Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-23
NINE. MeLBA IN PARIS.
Home Life of the Famous Australian
Prima Donna.


Molha Is At home only about seven
weeks in the year, but she Keeps her
elegant apartments In Paris the year
round. AMI finds no headquarters on
earth equal TO No. . Rue Dc Prony, says
Fannie Edrar Thomas In Munsey's Maga-
1lne There it il her delight to rest 10
look over her beautiful new dresses 'and
,hoso moro aesociatiOn-laden but not so
frasb) In visit with her boy-her Dig
bouncing boy Of II. who com = from
London with his tutOr-and to study up
her points u triumph for the coming sHa-
son.
qb. house IS about miIway between the
old church Of the Madeline anu tnc
house Of Sarah Bernharit not far from
Narchesl. and Il few doors from Artol
Padilla. The street on which II iaceS-
the Rue de Prony-leals dir city t. tht
residence OF tn G0uuod family.
When Melba was At home last before
the present trip to An aricl. tn" score "i
",Tanou." by Massenet. gen rally stooi
omen on the pllno-rack, when II vas net
horne ND and down the room In th' sinaH
and very beautiful hands Of its mistress
she has a habit II m m1riZinS tn wor'S
Of her roles while pacing IN hoor' a'''
The fashion Of Ada Rehan as the uht'hl. ="
Katharine The music OF IL t,oI uu
Nordr might be- found lying c!ps' hy'
for these are the two op rds III Wh'H
Melba is to sing at the Op IA Comllue
in the spring ~ 1855, after her winter TN
gagcmcnt in New York.
II is interesting to try 10 COM ctnre
woman's appearance from the dominating
colors of her room. No on. would ever
mil
amongst the biu--lndsn glintings Of Slnyl
sanderson's boudoir Mrs LanStry loves
Nue-green, Patti. rose; Calye, rtd; Mrs.
potter violet. Persian hues set on LIN
lehman: old gold. Alrah Bernhar!t
Mary Anderson is one Of the most lb.sa-
ted Of her SIX In regard 10 color beng
bound rather by the form or her su'-
roundngs, and loving pillar better thdh
either mauve or violet.
DECORATION \ FAD.
Oll rose and olive bathe the suite OF
,partments where the brunette Australian
urirna donna rests These Two uhts
uredOminate I'm carpet. curtain. drapefy'
cushions. frame, and tassel Where the
gracious CLEANS are not, they seem 10
he from association, 50 tasteiuily ar
ranged are the pieces, for household deco
ration is one OF Melba's fads. she her
seR has chosen everything except the
souvenirs. which are not few. she spent
weeks In putting together her picturesque
domestic equipment, and you may De
sure that not an item or II Is there sliilpS
because OF its cost. Neither are tneEe
any makeshifts. Melba Is ~" or those
rara aves In professional life who are
horn rich. enter their career rich. and re-
main rich. Her tastes are elegant her
surroundings solid.
The styla OF her apartment Is wnoiy
Marie An,ionette and Josephine. CIT
frames. Directoire upholstery. bandy-ies-
gad tables. inlaid cabinets bunets, oeus'
divans. mantel ornaments-all are mocei-
led after the taste OF the times OF the
folly Queen who mislaid her destiny, ana
~ the man OF empire who created ms.
a taste that Is foreign 10 France Is shown
In the presence OF complete carpets al
over the house and the absence oi thr
customary waxed polish that makes most
French floors Ike skating-rinks- Inc
Garnet Is like one OF those dove-breasesu
sundowns that we know In America NO
thlna. could be more soothing 10 taste,
siyhf and feeling. To live on a carpet
uke Nelba's Is an education In itself.
Tne pIano-cover Is a match for TIA literal
"0e,i of cloth OF gold" heavily embroider-
%, I'm her fayorite colors: 80 Is the drapery
On a long easel In the corner. which
forms the background OF The most inter-
esting object IN tho room. when the ms,
tress is out Of tia sorseous'y-untso
three-auarter portrait Of herself In Jui'ets
robes. In another room Is head IN thc
same warm coloring. representing hcr az
marguerite, and marble bust shriheu
In olive satin. Three exauisit siy-eolored
miniatures represent the singer with her
little boy. who Is the image o: herself,
An her arms. Her writiEg-tabie 10 one
whose bandiness Of legs shows It's bius.
ness of blood Little mirrors are niaia
In its woodwork. and every article upon