The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
ACTUAL HISTORY.
DE VITo ~ AUs1R<LIA.
NE Describe. Ne Mur-ka,a Brilliant Sue
60. In Inncnrt Thrrr In

We arrived In sydney on the 18th of July
1875, having had a rough voyage OF six day
only under tho "quatir. We stopped at tn,
Hotel Royal. There MI. William Lester. tn,
sole opera manager Ia Australia, whom | had
known here in the early sixties, called on me
and congratulated me for having brought there
such a grand singer, and asked me what prices
INTENDED to charge. | replied a pound sterlinR
the best seat, a. MIR. Williams. the agent of Nine
Goddard. had told me In San Francisco he had
charged all over Australia, and ho lad had y
R0OO house at tho Town Hall in Melbourne.
II is not true, dear De vlvo; he humbugRed
you" Mr.. Lester said, for he gave two con-
osrts a week, averaging little over E200. and
the highest price was half n guinea. advise
you to put as moderate prices as you think
best, and you will reap the harvest, and you
will promise mo that after your tour OF con-
certs you will play in Italian opera with me, as /
have some artists in my comic opera company
thai have sung 1t. With great pleasure" said.
land thanks for the advice"
He gave me a letter OF introduction to MI.
Haddon, tho managing editor of the Mel
bourne Argus, the leading paper OF the Vic
torla colony. | remained four days In sydney,
visiting the theatres. hotels, and public places.
and | found that Australia was = shilling
country, not n guinea one as Williams had told
mo must say that WAS a little discouraged.
Leaving De Mureka In Sydney, l embarked for
hc w chkNsuN ohc VIZ III tnO hdll.
GLORIA and Susini met mo at tho boat. and
brought me to Menaie's hotel, the only
1rst-clnss house in Melbourne. and asked
me what prices | intended to charge.
I said. "One pound the best seat, as
Nine, Goddard did," "No. dear De vivo."
replied Susini. who had sung with her. "She
never had prices higher than half a guinea, and
even then the seats were half empty. Now com
with us to see the handso'nest large hall you ever
aw and an van will la,Ifa ,,n,, tha ,ri,a, ~
As soon as | saw the hall, which contained about
$500 seats and the capacity OF over 5000 peo-
pie, | was greatly encouraged. and decided to
put the price at seven shillings and %sixpence
tSl.sTIa the balcony. 8 shillings the first fifteen
rows OF benches. 3 shilings fifteen rows, and
the other rows and admission 9 shillings, which
prices, II all sold, as some night they would,
they would bring over $500, and | at once wentto
the Town Hall clerk. who showed me the booking
book. began 20 mark Monday, Aug. IL, is. Is,
so. 22, 20. On marking thesr dates The clerk burst
into laughter. The reason he laughed will be
seen later on. l looked at him without pay
ing much attention and continued to mark
nve more dates, which made twelve nights in
all In four weeks. 1t was a bold undertaking. to
give twelve consecutive concerts in a city of
100000 INHABITANTS, q feat unparalleled even In
New York or in London. 1t was an inspiration,
owing to the great faith | had in that incompar-
Haddon, who received me cordially, and in the
evening sent his, critic, Mr.. Kelly, to my hotel
~ INV IAo W. otSNL lt ! EdNt llul ~
biography; which was published the day after.
and some London and New York no,ices. from
every day a long paragraph from these notices.
-Four days later De Murska arrived. ant in
tiedertafel. which l had engaged to create an ex.
~citement. and ! succeeded admirably, as the
Herald published almost u column about the
great event the day after. She was delighted
the prices | bad decided upon. and she objected.
saving thai she would not sing at less than the
eeipts al those prices. would realize almost
siEnori Carmine Morley. tenor ~ and susfei.
b&.so,, Charles E. Pratt got acquainted with
Of the Duke o. EiinburgG. while On his VISIT in
Australia; He was. as heard, a Jewish ndven.
Ing her that duets FOR pianos would be an
additional attraction, and proposed to her to
told me that he wasa robust fellow. OF large and
imposing hsure, bearing a strong resemblance
jected, but she wanted him, as she liked him,
and as Anderson said that the advertisement
the alton he desired, at her request
reluctantly consented. | advertised the first
number. especially for artists. but De Mur.kkss
was the only artistic ! know who was not super |
%stitious. The following was the advertisement:
LIMA DE IpE + ii S EE5hh!
The sres, t.s c 4ata Essi til z 3, ever rsf'v vrs lea the Ap,tD-
e oses; w We g has scored tr!umphs al! oyer the world as
mo.a. GuIisf: Pratt ami Anderson. pianists. Further
On Friday. " "'a"e'-'' papers SA'' Oh ''ke"
The day after the announcement I received
several letters, advising me that Melbourne was
not Used to Nuch humbug announcements. and to
cease thsspuhitcat!"n. laughed. though felt
dom donoy 70 rs snd 0i Re inue ebe letters toer a to N Ibid Ha ms
not to mind. them and to do business In nv
9wn way; as he would sunport M, having heard
DE M1rska IN London and in New York and the
day after lie publ he'd a column of praise of
seasons In flI first pnnpart M Arrsta una
Carnival of Venice, with a hurricane OF ap-
sang within a Mile Of Edinboro'.'
am unable to describe the ovation. but
the air, with yells or 'Bravor' Bravo
bis. bis. and she sung again Coming Through
n nHair Of mLs S%onnsmGqle" and me duet
being cap2'sndsd to the echo. The house was
only si8t 'Sgo4,. As my company and ex.
S301p per concert, it vas a very good paving
tssS ssG, Mj,b ,h ihs second house Wa el1o
cert on Saturday nlGhl she received a greater
ovation, with a house Of 4325 Sl .8O5J. The re-
than 600, and on her benefit night were f5T7
tS2,SI5l. and one oratoriu night 1900 tS3. OOO).
S Gao @oe5. 'r"''F'0 ! gave Tor the poor was f44o
In The sixth concert, Aug. %, the crowd was
four policemen to MAINTAIN order. After the
first part wsHt to pay the rent OF the htli. The
CicTh -hu' DD YOU remember. SigHOr de NlNO,
She time you marked down tins date | laughed.
and you, looked at met" Yes, do" Ian-wered.
Well, laughed" he said. " because no mana
ger mere has ever given six concerts in two
weeks. and | thought thni yon were rather
green in the profession. Even Nine. Goddard.
an English lady and popular. gave only two
concerts n week, and never drew such crowds.
You are the greatest manager that ever landed
here, and | congratulate YOU on your enormous
bnccess.' On that most memorable night,
that shall never forget. the Mayor
and Aldermen, with 100 mounted police.
men and 200 mombers Of tho Metro
politan Liedertafel with uplifteI torches,
In the midst OF crowds Of people. accom-
panied her to Nenzies's Hotel. where ! spread
"a banquet, Tor which paid about $500, and at
which the Mayor, some of the metropolitan So
ciety, and lead ing citizens made sperches. while
over 10000 people before The hotel insisted upon
her appearance On the ba' couy. and before they
would ~diNpcrse she had to sing "TNe Last Rose
Of summer Queen Victoria herself could not
have received n greater ngAtIon.
\ l noticed that De Mureka was payinc more nj
tentiOn To Anderson than to anybody else. On tho
same night Rlstori made her debut at the Opera
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