he was at
tached to the legation in Italy, and having
been called upon TO take one of the leading
parts in ''Pinafore," when that opera was got
ten up for the benefit of fashionable charity
with the members OF the corps entirely COM
posing the cast, even to the chorus. he created
quite furore. The next day private per-
Torrance was given exclusively for the bene-
fit of the Queen, aAd after his first solo ne was
summoned to her box and complimented in
the highest manner When he was first pre-
sented to the Queen she asked In him what
udSc uc CdIcu " COuNtISc. D6llS q
natural linguist with the advantages of lib
eral education in this respect, replied that no
language suited him so well as that Of the
country of which her most gracious majesty
stood at the head.
1t was following close upon this success that
q formal offer was made Senor Galvan to mako
him the Impressario OF Italy. but his father,
Gen. Galvan. a man of great wealth, per-
suaded his son not to accept, because he
wished him to achieve diplomatic honors.
Quite recently there came near being called
q special cabinet meeting for the purpose OF
bringing up for formal and deliberate discus
sion the subject of dinner parties. Several OF
the cabinet ministers having last season ex-
perienced great fatigue, and doubtless much
Wearinsss of mind mixed with dyspeptic
symptoms from their frequent attendance at
dinner parties. desired this season to have the
social campaign laid out upon different lines
Their idea was that none but cabinet dinners
should be attended so far as the cabinet off,
GERS themselves were concerned They did
not in the least intend to interfere with the
wishes or prerogatiyes of the ladies of their
families. but for themselves they wished to
enact law that should in the future protect
and defend them from the dinner-giving pro-
pensities of society.
The idea was simply in the crude when it
was first mentioned informally among several
OF the Cabinet officers, but finding that the
trial trip was fraught with anything but sue
cess, it has been abandoned. and so far as
concerns the present season there will be no
special meeting OF the Cabinet called nor
will the President be required to pronounce
an ultimatum or arbitrate between rival fac
tions on the subject of attendance at dinner
parties.
When last week little Frances Cleveland
T IaIN,- o4eI
among the guests at her party the. two young
daughters of the President II six years ago
there had arisen in Washington seer who,
with prophetic vision, had foretold such
thing. Mrs. Cleveland would have been the
most skeptical person on the subject At the
time of the birth of the youngest daughter
of the Secretary of War Mrs. Cleveland was
daily visitor to see the baby, and would sit
for hours holding and playing with the newly
arrived little stranger. So fond did she be-
come OF the child that finally one day she
astenished the mother tn a formal offer of
adoption. This offer was not acceI ted, as
the Secretary had no idea of parting with his
little daughter, even if it was to the wife of
the President. Now Mrs. Cleveland is herself
one of the happiest mothers in the land, and
rarely-if ever-gives even a passing thought
to the fact that she had once desired to adopt
q child.
Within the week the Chinese minister and
Madame Yang Yu haye made their debut in
Washington society as dinner givsrs, and
from this time forth may be looked to per-
form in the most orthodox manner the duties
and hospitalities devolving upon the heads of
a wealthy legation. Last season Madame Yang
Yu made her first appearance at q dinner party
upon the occasion of the diplomatic dinner
given at the White House. At that time, wholly
unaccustomed to the manners and customs OF
this country in the matters of dinners, she was
allotted to Chevalier Tayera, who has since
been transferred from this country as Austrian
minister. To make the assertion that he was