The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-17
Social Standing
OF Great Singers
ARTISTS NH0 APPEAR IN EURO
PEAN DRAWING-ROOMS.
Alboni Broke the Red Tape
Around the Artist Class-El-
len Terry's Experience.

ing electrified her aristocratic hearers by
her beautiful singing, took from her pocket
a pair of shears and shipped the red rope
that separated the artists from the audi
ence enchanting, There! | have done
it," and what Alboni failed to accom-
plish in this daring act OF moment, the
gradual spread of republican tendencies has
since achieved, SO that now this Iatal di-
vidlng line between entertainer and enter
tained-betwcen artist and aristocrat-
has become a dead letter. In the really
great houses in London-which sets the pace
for the English speaking world-there is a
great spirit of free masonry existing be-
tween those born great aud those who have
achieved greatness.
IN GROSVENOR HOUSE.
have especially in mind the experiences
of one of our most popular American vo-
calists now established in New York, who
is a drawing room and lyric singer par eX-
cellence, and who has sung III nearly all
the great houses in London, and in many
IN New York, Newport and Chicago.
have had the good fortune to be present
with her at many of these functions, one
Of the most Interesting OF which was at
Grosvenor House, the London home OF the
Duke of Westminster. The cause happened
Dogs" the tickets were guinea, and natu-
rally the audience was one OF the snartest
of the season.
He must be dense, indeed, who can enter
one OF these magnificent old mansions
and feel nothing Of the impressiYenesS and
grandeur OF state, the dignity Of ancestry,
surrounded as he is with walls decorated
by the hand OF a Reubens or Murillo,
and the very atmosphere redOlent with the
refinement and culture of far-a way genera
tions. In fact starving Dogs and
uniquely interesting programme were COIN
pletely forgotten by me in the glowing
anticipation of seeing Reynolds wonder
full painting of Mrs. Sidduns as the Tragic
Muse and Gainsboruugh's famous boy
in Blue
The MUSHROOM itself was most brilliant
with its decorations of white and gold, its
sCintlllating chandeliers, and walls en-
tirely covered with huge paintings by Ken
bens But by far the most unUStentatlous
person present that afternoon was the Duke
OF Westminster. Dressed in plain suit
of gray. with blue checked shirt, he him
self served tea to the artists and Chatted
most graclously and brightly with each and
all.
MISS TERRY's AGITATION.
The most interesting episode of the at
ternoons programme was the appear
ance of Ellen Terry, who was then play
ing Lady Macbeth at the Lyceum, and
who had been moved solely by her love
of dogs to consent to rcCitc, thing to
which she is entirely unaccustomed.
The whole world knows how excessively
emotional she is, but no one, without
seeing it, could believe in tue real anxl-
ETY. which she manifested over this ap-
uearance No school girl, speaking her
first piece" was ever more OF prey
TO nervousness. She paced up and down
the artists room, clutching her beautl-
full head, studying her verses ana con-
stantly exclaiming that she never did
that sort Of thing, that she knew she
would for get it, etc. But-she didn
forget it, and neither viii any one or
those who that afternoon heard that
wondrous voice telling forth in few
simple lines great Indian tragedy. They
knew then, and know now that very few
sensations of their lives will equal that in
intensity The silence which folio wed was
deathly-but when all the Jumps III the
threats had been swallo wed and all the
tears wiped away, the applause which fol-
lowed was electrifying, and after bowling
again and again, this most gracious lady
could only say in the most naive manner:
Ladies and gentlemen, 1 am very sorry,
but that is all l know" and then added
laughingly as she left the stage, except
Macbeth
WITH ROYALTY.
The courtesy of the Duke OF West
Minister was only repeated by every noble
host or hostess into whose house my friend
beautiful voice took her, and they included
the Duke of Fyfe's, Lady Dudley's, Lady
Brooks, Countess Cooper's, Lady Gold
schnidt's. Mrs. Mackey's and many others.
At the Duke of Fyfe's the whole royal
family were present, but the only points
of etiquette that one had to bear in
mind were the deep courtesy, and TO re-
main standing while any of the royal
family Stood. The duke made himself
agreeable in every way to the artists,
who were personally presented to the
members of the royal family. 1t has
come to be almost a doubtful pleasure 10
talk with the Princess of Wales, gracious
as she is. on account of her constantly in.
creasng deafness. The general impression
that the house of the Duke OF Fyfo gives one
is simply that of being huge, massive, pond
erOus. Only heavy colors are used in car
pets and hangings, which, with colossal
pictures and enormous pieces of furniture
stifny arranged, make up the ensemble
One looks in vain for anything suggestive
of an air of home comfort. and as for find
ing anywhere a cosy little nook, so dear
to the heart of every Amcrican-perish the
thought And there was ample time for ex-
ploring as the singing did not begin until
11:30.
IN TITLED SOCIETY.
Where one has once made ones self be
loved through her art, If she has des qualities
she is more than likely to be included
in all the social functions which follow
and is often taken into the more intimat
relation of guest in the country home, a
in the case of my friend who last season
received charming note from the Duke o
Northampton, who owns country houses al
over the kingdom, inviting her TO visi
of indefinite period at Castle Ashby. Oh
the evening of her singing at Lady Cooper s
who is the daughter of the Duke OF North
ampton, the countess waited until afte
the royal family and other guests had beef
served, to have cosy, chummy littl,
supper with her artist friend.
Nor does it differ materially in our owl
republican country. In Chicago our lyrf
friend was royalty entertained and treate,
quite as the honured guest in the house o
Mrs. Potter Palmer, for whom she wa
engaged to sing--even II in the beginning
her breath was quite taken away by seeini
a mantelpeCe OF solid green jade, whic
she afterward learned cost 100000.
She has already sung at several of thu
great houses in New York and Newport
Including George Gould's, Van Aliens
ception has received nothing but the great
est courtesy. At n morning function il
the house of one of the 400. refreShment
were served during the singing. And RICH
in the midst of passionate love song,
fiunky passed a cup of bouillon within {
foot of the singer nose. But such incident
are nowadays of such very rare occurenc
that they only emphasize the fact that ar
has leveled rank
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