Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-17

maiden, lost i'll revery, appeared to see
nothing and hear nothing, one might
stake ones life that she was all the
while seeing and hearing Campobassi.
"One forenoon, after rehearsal, we !
were sitting under the arcades of the |
Piazza del Signori, drinking our coffee.
We had been chatting about everything
possible and impossible, and one of us
at last turned the conversation to the
subject of favorite roles. Each one
named his own, DR.. Bartolo; Pc
drocchi, Rigoletto. Mario said joking
~ that his favorite opera was the one
in which he had least to do. Campobas-
81 was silent.
Sat length we pressed him to confess
his own preferences, but he shrugged
his shoulders and replied, laughing:
my favorite role? That is probably my
own secret.
"'No secrets among the colleagues,
grumbled Pedrocchi.
:" mo secrets?' was Campobassi' an
swer. Well, perhaps will play you
my favorite role tonight.
"'Oh, the Trovatorep we exclaimed,
for we were to bring out the opera
on that day for the first time in Farli.
Campobassi shrugged his shoulders
again, and we broke off the converse
ton at this point, as our prima donna
came toward us under the arcades.
"On the evening of the same day the
'Trovatore' was placed on the boards.
All that Farli possessed of aristocracy
and distinction was present at the thea
ter that night Not seat was vacant.
The great expectations which were
cherished concerning Campobassi's per.
Torrance were not disappointed. Here
he could give himself free rein, and his
voice rang through the house not like a
tenor-no, like choir of tenors. The
applause would not cease, and Campo
bassi was called out repeatedly.
cat last came the 'Stretta. Now the
audience would surely be thrown into
ecstasies, and we had not deceived our
selves. Wreath after wreath was flung
from the boxes all the people stamped
their feet, clapped and cried Viva!
and 'Da Capor Finally Campobassi,
smiling, made a gesture to signify that
he would repeat the 'Stretta. The storm
was laid, and it grew suddenly SO still
in the theater that one could have heard
the buzzing of a fly. We all stood there
behind the scenes and beheld Campo,
bassi step forward to the footlights, a
departure from custom which did not
strike us oddly, for tenors are allowed
many liberties.
"But what was that? He was saying
something in an undertone to the or
chestra, and the musicians, who hae
already begun the opening bars, broke
off in their playing. Instead OF tint
notes of the 'Stretta' we heard Campo
bassi speak-speak words which made
the blood stiffen in our veins, which
threw such a spell over us that we wer'
unable to stir from the spot long afte
Campobassi had finished his speech.
II can remember it as wildly as i
it had all happened yesterday. 'Honoret
patrons and citizens Of Farli, he began
and probably at this point he mad
one of his consummately graceful bow
Il thank you for the affection yo'
have shown for me, the more since thi
is my farewell appearance. After to
night you will, l fear, hardly care t
hear me again. I beg you will all re
main quietly in your seats, for then
upon my honor, not q hair OF any one
head shall be molested. Any movemen
can only lead to mischief, for my me-
are patrolling the corridors and all tn
exits are guarded. Nor can help com
to YOU from the direction of the stage
for the enlarged chorus which has te
night sung so valiantly consists, for tn
most part, of my own people, and the
also are we'll furnished with weapons
am, honored patrons, the Fra Angel
n whose name is certainly we'll known
you. /, too, am armed, as you see, an
these pistols are we'll loaded But ia
be it from me to inflict any injury upo
! YOU who have shown me SO much Col
Il sideration-my word for that. At tn
very moment member OF the chorr
has already taken our honored impr'
sario in charge That shall not exa'
tribute Of my colleagues you will natl
rally infer. On the other hand, honore
patrons, have often provided ente
tainment for you. and it is OH that a.
count justifiable that I should requi1
some recompense from you, more esp
cially since our impresario has pal
me an hororarium which my sense
shame will not permit me to name. s
! have the kindness, good people, to d
liver your watches, rings, chains, purs'
q and the like with all alacrity to tho
a who will now pass from seat to sea
G The exits are guarded, as l have r
marked, and the more generously all
n quietly you perform your part tt
Z quicker will this business be accom-
I plished. In the meantime I will ask Il
orchestra to play some favorite air
O which may serve as an agreeable al
d traction for those who have discharge
their obligations.
< 'sIn. truth, the orchestra did con
I mence to play, and, as we learned late
b everything passed off an Fra Angelo hi
d wished. As matter Of fact, all b
i. threats had been superfuous, for Il
name of the famous bandit had alol
sufficed to render every one helpless.
i ERA Angelo supervised the emit
transaction from the stage, said fe
a words Of thanks when it was ende
then turned toward the flies. As
!, passed us he clapped me laughingly
q the shoulder ano said, Did not tie
) you, Cicogna, that I should play n
q favorite role tonightT
q with that he vanished, and
a rushed terrified out into the open al
: The audience streamed ont at the doc