The times., 1897-10-27
NEARLY BLIND AND STARVING
But EstrelIa BeIinfante Indignantly
Denies That She Sought Death.

OeHles EDat Sne Sought Death.
New YORK, Oct. 26 -Estrella Belinfante,
who sang for the President S family and
friends in the White House last summer,
regaiaed early yesterday the affection for
life which mental anguish and days with
out bread had almost destroyed in her.
In the evening in her little room at the
Metropolitan Hotel she wrote letters of
love to her husband, OF gratitude 20 her
frehis, of application for work to many
persons whom she would not have ad
dressed in her despair for the promise OF
an empire.
She replied to questions about her career
as a singer with the sentiment OF one who
does 2ot think that everything is vain
81 sang III the White House on the 4th
Jf May" she wrote iii answer To one
question.
She wrote this, smiling. and said 81
sang in the White House in May, starved
III this white hotel in October l have
been rich. L am poor. How like my tenn.
pcraureut my life is: in the blue air today
In an abyss tomorrow
The physician, Dr. william II. Krause,
said that with care her strength would soon
| return; a telegraphic message from Italy
said that there was a sum OF $75 from her
aunt TO LeT at bank err $; letter from
her husband said that Straight from the
Heart" was catching audiences, slowly but
surely.
Her husband, Willis Edminster, a month
| after their marriage, a year ago, placed
her dowry of $4,000 in that meIodrama,
| 'straight from the Heart" The invest
lnent was not profitable, the weekly returns
were not certain. Edminster lived with his
old wife and their child until two months
ago at the Darlington Hotel. Then he went
| on the road with the Straight from tho
Heart company. IL his absence his Wife
received no money from him.
''He has none" she said. How can he
send me what lie has not?" She went,
after month of Saturdays expectant with
ardent hope and always deceptive from
concert hail manager 20 concert hall man
ager.
Then she became blind; but, since the
birth Of her daughter, Estrella Belifante
| sees q little. She can write, read new
scores Unnecessary. SO she went 10 Boston
to ask for an engagement from W. L
Higginson, manager Of the Symphony Or.
Chestra there.
She referred TO the Italian Ambassador
and to Mrs. Houston, daughter of Ralph
Waldo Emerson, but the manager Of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra would not see
| her even. She returned TO New York " ed
| ncsday,
4 the Darlington she learned that her
hiH for board. APPOINTING already to $50
she thought it should be S44-was toe
large. She left her luggage, including
gowns of SILK, satin and brocade, and
Went into the world, air,ilessly.
To Prof. Gtanini sne could tntrust the
| baby. she knew, but he was not rich.
So she pawued her fur cloak for $15 and
gave the money to hin in advance for his
wife's care OF the child.
Shr walked away nOui Giauni's house
| d d'Sconsolate. for the professor said, II am
afraid your husband has deserted YOU
Mr.. Allen, at the Darlington, had said
something like this. which she felt Ger
| tain vas cruel calumny.
Sha was poor, her husband was poor, ana
| the world would break her heart b y insult
| ing him, There were persons to whom she
| might make IN appeal for bread, but
| surely they would say, Your husband has
| deserted YOU" or think it,
The alternative was to starve. and since
| morphia alleviated the pain OF her eyes
| perhaps 1T would alleviate the pain OF
starving. She caused her prescription for
| inorPhia to be filled
she went 10 the Metropolitan Hotel last
| Wednesday in the rain and paid 81 for a
| rooin. When she had paid 81 the next da ,
% renew her room rent, there was not q
cent left to her.
The ChamDer1aaid found her raviug In
| her room Saturday morning, and Mrs
/ Herdling, wife of the proprietor. went tc
the poor woman at first with food, and
| prudcntly, with her own physician.
| Gradually EstreiIa Belifante tcId her
| story. At the Darlington, Mr.. Herdlinl
| found the letter OF her husband and the
| telegra l:hic message OF her aunt. Size knew
OF Sunday that she was neither deserted
not penniIeSs. She knew yesterday that
she was suspected Of having sought fol
| death.
| Sought for deathr' she exclaimed. In
dignautlE, last night. what inramyl
| had everything to live for. I love my
| husband, my baby, my artl But I had t.
| Starye and ! would not starve in pubiCr
On Ler diary 10 which the phases of her
experience since Wednesday are inscribed
| Estrella Belifante wrUte last night joyful
| words.