The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-22
DEATH OF F%URSCH-MADI.
IT T0oE PLACE IN HER LONELY
HOUSE IN THE WOODS.

Her Strength Fsied-N.rriea Thrice.
Nine. Fursch-Mad who was chosen by Verdi
10 create the title role Of Aida" on its first
production In the Theatre Royal. Brussels, and
who was for nearly n quarter of a century a
famous dramatic soprano. died on Thursday
afternoon almost alone in a little farmhouse
buried in the woods on Mount Bethel, in New
Jersey.
No more lonely spot could have been found
within a days journey Of New York. Her
nearest neighbors. two miles away, were farm
ers, and they knew her only as the foreign wo-
mar who taught music and who had nice man.
ners. Beyond that they knew nothing about her.
They didn't know that she had sung grand opera
TO the applause OF two continents. Perhaps no
role Nine. Fursch-Madi has sung on the stage
was more strongly dramatic than her death. IL
will be remembered that her last public appear
ance In New York was near the close OF the
opera season at the Metropolitan. when she
sang Ortrrdd in "~Lohengrin.' with Melba and
Lasalle.
II was a brilliant performance. but Mime.
Fursch-Madis friends detected in her work
then a certain weakness which was foreign to
her. Her physicians told her that she had
malaria. Notwithstanding her long operate
career she was still q comparatively young
woman and ambitious for greater triumphs.
With her son Emil and her daughter Jeanne
she went to Plainfeld, and after n search found
n little farm, eight miles away, where she might
spend the summer cheaply and with benefit for
her health. She had been a robust hand
some woman, but her sickness had begun
to tell on her. Still she thought Il was
nothing but malaria, and it would pass away,
so she bought the farm Of sixty acres with its
little wooden house. hardly larger than a box ut
the Metropolitan Opera House. and her friends
Even when, two months ago, DIR. Zigler OF
warrenville diagnosed her case as cancer OF
for she had saved almost nothing from
her earnings. Three times q week she
Plain PiSinfi STi and ,nio1 Ssash sts music %sHa' It T' was R With sS great at
%exertton, however, and five weeks ago she gave
up; After that her weakness did not permit her
Victor CLAUDIO. who had sung with her way
back in 1874. had q little farm at Coontown,
admired her as a great artist. With his wife he
did what little he could to aid her. They and
Not until late. yesterday afternoon was the fact
that she was dead known In New York.
From Plainfeld the road winds up to Warren
vile. a little post hamlet, with a church and a
Back and above the hamlet the hill is thickly
wooded. A road winds around it. Even in the
little farmhouse where the singer lived. 1t is on
a branch road that plunges abruptly into the
, Mees'; so Closely Il Is a in SSGSs SaP-e aHer F It tina, Win IN
the daytime II is dark. and at night it is black.
For more than a mile this road leads through
the woods without any sign OF a house. Plain
field drivers get out and lead their horses up it
at night, feeling their way, with each step. Few
OF them have made the trip. aud they don't re-
After three-quarters OF an hour spent on this
road the SUS reporter come upon Nine. Fursch-
Maids farmhouse. There was a light burning
in the little room. almost bare Of furniture, that
served as a dining room and library, Three
dogs. the singers pets. were on guard at the
door.
Al one side OF the house was a tumble-down
farm work and dressed as his audiences have
never seen him, sat alone in the dining
stsirs the he body She% az h hiS.'' t- HeSioom Mm Sp
Fursch-Madi, was laid out; awaiting the
d deaSt.ei In T anosRer r% BEDROOM drsoaio on mt the n'u second %Si
floor wasa casket with a silver plate. marked:
Died Sept. 20. Mime. Fursch-Madi, aged Al
The daughter OF the dead singer had been
taken "a, Clandio's house. and her son wa in
The house itself gave no evidence OF the person.
atty Of its owner. The floors were bare OF
In the dining room there was a cheap
table. and, In contrast with 1t, a quartered oak
sde Half a dc. dozen chairs, a lounge; !"
pleted the furniture Of this room. The
pictures were both OF Fursch-Madi; One was
several years ago. 1t showed a woman with a
handsome face and a wealth Of brown hair. The
Victor Claudio looked around the room and
spoke OF the woman's career he smiled sadly
These are not the surroundings that she was
accustomed to-"
Nor was the thin. cold face M stairs the face
that New York and London and Paris knew.
Mime. Fursch-Madi had been worn to a shadow
by her illness. She had felt that she must work
for the children and herself to the end, and she
When asked II she had saved anything.
claudio. with "A shrug OF his big expressive
well, you know what artists are, and she
S wSS a a Sre she f Il dead. sn Fiat asi !. aifa Tor her art
The undertaken and the singers son Emil ar
rived at the house at II o'clock. Emil is now
son by her first husband.
AT D this morning Nine. Fursch-Madi's body
Held: a burial service viii be read over il in &.
Mary's Catholic Church. and then IL will be
AZ Mn nsf Fu m as .M a1i who hS% died IN this obscure
onne on the .Franco-spanish frontier, and she
She studied "r under The ne principal siISf
masters in the Paris Conservatory, Her first
fasdeloSp's Concerts. and was followed by a
brilliant engagement at the Grand Opera in
she had the distinction Of being chosen by
Verdi 10 create the title role In Aida" on its
first production in the Theatre Royal in Brus-
sells.
II is not generally known that she began her
career in America. appearing in New
the operate season Of 1874. In 1870 she APP
peared in Italian opera in COyent Garden.
and it was then generally admitted that
no such dramatic soprano had appeared since
Nine. Frusch Madi visited America
Messrs. eye and MaplesOn in 1859, and her
success was 81 great that Mr.. Abbey induced
her TO make an engagement for the MetrOpOli-
tan Opera House, where she achieved new
.Her-personality was pleasing. Her voice was
clear, and, above al, true. and she had dramatic
force. She made . starring trip. taking in some
OF the largest cities OF this country, and again
she sang in London with success.
Nine. Fursch-M adi was appointed in 1885 by
the directors OF the American school OF Opera
as a directress, and on the Incorporation OF the
Conservatory Of Music she was re-
tained as a directress Of the first branch of the
conservatory.
She appeared chiefly in WAgnerian roles and
she was acknowledged 10 be IN the first rank OF
grand opera singers. Nine, FursCh-Madi APP
peared 70 advantage last season in the Metro
politan Opera House Company with Melbi and
the DE Rsszkes.
She was twice married. Her first husband, |
from whom she separated, Was DE Montjau, |
who WAS the leader of the orchestra In the Grand
Opera in Paris. He Is still alive. Her second
husband was Jean Verle, He acted as her man